Is That A Camera On Your Head, Or Are You Just Glad To See Me?

Okay, you asked for it back at the moving a palm tree post.
So here I am with the GoPro video camera attached to my noggin.
... Yes, I know I look silly ... But what a cool product!

(Disclaimer: The GoPro folks don't know I exist, this is just me and is not a paid product endorsement ... of course, if you are reading this, GoPro dudes and dudettes, feel free to shower me with the rest of the accessories and I will give an honest appraisal here at Pure Florida).

Having cleared the air, let me repeat, This is one cool camera.
Some of the neato keen things are:

• It's small and light enough that you REALLY do forget it's there.
• It's waterproof up to 60 meters!
• It shoots HD video.
• It takes 5 megapixel stills.
• It's simple to use, even though the instructions are written in a minimalist manner.
• It's rugged. There are Youtube videos of people chunking it on to paved roads just to see how it would stand up to abuse. These people are morons of course, but the camera did survive.
• There are all kind of accessories for sticking the GoPro on ... well, ...just about everything! They have a head mount, chest mount, handlebar clamp, 100mph proof suction cup mount, adhesive mount, wrist mount, ... they have it covered.
• The price is very reasonable, about $260 bucks for the kit I got. I did spend another 15-20 dollars on the head strap you are still laughing about in the picture above.
• I will probably spring for the suction cup mount too so I can stick it on my kayak.
• It has a wide angle view, so you get a nice big picture when you are working close to something. This feature is not so good for wide open scenics, but choose your tool for the job. The GoPro is better for pointing back at the photographer as they do something, or as the photographer's point of view while they are in action.

Case in point, the video below:

I'm not scowling at you in the video by the way, it was late in the day and a low, but still bright sun was staring me in the face.

Spring break is breaking this weekend, so I hope to test out the underwater capability of the GoPro very soon.

I think a Florida spring would be the perfect place to take the camera for a snorkel dive.

Stay tuned ... I am thinking Troy Springs with its 80 foot depths and shipwreck in the spring run.

As for finishing this carving project ... feel free to harass me, but the wood has to season a little so don't be to quick on the harassment part.

I have made about a dozen sticks from Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), Black Cherry, and even cypress. They are all Florida critter themed and mostly marine critters at that.
I love Farkleberry for it's white, hard wood. It carves nice, but has a smell like sweaty socks when you first cut it.


My usual pattern on artsy stuff is to go like gangbusters at first, set it down, forget about it, pick it up once in a while, lather, rinse, repeat, until suddenly ... it's done.

I have a sporadic muse.