Now that we have the GoPro camera (a great invention, whose only downside may be the tendency of people to care more about the video than the experience), we’re going to see a whole lot more video closeups of animals in the wild. Here’s one by photographer Chris Bray with the following information (among other stuff):
While running one of our five 2-week photo safaris to Kenya in 2014, we attached a GoPro camera to a remote control car and drove it up to a lioness with cubs, stopping at a distance where they still showed no interest, and then jiggled the car around just enough to invoke the cubs curiosity. Two of the three cubs then came over and investigated it for 20min, before growing bored and tired and falling asleep back with mum. Our 8th safari to Kenya, we had off-road permits and filming permits for this national reserve, and two very experienced driver guides, used by Nat Geo, Imax and BBC. See our YouTube channel for other footage like from last year where a lioness carried the GoPro camera away, and an elephant stomped right next to it.
The cub’s attempt to roar at the end is ineffably cute.
And behind the scenes (missing the roar for some reason):
h/t: Merilee, Michael
man, i really love cats.
I think it’s weird that it’s not called a video camera anymore. Should I be calling all of my devices by the name of the company which produces it? They’re quite amazing but another amazing fact is that “GoPro” which is a proper noun has become the adjective to replace “video” entirely. Even people who are not being paid to advertise for them are unwittingly doing so. That has to be a PR specialist’s wet dream.
Well, they are actually using an actual GoPro. I’m not sure if the trademark has really be genericized yet (actually a marketer’s worst nightmare because they can lose legal control over the trademark) or of GoPros are just the most ubiquitous action cameras thanks to GoPro’s prodigious marketing skills.)
That is really cute. I have seen similar behaviour from my cat when he encounters something new and suspicious!
The first video seems to have dubbed in sound effects (loud fly buzzing, loud birds in back ground) that aren’t heard in the “behind the scenes” footage. There’s a chance the cub didn’t roar at all, or if it did, it was too quiet to be picked up by the GoPro’s microphone which is on the camera but under waterproof, sealed enclosure.
I’m sure you’re right about the dubbing. Also note that in the finished product all the footage is color corrected to give a rich, warm tone. In the “behind the scenes” film, some of the footage is uncorrected – see from around 00:10 for the raw view. Also note that the film shot from the vehicle using a different camera looks pretty much “as-shot”.
Sub