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Project Beaver

Anchor: Project Beaver [Project Beaver]

Upon realising my new Career Goal, I conceived a project that would both develop my camera skills and allow me to demonstrate my existing skillset. Project Beaver set out to use a lifelike Robotic Beaver, combined with traditional camera techniques to document the return of the Beaver to the UK. With obstacles such as being difficult to access, stealthy movers and nocturnal, beavers proved a challenging but interesting subject. I spent a great many hours sat in river banks observing and filming these charismatic creatures.

Project Beaver - Traditional Filming

When I started this project I used the equipment I already owned, A Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless body with 100-400mm, a GoPro 5 and a Mavic 2 Pro Drone. I soon added a HD Trail Camera to help with night time filming and keeping track of their movements. Filming largely at dawn and dusk, the low light conditions became a constant challenge, and I soon moved away from autofocus to shooting completely manual, this necessitated the addition of  a 5" focusing monitor and later a follow focus. Fitting my filming around the convergence of light and beaver activity, I woke early, went to bed late and spent my days cataloguing footage and catching up on sleep,

Anchor: Long Lens Filming [Project Beaver]

Infrared Lamp adaption - A custom night vision solution

Early in filming I realising my camera equipment was poorly suited to low light filming and the majority of behavior I needed to capture took place at dawn, dusk or night. Working with what I had, I got my XT-2 Infrared converted. I then modified an Infrared security lamp to run from Sony NPF batteries, that would mount directly beneath my camera and make a portable night vision setup.

Anchor: IR Lamp (Project Beaver)

Reedbot - Custom Aquatic Camera Platform

After a couple of successful remote action camera shots, I realised the potential for a water based camera platform that could be driven and positioned remotely. Using a stablised GoPro mounted on a wide omnidirectional hull, Reedbot was able to be positioned via Radio Control and the camera feed could be monitored via an analogue video transmission. After proving the concept, the GoPro was later changed to a Sony RX0ii for improved quality in low light.

Anchor: Reedbot (Project Beaver)

Beaverbot - Robot Camera Beaver

My first venture into fully Organic Mechanics, this provided a chance for me to learn more engineering based 3D modelling in Fusion 360, as well as advance my softer artistic skills in sculpting, mould making, skin casting, hair and fur work,

Designed to float and move omnidirectionally, this animatronic Beaver contains a camera with the intention to get up close and personal with beavers. With moving tail and neck, blinking eyes and twitching nose, it should be a convincing deception to most humans, and hopefully Beavers too.  At present the mechanism is still under construction.

Anchor - Beaverbot [Project Beaver]
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