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Vision for High camera angle with twist Mandela A novel camera crane that rises to a reverse shot down to a fashion 30m and can twist as it ascends parade or to link in to presenters The UK’s largest independent has been created by a cameraman in various positions. outside broadcast company, who decided that there must be a It was used to cover the races NEP Visions, was chosen better alternative to sitting on top themselves at Cheltenham and to deliver host broadcast of a tower while covering golf. Aintree. For the former it would services for the Nelson David Fox reports start low as the horses Mandela 90th Birthday con- approached then elevate to 30m cert by Serpent Productions. The Cammotion Vortex aerial to give an almost bird’s eye view Visions also provided OB camera mount system can take of the jump. At the Grand facilities for the UK terres- a full size camera (up to 20kg), National it started high as the trial broadcaster ITV and rises at up to two metres per s horses approached then lowered America’s VH1. econd, offers 360º panning, can to show them galloping in front of The HD production unit sustain winds of up to force 6, the stands. included 20 cameras, graph- takes up relatively little space It also did 360º coverage of ics facilities and surround (5x7m), is quick and easy to set Aintree and the Marathon – sound recording in Dolby up, and is operated remotely. where it was positioned at the 5.1. Working with Onsite, Vortex has been used for end of The Mall, outside Visions also housed all the this year’s biggest horse racing Buckingham Palace, near the 5.1 HD edit facilities in occasions, starting with the finish line, offering a great its multipurpose production Cheltenham Festival for panorama across central London. unit, Voyager, including three Channel 4 Racing, then the At Silverstone it has a HD Avid Adrenaline suites Aintree Grand National, and position overlooking the chi- Palace theatre: Vortex (left) at full stretch for the London Marathon allowing material to be edited last month’s Royal Ascot for canes and “will be able to follow and sent straight to air from Sunset + Vine and the BBC. It cars longer than a standard the site. has also been used by the BBC camera position.” Visions had previous for the London Marathon, and is Gladstone had to overcome experience with the Vortex being used this month for motor many problems to build Vortex, system, which this time was racing from Silverstone and Sky which turned out to be a lot more used to provide shots of Sports’ coverage of international complex than his initial idea. the stage and the audience show jumping from Hickstead. It “Sitting up a camera tower at the of 46,664 (the same as was also used by ITV for last Open Golf in my thermals, whilst Mandela’s prison number month’s coverage of Nelson women sunbathed in bikinis during his incarceration and Mandela’s 90th birthday concert below, I wondered if there was a the name of his global from London’s Hyde Park. better way of getting high angle HIV/AIDS awareness cam- At Ascot “we were in an shots without having to suffer the Rising to the occasion: Vortex Over the jumps: Vortex (on left) paign). — By David Fox absolutely superb position nes- discomfort and risks of working (centre) at the Grand National in use at Cheltenham www.visions-ob.com tled in a tree,” says Cammotion’s at altitude. founder, Matt Gladstone. It “I had read about one of setup and in a few minutes the wobbly and this one was only in high winds, be quick to rig, meant that they could start low those small masts that are guy had great high angle shots. 20m high. I decided that if such have a small footprint, be as high with a nicely framed shot and rise strapped to the top of a 4x4 and The problem with the stills mast a product were used for televi- as possible, and be portable.” up to show the whole parade ring used for stills photography. I was that it could only take a sion or film then it would need to From a simple prototype that and the new Ascot building, or do went to see one. It was quick to small payload, it was extremely take a full size camera, be stable he built in his attic using guys and spreaders, he brought in a company that designed the tallest yacht masts, and then compli- cated matters further by deciding 2, 3, 5 and that not only should the Vortex allow the camera to start from RF links 7GHz in use ground level, but it should be able to do an on-shot tracking move as today! the mast goes up — the shot that “makes Vortex a unique prod- uct,” he explains. for HD cameras He also wanted it to be very quick to set up and de-rig, being as automated as possible, which has resulted in it having 10 motors, more than 30 sensors, 25 relays and touch screen programming, so that it can now be operated by one person. It also has a steerable hydraulic drive system, to get it into posi- tion, and hydraulic outriggers for levelling. The system can be used with either a lightweight gyro- Be ahead of the game stabilized three-axis head that can take any camera package, as Link Research, innovators in RF, bring you a range of award Link’s modular L1500 transmitter, for SD and HD operation, used for Ascot, the London winning wireless camera systems and more successes at is more flexible than ever with a choice of accessories, live events than any similar system. frequencies and camera control options. Perfect for any Marathon and Hickstead, or a event. From the crowded city to the stadium or race track – Cineflex five-axis gyro-stabilised Link’s own LMS-T modulation techniques combine to cut one system works everywhere. head with a built-in HD camera delay, give unrivalled performance in HD and bring that can take up to a 42x lens unprecedented 7GHz capability to wireless camera operators. Contact us today and we’ll change your view for ever. and was chosen for Cheltenham, www.linkres.co.uk t: +44 (0)1923 474060 e: [email protected] the Mandela concert and the motor racing. www.cammotion.co.uk

22 www.tvbeurope.com JULY 2008