eturnerx 3Speak Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Listen and watch the latest videos from eturnerx. Hosted by 3Speak.tv. The free speech video platform on the HIVE blockchain.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/kcubcpur
I went for a scout today looking for flight spots. I've wanted to capture this stormwater sump/wetland for some time because it could be fantastic. This was my first attempt, and I learned a lot.
Firstly, I want to fly lower to avoid vegetation. I should also take more care where I position because I had a feeble signal for much of the run. That meant I could only dodge trees at the last minute, so the footage could be waggly.
I remembered to record in d-cinelike, but I don't have software to take advantage of it. I forgot to switch off EIS - because putting this footage through Gyroflow would have made a much better result.
I couldn't fly over the bridge and into the next section of the sump because somebody was down there fishing, and I didn't want to disturb them! While it's a good sign that aquatic creatures are colonising the stormwater sump, the level of suburban pollution means that I wouldn't eat any fish that came out of it!
While preparing to shoot, a few onlookers came to talk to me. One is the caretaker at the local school, and he asked if I would be willing to help shoot some school events. Of course, I agreed; we'll see what comes of it. Maybe nothing, maybe the opportunity to do cool things.
Just arrived today was Mr Steel's Ethix Chesty - which is a chest pack for drone operators. With a couple of bits of bungy and some soft bags, I got my full avata field setup into and on the chesty. It made walking about looking for a spot to post up and fly from that much easier. Yeah, the hard cases are great - for when the drone is in transport. Still, the chesty worked well for scurrying into position with batteries, drone, controller and goggles. So far, I recommend it.
Well, there is plenty to improve, but I hope you enjoy this trench-run-style video. I've been practising with a 3.5" freestyle F drone so that FPV might have some videos soon. I've been practising some moves in the FPV simulator because I have a unique idea for video. Still, it's challenging my ability to control the drone consistently. I also need one or two more tricks to make it work.
Until next time!
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/wqxqiusg
In this Lightweight Travel Tip I discuss mint oil. I carry this primarily for migraine relief (works for me, but ymmv) and it has a lot of other uses. Mint oil isn't the best for all these uses, but it's often still better than nothing.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/ovdmiaja
In this Lightweight Travel Tip I talk about alternatives to shaving gels and cremes. I don't carry these items anmore because I make do with whatever I can find when I arrive. As long as it creates a bit of lubrication to help the balde glide, it's good enough. I have used soap, but I don't recommend his because it dries out the skin. If the hotel supplies soap, the chances are they also supply body-wash or hair conditioner and those are both beter opions imo.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/wnzowhzz
In this Lightweight Travel Tip I discuss how I use items I carry for basic first aid. Most of this comes from my back-country experience where good-enough is good enough. So, I present this video not as advice, but in how I think through common media situations and how I would approach them. If you have access to a proper medical kit then do use it.
The leuko tape I carry on my pen for blisters can also make a decent dressing, with a bit of tissue as gauze. I'd only do this for small scratches because getting tissue into a wound could make it worse.
I use hand santiser to clean out a wound because it kills germs and drives out moisture. The downise is the hand santiser on an open wound is going to sting - a lot.
Do what you want with this advice, but I'd recommend getting some training in first aid for everyone. Each group of travellers should have a medical officer IMO.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/evbbvrlx
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we talk about the just in case items. When encountering strange cuisine or uncertain hygenie, you might want to take an anti-diarrhea medication. But, there's no need to carry a full box! Cut a couple of tablets away an use those. Not shown in the video, but I do like to round the corners. As a urban traveller, two tablets is enough to get me through any scenarios until I can reach a pharmacy or see a doctor. If I was in the backcountry then of course, I might want to carry a few days worth.
And a note on food-borne illness; one of the greatest risks comes from hand hygenie. So, use hand sanitiser frequently.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/azcbgajz
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we look at replacing that folder of travel documents with electronic things instead. It used to be compulsory to have documents in hard copy form, but nowadays it's easier to go paperless. Almost - you still need your passport. While a single sheet of paper weighs little, a lot of paper can quickly add up. Itineraries, tickets, bookings, accomodation, maps, insurance, medical information, emergency contacts - and suddely you have a heavy book of pages.
I use Google Drive, but you could use anything really. Make sure that documents are saved onto the device itself (save offline) so that you can access the documents without a live data connection. When you're crossing a border, or have just arrived, you just might not have data yet and it's one more thing to have to explain to somebody.
When I'm travelling in a group, I do like to have a minified itinerary and group contact details on paper - that way I can hand the page to group member. The other piece of paper I keep is any current medical perscriptions. Apart from that...paperless.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/jzotjvoi
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we discuss medications. Again, take just what you need with a day or two extra in case of delay. Medicines might not be easily available at your destination - what with different prescription laws, language barriers and different names for things. I prefer to carry the prescription notice in paper form just in case I'm asked for it - I don't really want to be searching on my phone when a customs agent might suspect I'm carrying illegal drugs. But, by carrying just enough it makes me look less like I'm trying to import anything.
Do be aware that prescription laws and legality of medications does differ. What's legal in your country might be illegal in another. For example some medications for mental health conditions vary in their regulations. I still think it'd be easier to convince someone of an honest mistake, or turning a blind eye to a minor infraction if the amount is tiny.
Oh, and it's just fewer items to track.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/yzoobchf
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we discuss incliment weather like wind and rain. As an outdoors person I always take something for wind and rain and, even though I didn't expect much rain on a trip to Mexico, I still had to take some rain protection. If I'm expecting rain, of course I'd take something more suitable. However, these dollar store ponchos work very well - totally waterproof and windproof. However, they're not very durable and you'll sweat inside them.
True story: a friend of mine on a multi-day group hike was literally saved by these disposable ponchos. After days of heavy rain their expensive gortex jackets started letting in the moisture. Being wet and cold is a recipe for hypothermia, but thankfully they had dollar store ponchos with them.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/bhudksvv
In this Lightweight Travel Tip I show how I carry small amounts of medical tape and duck tape. Both items are extremely useful and I use a bit almost every trip. But, there's no need to carry full rolls. My hands are quite large and most pens are quite small for me to hold, so I make the pen more ergonomic by wrapping some tape around it. I deliberately chose a high quality art pen because these last for ages and remain reliable and because they have long-straight bodies. If the pen-stem was too curved then it makes wrapping the tape harder.
You could wrap tape around almost anything, including itself. However, I have a low success rate with getting tidy rolls if I wrap the tape to itself and those small units of tape are just more items floating around loose in my luggage. So, I prefer to wrap to a pen.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/qsxdkuyo
In this Lightweight Travel Tip I go to the extreme. Yes, I actually did this on my last long trip and nobody complained about my hair. I know a comb is light and you'll put into in a toiletries bag so it's not much to think about. But, in the lightweight travel mindset you should consider all items as probably optional if you approach their utility in a different way.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/lszmjnpq
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we look at toothpaste. I like using dry tabs instead of wet paste. Tabs weigh much less and you can make your own by squeezing paste drops onto greaseproof paper and drying. I wrap in a tissue and put into a zip-lock bag. Because these aren't gels you might not have to declare tabs. If you know your hotel/airline will supply toothpaste then perhaps you don't need to carry any. Maybe you can buy a small tube when you arrive at your destination, use it while there and not bring that tube home.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is: Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem or a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and comfort for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/ncwjlrcp
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we talk male grooming. An electric razor is heavy. Disposible razors are a good choice and, with some care, the heads are replaceable. On a two week trip, I took one disposible razor and two spare heads I took from other liberated razors.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is:
Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem of a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and luxury for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/uggfqbfs
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we look at powerbanks. If you're travelling near civilisation then you can probably leave the powerbank behind and just use your wall-charger. If you do take a powerbank then it might not need to be so high capacity and so you can save some weight.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is:
Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem of a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and luxury for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/zexvftxq
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we discuss minimising electronic devices. These days a mid-range mobile phone is very powerful and you can do almost anything - including editing video. Add in a lightweight keyboard, maybe a mouse too. With a docking station, you can use the hotel TV as a monitor. So, you probably can get away without a laptop or tablet.
But, do test your setup before you go. Make sure things are compatible and comfortable to use.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is:
Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem of a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and luxury for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/ziruzemn
In this Lightweight Travel Tip we look at standardising chargers. Nowadays almost everything consumer charges using USB-C but that wasn't always the case. So, you can probably carry a single charger and cable. Same goes for batteries - try to buy devices that use the same batteries and then you don't need to keep many spares around.
Lightweight Travel Tips is a series of short videos where I showcase the lightweight travel philosophy by discussing specific situations. The individual tips are gateways to the lightweight travel mindset.
I can recall my first trip overseas with overweight suitcases full of things I never used. Even though I have larger baggage allowances than ever, I take less. Less luggage makes it easier to move around, and I'm less likely to lose an item because I have fewer items to track. It's easier to move through crowds and over imperfect ground.
Lightweight travel tips combine my experience in travel and the outdoors to examine what I carry and if I could do without it. I'm not an ultra-light backpacking gram weeny - my outdoors philosophy is more informed by bushcraft, where I learned to make the most out of whatever I carry while keeping necessities and local conditions in mind. So, lightweight travel is a mindset of efficiency - that each item must be helpful or it should be left behind.
At the core of my philosophy is:
Passport, Credit card, Phone - everything else is a solvable problem of a luxury item.
This isn't to say you shouldn't carry anything - decide what balances weight, size, convenience and luxury for yourself and where you're going! Figure out what is available where you're going - both free at your accommodation or what you can easily buy.
How do I start thinking through a pack list? First, learn about the trip: what about the weather when I am there? What activities do I expect to do? What can I obtain at the destination if I need it? What equipment must I take? These questions are the genesis of thinking through what to bring.
And the biggest tip: Start with a small bag. If you can't make your load-out fit, it's easier to get a larger bag rather than the other way around. People tend to think in terms of bag size: it's the airlines that make us weigh everything!
Do you have some lightweight travel tips of your own? Please share in the comments.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/dsqsecnj
Labrador Miko's favourite non-eating activity is chasing drones. And, drone "THD", an EMax Tinyhawk III, has been his prey of choice. I managed to capture THD's final flight on my goggles DVR.
The flight starts with Momo having a couple of leaps at the drone. Miko likes to sit behind to drone as it launches from the back of the sofa. I'm glad Momo has started going for the drone because it also gives her some exercise! Miko is a bit big and fast for Momo, so once he gets close, Momo gives up the chase and sits near me.
Miko is trained to sit when I activate the drone's beeper. He also won't go for the drone when it's hopping along the ground. Recently he has started retrieving the drone when it's crashed and stuck - but I'm not sure a drone drenched in dog slobber is particularly awesome. Anyway, this time, Miko wins vs the drone.
Why is the drone called THD? Well, TH for Tinyhawk and D for the fourth one. THA, THB and THC have all met their end and are in the spare parts bin.
THA was not Miko's fault - he was not even our dog when THA died. Being my first FPV drone, I crashed THA often, broke the camera lens etc. What finally killed THA was a submarine experiment in Momo's water bowl.
Luckily THB was awaiting as a hot spare, so I was up in the air immediately. THB flew for some time with Miko chasing it until one day, he chomped down on the video transmitter and ruined the main board.
I replaced the main board - and since it is essentially the brains and heart of an FPV drone, I gave it a new name: THC.
In time THC, too, suffered from Miko's chompy jaws and needs repair. But, rather than waiting for THC to be fixed, Miko's mum brought a new drone for him: THD.
But now THD has died in the same way that THB perished. THD has a cracked frame, a bent camera cowling and numerous toothmarks.
But luckily, I have another main board on standby, so with an afternoon and the parts of the other drones, I should be able to Frankenstein a drone called ... THE.
Yes, it will be THE drone.
Miko vs Drone 1: https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/umhlllkc
Miko vs Drone 2: https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/htrcvtyb
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/ypruaeur
Yay, you get production notes. I will take you through my journey of creating a short video using PowerDirector on Android, shot with an InstaGo 360 X2 camera and a Samsung Mobile Phone. The focal point of my video was the Hokkaido Shrine in Sapporo, a remarkable part of Maruyama Park. My goal was to capture my take on the essence and energy of this historical place. While most people would reflect the serenity, I wanted to convey the power.
Setting the Stage Hokkaido Shrine, nestled in Sapporo's Maruyama Park, is a complex of four shrines, including one dedicated to the Meiji Emperor. Coming from a warrior culture background, I have a different perspective on paying respects. For me, it is an act of strength rather than submission. It is better to receive respect from a lion than a worm. With this mindset, I intend to show the vital energy that connected my experiences with the shrine's kami.
The Equipment To capture the essence of Hokkaido Shrine, I utilized the InstaGo 360 X2 camera, known for its 360-degree capabilities. This camera allowed me to capture the entire surroundings, immersing viewers in the ambience of the shrine. I used the regular InstaGo 360 Selfie stick, extending a 1.2m and including a free-standing base. I took some shots on a Samsung mobile phone.
For editing, I relied on PowerDirector, a powerful video editing tool available on Android, which enabled me to bring my footage to life.
Filming the Footage Arriving at Hokkaido Shrine, I was immediately struck by its awe-inspiring atmosphere. The vibrant colours, the tranquillity of the surroundings, and the architectural wonders all contributed to the energy I sought to capture. I filmed various scenes, showcasing the features of the shrines, the serene atmosphere, and the bustling activity of visitors paying their respects. I fit the shots within a visual vocabulary that would tie to the Sakura Kamakura moodscape video, enabling easy editing later. My favourite clip is the turn as I pull the camera under the water spouts.
Do, With or Without Belief The night before my visit, an unexpected incident occurred. I lost my wallet while walking back from a restaurant to my hotel. However, just a few minutes after leaving the shrine, I received an unforeseen call from the Sapporo police. They informed me that my wallet had been found and invited me to collect it. Japan is famous for honest citizens, though maybe a bit of superstitious observance eased things along. YMMV
Editing Decisions I embarked on the editing process using PowerDirector. My focus was on expressing the shrine's raw poor, energetic atmosphere. The reveal-down from the tree to the ground links this moodscape to the opening of Sakura Kamakura. Then, side-slides and flips reveal different parts of the shrine - like a shy person peaking out like they're trying not to be noticed. I use forward and backward clips to give a sense of a place where time is unusual.
As the music hits a crescendo, the shots change from side-to-side movements into more selfie stick sweeps, twists, and focus/field-of-view pulls. The change in shooting style expresses an altering of my perceptions as I move from shyness and engage directly with the energy of the kami.
The last clip was one of the first shots taken, and I ran it backwards in post-processing. For me, the treatment links the beginning and end, like pulling out of an alternative reality.
I aimed to create a moodscape video that genuinely conveyed the essence of my experience.
Conclusion My video production journey at Hokkaido Shrine in Sapporo was an incredible spiritual adventure. Despite shrines traditionally associating with quiet contemplation, I channeled a unique energy aligned with my warrior culture heritage. With the help of the InstaGo 360 X2 camera, a selfie stick, a Samsung phone and PowerDirector on Android, I crafted a video that portrayed the shrine's vibrant spirit and captured the essence of this captivating location.
Until next time.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/posfylll
This video is my tribute to Horotiu Dog Park, which was opened on a site leased for 25 years from a local factory and has now ended so the factory can expand.
PoemToday I spied a rainbow and sped straight through the gate,
Sprinted down the green and made a good escape.
I find my favourite place where paradise licks earth,
Here is space - I run for all my worth.
A brief breather beneath the breezy boughs,
Then off to test my confidence, just as you showed me how.
But, although this rascal must now re-depart, inside my heart I wait
With all dear frens who once graced this great estate.
ConceptThe concept for this video is a dog escaping heaven to return to a favourite place, which, just like him, exists as a happy memory.
Production NotesFor safety reasons, I did not fly the drone when people or dogs were at the park, so the footage has a strange, empty feeling - which suited the concept. There was limited time before the dog park closed to the public during a week of bad weather, so it took several visits. I spent more time waiting for the park to empty than I did flying. Additionally, the wind was a problem for the drone, and so were few usable runs longer than a few seconds. On the worst day, I waited four hours for the park to empty and then the quad ripped a motor clean off when a wind gust sent it into a tree. That took a day to repair.
While shooting around and under trees presents its own colouring issues, shooting under different weather conditions is much harder to deal with in editing. So the results could be better, but I better understand what to do next time.
The drone is a BetaFPV Pavo25 carrying a Runcam Thumb Pro 4k(old version) and the footage stabilised using Gyroflow. This setup is probably too lightweight for the windy conditions, and so I become practised at regaining control. Safety is number one: if there was any concern that the drone might've left the park, I was ready to disarm it, which would cause the drone to tumble straight down.
Setting good camera angles is a complex decision incorporating the desired ratio of ground/sky, flight path and speed. Sometimes I'd have to pick a flight line, watch the footage, adjust and fly again.
While I learned much about my drone, camera and editing from this project, it's time to move on and put these lessons into a new story.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/tbxuiebz
Kamakura on the coast is the site of the first shogunate and a popular day trip from Tokyo. Sakura season is especially beautiful near the Hachiman shrine and taking a peaceful walk in a kimono is a timeless luxury.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/mbqpigol
A couple of days ago, I took my BetaFPV Pavo25 FPV drone to a local dog park that is about to close. I wanted to capture some fantastic footage of the park before it shuts down for good. Unfortunately, the day I went to shoot was windy, and most of the captured footage was unusable. Despite this setback, I was able to fly a few good sequences that lasted only a few seconds.
As the world becomes more technologically advanced, drones have become an increasingly popular tool for capturing aerial footage. With the ability to capture stunning views and perspectives that were once impossible to achieve, drones are being used to capture footage of everything from nature to sports to major events and local history.
The BetaFPV Pavo25 is a great little drone, but it may be too small to handle strong winds. Unfortunately, this is a lesson I learned the hard way on. Looking back at the raw footage, I often fight to control the drone as the wind gusts. Nonetheless, I was still able to capture some interesting footage that viewers will enjoy.
I went to the dog park again the next day for the third time. However, I could not fly the drone because it was a weekend, and there were too many people around. Safety is always our top priority when flying drones, and I didn't want to risk injuring anyone - human or dog.
I plan to try again tomorrow, capture some more excellent flight lines, and adjust the camera setting better. I am confident I can shoot some amazing footage of the dog park before it closes.
In conclusion, even though the drone footage from the dog park was less successful than I'd hoped, I am excited to continue exploring the possibilities of drone filming. I am grateful for the opportunity to capture unique perspectives and views that were once impossible to achieve. Stay tuned for more updates on our drone adventures!
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/alepsbng
Preview drone footage of a dog park that is soon to shut down. Shot after a storm, the video showcases the windy conditions and offers a glimpse of what the dog exercise area looks like now.
As is custom, I used the first battery pack to scout the location for potential shots. Then, as the drone flies around the park, the stabilisation video shows what is happening with the drone. While the stabilisation video may seem irrelevant to some, other pilots might find it fascinating to see just how much work technology does for us. The wizard behind the curtains, if you will. I got rained out after the second pack, so I'm heading back there today.
The video captures the beauty of the dog park, with its lush greenery and open fields. It also showcases the drone's agility as it flies around trees and over the obstacle course, capturing footage from impossible angles. Drone footage can offer a unique perspective that shows a location at its best.
Unfortunately, the park is set to shut down soon, leaving many pet owners and visitors heartbroken. I hope to offer a video tribute to the park as a reminder of the memories and good times that were once had here. It's a bittersweet reminder of how quickly things can change and how important it is to cherish the moments.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/bmycngtl
Unstabilised, not lens or colour corrected. DVR footage of a Qachine QX95 FPV micro-drone flying around my house. Propellers and prop-guards in frame. No OSD.
Miko dog has been locked in a room so he doesn't eat the drone out of the sky. Momo dog sits patiently as the drone flies. Drone's aren't her favourite thing but she's learned to sit close to me.
The Eachine QX95 drone is six years old, but was cheap (from auction bulk lot) and a fun project to get running. The drone is not that responsive but does get a good head of speed. The drone is basically a T shape with the propellers at the top and the weight at the bottom, so does handle a bit like a pendulum.
A full writeup on this drone will be on my hive blog soon.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/htrcvtyb
Miko just loves chasing my fpv drones. His favourite toy is the Emax Tinyhawk III - it weighs 52g with propeller protectors so it can't hurt much.
This clip is taken after he's already been chasing the drone for half an hour so he is a little bit tired. He actually let's the drone get quite close, so I can tease him a little.
Surprise at the end.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/jrnyyurg
After one Miko strike too many, one of the props wasn't turning. After a successful motor transplant,
Miko's favourite toy is ready to fly again. These are my test flights of the new motor. Flies great!
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/umhlllkc
WARNING: Flickering DVR footage.
By popular request: more dog videos. Miko likes to chase my drones. Unfortunately, his teeth do quite some damage to my little drones. This particular drone needed significant repairs after he caught it once. But anyway, you can see Momo girl stays near me when the drone is flying while Miko successfully knocks the drone from the sky multiple times. He then stands guard and tries to stop the drone from launching again.
The video is "DVR" footage recorded on the goggles that I wear. The view you see, including all of the flashes, is what I see when I fly the drone. The light levels are challenging, so I hope you can see well enough. The footage is unstabilised, and the framing is unchanged. I have boosted the colours to help see what's going on. Sometimes Miko strikes out of nowhere just because the camera isn't pointing in that direction.
I am still trying to train Miko to leave the drones alone. This tiny drone can't hurt him, but he's already caused hundreds of dollars of damage (seriously!) to this drone. Several batteries have teeth marks on them, and I've had to replace multiple camera lenses, solder wires and antenna that he'd broken. The worst was that he damaged the AIO main circuit board, which is half the cost of the drone just for that one part! However, I'm not mad at him because I wanted to learn how to repair drones. After all, DIY building and repairing are part of the FPV hobby.
I have some bigger drones that I want to fly around, which could cut Miko badly. He got some bleeding cuts on his nose from one of those drones. So, for now, while I fly, he has to sit outside. The best success I have with getting him to sit calmly while drones are flying is to put him on his lead.
By contrast, Momo used to be nervous around the drones and run off to hide. My philosophy is to support my dogs through their nerves, so I trained her to sit close to me. Unfortunately, Miko is the new dog in the house, so Momo is a little unsure about what to do, so she doesn't sit. Momo now sleeps when the drone flies and is generally very relaxed unless the drone flies too close to her head.
The last time I went to the park to fly drones with local FPV people, some neighbour dogs came to chase the drones. The owners were thrilled because the dogs got some exercise and the drone pilot was happy to have some directed tasks with his drone. He promised to send the GoPro footage from the drone to the owner to post on their social media. A few other dogs chased the drones too. Something about drones is very appealing to some dogs!
Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=eturnerx/xfawrwgy
While Miko boy dog tries to eat my drones, Momo does her best to stay out of the way. She knows that the safest place is to sit next to me when the drone is flying.