An old boat for the River

Estelle an original A-Rater dinghy at over 120 years old, she is going to be restored to her former glory and perhaps able to regain the Queen's Cup she had in former days. This will be a significant undertaking.

Church Bell clappers

 This is certainly one way to silence the church bells! In fact they are out for maintenance which is done periodically.

Wife playing the piano

Creating some videos of my wife playing the Casio Piano so our Music teacher has some idea where to start. She has decided to return to the piano after quite a few years and is trying to remember the notes.

Nearly Blue Skies.

 With nearly blue skies, it seems to be a good day to be outside taking some photographs, but in the distance, some big clouds are coming like they did earlier today, bringing heavy rain, and it is not such a good idea to be outside taking photographs.

Class of 2025

 The safety boat class of 2025 and instructors, having just passed their safety boat course. Now the Upper Thames Sailing Club will have five newly qualified safety boat crew.​

Mounting the camera support on the wall

 So many challenges setting up this camera support! The drill kept slipping on the plaster, making it tricky to get the holes in the right spot and mount the plate vertically. But after some persistence, we got it done!

New Camera set up

 

​Setting up a new camera support to cover the keyboards of the  Wersi Organ and the Eminent without having to set up a Jib. The cable are tidier and it is easier to get around the organs

Cobra 2 stand

 The ifootage Cobra 2 monopod is great for a tabletop camera. The flat base is much better than a tripod base and well supports a large camera and microphone. This makes it ideal for video calls used on minimum extension it get the camera at the eye level.

Zoom Gone

 A few minutes before an online class, I load up Zoom - like I did earlier in the day, and it's gone. It's a quick reinstall, and still nothing. We had to uninstall and reinstall, and it was ok. We will probably never know what happened, but it was a hectic few minutes.

New Music Jingle

 Launching the new music jingle to the opening and closing credits and using fusion to code up the timers on the latest iodine clock short. Many are unimpressed by this video trick until they see it for real and discover it isn't a trick it's chemistry.

Iodine Clock

We are filming the Iodine clock reaction. One moment, the solution is clear, and then, in a blink, the solution turns a blue-black colour. On film, it looks like a trick, but it is done live in front of students - no tricks, just science.

Safety Boat Course

 Out on the River Thames with the Upper Thames Sailing Club participating in the RYA  Safety Boat Course. This is the first part of a two-day course, which is learning how to safely recover people from the water and recover a capsized dinghy.

BCS Expo

 At the BCS Expo in Battersea Park today looking at some potential new gear for making the videos. I might need a larger house.

Importance of a scales

 What looks like great solar collection is shown to be very poor when you look at the scale. This software auto-scales the graph, so the data looks much better than it really is. This is why you need to read the scales carefully to see what they mean.

Crystals under the microscope

Having made some crystals, then looking at them under the microscope and taking some photomicrograph images of them.
 

Camera on the Jib

 Choosing the best camera for the jib? The answer: all of them—each for the right job. A light jib with a light camera is perfect for achieving drone-like shots where drones aren't an option. With this setup, we reach up to 5.5m, which is usually more than enough!

Had Held Jib

 Attempting to get some video shots using a hand held jib on an experiment. The hand-held jib is quick, easy to use, and requires much less setup time than our large jib.

Upside down bit closeup

​When you need an extreme close-up and want to film an experiment from the perfect low angle, flipping the camera and tripod upside down is a game-changer! Using a tripod makes this easy. #FilmmakingTips #ScienceVideo

Unlocking Unique Perspectives: Using a Tripod Upside Down for Close-Up Photography and Video

When it comes to capturing ultra-close shots in photography or videography, getting your camera as close to the subject as possible is key. While standard tripods offer stability, they often restrict how low you can position your camera. Enter the upside-down tripod technique—a simple yet highly effective method to achieve extreme close-up shots at ground level. When paired with a probe lens, this setup opens up incredible creative possibilities.

Why Use a Tripod Upside Down?

Most tripods come with a center column that allows the camera to be mounted underneath, effectively hanging upside down. This technique has several advantages:

1. Extreme Low Angles – Traditional tripods struggle to position a camera just inches from the ground. By flipping the tripod, you can place your camera at ground level, offering unique perspectives and angles that are otherwise difficult to achieve.

2. Increased Stability – Handheld close-up shots can suffer from camera shake, especially when working with high magnification. Using a tripod in this way ensures rock-steady shots, perfect for capturing intricate details in macro photography or videography.

3. Versatility in Filmmaking – Whether you’re filming a science experiment, a nature documentary, or product shots, this method allows you to bring the audience into a miniature world with extreme detail and precision.

4. More Control Over Focus and Depth of Field – At extremely close distances, even the smallest movements can throw your subject out of focus. A tripod keeps the camera steady, allowing precise control over focus and depth of field.

The Power of a Probe Lens for Close-Up Work

A standard macro lens can get close, but if you truly want to push the boundaries of close-up cinematography, a probe lens is an invaluable tool. The most famous example is the Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe Lens, known for its ability to capture details in a way that other lenses simply cannot.

Advantages of a Probe Lens:

1. Super Close Focusing Distance – A probe lens can get extremely close to the subject, allowing you to film details that would be impossible with a traditional lens.

2. Extended Depth of Field – Unlike conventional macro lenses, which have an extremely shallow depth of field at close distances, a probe lens can maintain more background detail in focus, making it ideal for storytelling in scientific experiments or product videography.

3. Unique Perspective – The narrow barrel of a probe lens lets you insert the camera into tight spaces—inside small objects, through gaps, or even underwater when used with a waterproof housing.

4. Minimal Shadow Interference – Standard macro lenses require the camera to be very close to the subject, often blocking light. The probe lens’ long, thin design allows for better lighting setups without obstructing the subject.

Practical Applications

The combination of an upside-down tripod setup and a probe lens is particularly beneficial for:

• Scientific experiments – Capturing chemical reactions, microscopic movements, or fluid dynamics with unparalleled clarity.

• Product videography – Showcasing intricate details of small objects, such as jewelry, electronics, or mechanical parts.

• Nature and wildlife filming – Filming insects, plants, or water droplets at extreme close ranges.

• Creative cinematography – Achieving unique shots that make objects appear larger-than-life.

Tips for Success

• Use a remote shutter or external monitor – Since the camera will be upside down, composing the shot through the viewfinder or screen can be tricky. A remote monitor or tethered setup makes framing easier.

• Stabilize with sandbags – An upside-down tripod setup can sometimes be less stable than the traditional setup. Adding sandbags to the tripod legs can prevent unwanted movement.

• Flip the image in post-production – If your camera doesn’t have an auto-rotate feature, you may need to flip the footage or photos in editing software.

• Experiment with lighting – Close-up shots often require specialized lighting, such as ring lights or small LED panels, to illuminate the subject without harsh shadows.

Conclusion

Using a tripod upside down is a simple yet highly effective technique for achieving extreme close-up shots with unparalleled stability. When combined with a probe lens, it becomes an incredibly powerful tool for photographers and filmmakers looking to push creative boundaries. Whether you’re capturing the intricate details of a scientific experiment or creating visually stunning product videos, this setup is sure to elevate your work to the next level.

River Data

A morning's worth of programming to grab data on the River Thames flow rate and present this as a graph on the Upper Thames Sailing Club Website so that the members can visualise the height and flow rate of the River to help work out when sailing might be possible.

 I managed to break the Van de Graaff generator. The pin broke off in the socket, so it will be fun to mend. I must replace the green socket and fit a new 4mm plug to the rod.

Busy Volunteering

 

Volunteering at a sailing club often means spending more time on admin than on the water! So far, we've tackled calendars, emails, website updates, rosters, reports, agendas, and minutes... but no sailing yet this year!

Insta 360

 The Insta360 X3 is proving to be more versatile than I expected—not just for action shots but for general filming too. The ability to reframe and extract 4K footage from any angle makes it an incredibly useful tool!

Planetary Parade

 It was the first clear night for ages, so we could go outside and see the planetary alignment, Mars, Jupiter, the Moon and Venus. Saturn was hard to see but it was there lined up on the ecliptic. It is quite a magnificent planetary parade. It will be visible for the rest of this month with Mercury joining it in late February.

Microphotography

 ​Macrophotography with the We-Macro system: Capturing hundreds of stacked images to create a high-depth photomicrograph with stunning detail and clarity. Todays challenge crystals of Copper Sulfate. #Macrophotography #FocusStacking

Weekend filming

 A small and nearly light camera rig setup for doing some filming. ​We combine multiple cameras on various tripods and mounts for planned shots—and add a mobile camera for those dynamic, on-the-fly live takes.