Lauren and I just watched this and our jaws hit the floor. Man these guys are sick! All the physics defying moves are crazy, (ie 0:28 & 0:40). Choreography at this level is the next hill for us hoopers to climb. We’re getting there…
October, 2009:
3d Stop Motion Camera
Last Wednesday, Spiral and I had a thrilling opportunity. We got to shoot video footage with a 3d stop motion camera. This is essentially the same setup used for the Matrix when Trinity jumps in the air, freezing in position while the camera rotates around. We’re very excited and curious to see what the footage looks like. Although it might be challenging to edit it into the Hoop Technique DVD, we’re hoping that the footage will be usable. If not, we’re going to have some dope YouTube clips :)
The setup consisted of 1 Canon 5d Mark II shooting video footage and 36 Canon Rebels mounted on an 18ft semi circle, each shooting a still image simultaneously. The team working on the footage has created software that automatically combines all the still images into a video clip. This clip can then be edited in with the footage from the 5d.
The effect that can theoretically be achieved is like this scene from the Matrix. Skip to :44 to see the jump.
What may be very interesting about the footage is that both fire and led leave tracers in an image. You can see the persistent image of an antispin flower in the image below. All of the Canon Rebel still cameras were set to 1 sec exposure meaning we were leaving a lot of trails. If all goes as planed we will appear to freeze in a 3d cloud of tracers as the camera rotates around us.
The entire setup is still pretty experimental so no one really knows if we got anything usable. We’re crossing our fingers that everything went as planned. I’m sure whatever comes of it will be very interesting.
Sending a big thanks to Dai for the images and Tuana for the unbelievable opportunity to shoot with this camera setup.
Skream – La Roux – In For The Kill (Skreams Let’s Get Ravey Remix)
So I post a decent amount of music on Isopop.com but this is hands down my favorite track that I’ve posted in 6 months if not longer. Noiseporn is one the many music blogs I follow and this track was posted last Thursday: here.
Here is an interesting test of how good a track is. I found this at 8:30am on a Saturday and played it quietly at my computer, 5 ft. from our bed, while Lauren slept. Well no surprise, it woke her up. The first words out her mouth were not “Turn that off! I’m sleeping asshole!” Instead she said, “Holy Crap, that’s good!”
From Noiseporn:
When dubstep began kicking off, Skream (described as “Croydon’s musical wonderkid”) was the first dubstep artist I was aware of, he simply was dubstep. So when we get this remix in from Polydor featuring one of our favourite redhaired songstresses – La Roux – combining dubstep, dnb and soaring vocals, we were pretty excited. Let us know what you think.
Direct link to free download: Skream – La Roux – In For The Kill (Skreams Let’s Get Ravey Remix)
Burning Man Satellite Images – The Spin Cycle from Outerspace
I just found this stunningly detailed satellite image of Burning Man 2009. The shot was taken on Tuesday so the city isn’t totally packed in yet.
See the City: here
The Spin Cycle:
Hoop Technique DVD!!! Making of & Screenshots
It has now been officially announced and I am stoked! Spiral and I are making an instructional DVD together. I could not be happier with who I am working with. I have such a deep admiration for Spiral’s skills as a performer, technician, and instructor. All modesty aside, this will be a groundbreaking project.
This project started strangely enough on Jewel’s and Scotts front porch during the Hoop Path Retreat. After a few drinks sitting with just Spiral and I, Scott suggested we make a DVD together. I glanced up at Spiral mildly inquisitive and there was a glimmer of possibility in her eye. A few weeks later I gave her a call and here we are today.
Months of planning have gone into the DVD already and we have been dumping our whole into the project since our first shoot at Burning Man. I can tell you, making a DVD is no small or inexpensive task. With me working a full time job and Spiral continuing with her intense performance and training schedule, it has definitely been a lot of work.
The heat really turned up right before HoopCamp. I spent a week getting up at sunrise to shoot through the golden hour of light at sunrise, rushing to work at nine, working a full day, then rushing directly from work to shoot video through the golden hour of light at sunset. Combine that with prepping for my workshop, isopop.com, and other projects as well, it was intense.
The website is now up. I just updated it with screenshots from Shakti Sunfire’s performance, view that here. Shakti is one of the featured performers on the DVD. More exciting updates to come as time permits.
This Thursday evening, Spiral, Lauren and I are having dinner with one of the musicians providing some of the soundtrack. We have high hopes for the DVD soundtrack and are really excited to be working with some very talented artist. If you made it to The Spin Cycle jam you’ve had a taste of what may be to come. More in store…
Hudson Mohawke “Ooops”
XLR8R.com kicks ass dumping 4 brand new tracks everyday. I just checked in and heard this track from Hudson Mohawke: here
In preparation for the can’t-come-soon-enough release of Hudson Mohawke’s debut album for Warp, the wonkily soulful Butter, Scotland’s Wireblock and Lucky Me crews have put together a limited re-release of HudMo’s 2008 breakout track, the bass-heavy bootleg remix of Tweet’s “Ooops (Oh My).”
Visit XLR8R to download the track for free: here
