Low Angle Shots

Chris Messineo

Chris Messineo

Veteran
We shot some more test footage today - which turned out great.

However, we realized one of the shortcomings of our Bogen tripod, we can't get it any lower than about 3 feet.

My question is what do people use for shooting steady shots from 6 to 24 inches off the ground?

Are there smaller tripods or tricks that I should know about?

I would like to avoid any hand held work, as my skills there are pretty lacking.

Thanks in advance,

Chris
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

You can use a low angle prism to shoot low shots on your tripod.. or you can use a saddle bag or high hat on the ground.
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

yeah I made one. The actual best solution is a high hat, as it gets you a few inches off the ground but still lets you use your head for smooth pans etc.
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

Caution: newbie asking questions.

To me a saddlebag goes on a horse and high hat is part of a drum set.

Can you be a little more specific - a link to a photo or something I can buy would be awesome.

If there is a solution that would still let me use my Bogen 503 head that would be very cool.

Thanks,

Chris
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

Hey sorry I thought the same thing when I heard it.

Saddle bags are little bean bags you prop your camera in:
http://www.cinesaddle.com:

CINE%20MINI%20low%20res.jpg


Those cost about 300 bucks, I made my own that works rather well:

cinebag.JPG



High hats are hard to explain, but are just little a little support you put your tripod head on, and the bottom legs are usually screwed onto a board.

229592.jpg
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

Did you guys ever see that skit from Monty Python where they were making a movie, and it was some explorer or adventurer, and the director kept changing his mind -- like, they'd settle that they wanted the film set in the Sahara, so they'd paint the sand yellow, but then he'd want it set in the arctic, so they painted all the sand white, but then he wanted it in the Sahara again so they painted it yellow again... anyway, I remember there was something about height issues, so they dug trenches for all the actors to walk in, but then they were too short so they had them strap boxes to their feet while they stood in the trenches...

... and there was a giant robotic penguin that could shoot tentacles out of it... man, that was an awesome skit...

... okay, back on topic: the CineSaddle is a great little device, it's expensive but it works as the most wonderful car mount. It absolutely gives you rock-steady shots -- you mount it to the car and strap the camera in (it includes rope & hooks for mounting to the car) and it gives you the most glass-smooth car shots you can imagine. Nice product.
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

I have a small carbon fiber Bogen still tripod (Bogen 440) with the 501 head that I use when traveling. When the legs are spread out all the way and the center column is taken out I can get the lens about a foot off the ground and still have full control of the fluid head. With the saddle bag, you are pretty much locked down.
It is not a real "beefy" tripod but it is pretty solid. Its very versitile to go low or med high (around 6 feet with the column in.) And its really light weight for travel. I bought the integrated Bogen leveler (@$80) that makes leveling the camera quick and easy.
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

[quote author=CMessineo link=board=Links;num=1079227595;start=0#0 date=03/13/04 at 17:26:35]
However, we realized one of the shortcomings of our Bogen tripod, we can't get it any lower than about 3 feet.

My question is what do people use for shooting steady shots from 6 to 24 inches off the ground?
[/quote]

Chris, which tripod do you have? My 3021BPRO goes down to 12" with the provided low-angle adapter that's part of the tripod center column...
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

Rush,

I have the Bogen 3046 legs and they just don't get low enough.

I need to shoot some panning shots from about 6 inches off the ground.

I think I need to get a high hat - I just can't believe how expensive they are, $159.95.

Chris
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

Wow! That's pricey. But yeah, that's the only way to do that I guess, unless yer diggin a ditch, like Rodger said...
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

I know it sounds like a joke, but it is actually something done once in a while - especially back in the heyday of film making. Every trick in the book and then some to get the shot your looking for.

-Rodger
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

No jokes intended.  Just a figure of speech. :) I've dug many ditches in my time. ;) They even dug a ditch in the floor of a building for Citizen Kane... (Right?)
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

I will also say, I would not dig much of a hole before I would buy a high hat. I figure about $75 per foot is right ;D
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

You can carry around a center block (just kidding) Bogen makes something called a SUPER CLAMP with a thread that screws into the bottom of the camera and you can mount that bad boy just about anywhere or anything that the thing can clamp onto. You can look into getting a steady bag for low shots which is basically a small bean bag. There are some triopods out there that don't have ground spreaders and will allow you to shoot from low angles as well. You can always find something to prop the camera on as well.
 
Re: Low Angle Shots

ok the saddle bags are cool if you are putting your camera in dangerous situations where it might fall or slide off of something but COME ON!

if you just want something for low angle shots what happened to propping the damn thing up on something? $300 for a frickin glorified bean bag!

must be nice to be rich! LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top