Run Notes 2

This is my next attempt at recreating a running story. I’m not going to waste time talking this one out, so some brevity will have to do. Soz.

In my day job I work as a learning designer (a lengthy blog post has been been written telling the story - will link it here when I publish it imminently) - I am currently preparing to produce a set of course materials that utilise an animated historical timeline. I am mainly using Run Notes as an excuse to flex my muscles and learn effective ways of making this kind of thing quickly (and cheaply).

I wrote in a previous post about my earlier experiments. This one is a stage on. Some bullets:

• I used a GoPro Hero 10 and ‘Shorty’ in my Salomon 8L backpack - very compact and light to use. It worked way better than the Insta360 set up and was much more convenient than taking my bag off and taking my phone out - it was also very quick to get to the footage which was such a barrier with the Insta360 system. In this instance I think I might have used it too much. I was just finding my way after all - on the actual Three Forts Challenge in a week or so I shall work out the points I want to record in advance and stick to that. It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

• The initial screencapture process was way too exhausting - I had about 60 pngs saved and strung together - Motion couldn’t actually cope with them. In the end I had to use one simpler map - the one you see. One huge learning point is to try and find a sweet spot - how minimal can I get without losing impact?

• On the GoPro front - it is worth saying that it is a remarkably smooth and reliable system with very pleasing results. I did some timeworn recording on my bike yesterday and it is just easy. I am still finding my way on the use of Wide/Narrow shooting modes. Will need to practice that a little more before the big day I think.

• Having small images appear on the screen is okay… I think I want to try a slightly different mode next time. I like that there is a unified map and that everything links back to it.

• The more conventional non-satellite map is impossible to stitch in Affinity Photo as a panorama - satellite works way better - more details to find and link up.

So in terms of developing an effective visual language this one is making forward steps. Will post more as I go.

Run Notes

This is very much a work in progress - I am trying to find a way of capturing the story of a good run… which is quite hard to achieve without it becoming an exhausting endeavour. This is my most recent attempt. I ran up some hills while on holiday in Athens last week. (Warning - it has too much of me in it but it also represents some progress as far as technique is concerned - which is why I am sharing it here.)

The contextualising of personal footage via a bespoke animated map is a solid step forward for my storytelling technique - I took data recorded on the Workoutdoors app and then used the brilliantly flexible Footpath app to create a reference video (via screen capture) as a basis for the animation that you saw in the clip:

The video footage was shot using my iPhone - and although the image quality is superior in so many ways I felt sad about having to stop so often to remove and open my rucksack to get it out. I need to find a better way of filming more flexibly and immediately - there are so many things you see on a run which would be fab if you could capture them more quickly. It’s all about removing friction and layers of hassle. I feel I am nearing the solution…

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Each week I try to take part in the local Worthing Park Run - this is a piece I shot recently with an Insta360 camera which I don’t think works very well due to the limitations and friction of the technology involved.

(I should also say that I detest the music on this clip but I was pushed for time so whatevs…)

I think the 360 camera isn’t quite there yet - although the form factor is cute, the shots are too often grainy; the labour involved in reframing shots is annoyingly tedious. Once the novelty has worn off you are left with essentially 1080p clips of occasional quality. I want something better and I think a switch to GoPro after so many years of resistance might be the way forward.

I am hoping that I can:

• easily store one in the front part of my running bag without it being a hassle

• whip it out quickly and record decent 4k (and higher) material with good stabiisation

• be able to access and edit the material quickly in FCP

• not be hindered by battery issues (assuming that I am not filming everything - just the odd clip of something that catches my eye)

This is a sketch of my next kit list when I fully intend to capture a longer South Downs run - possibly the Three Forts Challenge…

I will be posting more updates as I make progress.