Video: On The Edge of Darkness

Timelapse video of the night skies rarely disappoint, and this video is no exception. Shot over a two-week period in Utah, the images seen here are both awe inspiring and incredibly humbling. The countless starts overhead provide an amazing sense of scale, while the rocky backdrop is spectacular too. This is one of those clips that you'll want to save for future reference, as it is as mesmerizing on subsequent viewing as it is on the first.

The Edge of Darkness (4k Resolution) from Ron Risman on Vimeo.

Gear Closet: Peak Design Capture Pro Camera Clip

One of the things I struggle with the most while on an active trip is how to comfortably carry my large DSLR camera without compromising mobility or sacrificing the ability to keep my hands free. On a strenuous mountain trek it can be incredibly annoying to have a camera slung over your neck, just as it can be tedious and time consuming to have to pull it out of your pack every time you need it. Thankfully, the brilliant team at Peak Design has come up with an excellent solution. The company is well known for designing great accessories for cameras has created a product called the Capture Pro Clip, which makes it easy and convenient to carry your DSLR with you just about anywhere. 

The Capture Pro Clip features two unique elements, the PROplate, which attaches to your backpack, belt, or bag, and an attachment clip that connects to the tripod port on the bottom of your camera. The two pieces than click together to offer a secure way to carry a camera that keeps it out of the way until it is needed, but ensures that it is locked tightly in place without fear of it being dropped while on the trail. This gives you the convenience of always having your camera ready for use, while allowing you to keep your hands free for other activities. 

I recently had the opportunity to put this product to the test while in Alaska, and I found that it was pretty much the solution that I'd been looking for, but didn't know existed. The lightweight, but very durable, clip worked exactly as advertised, keeping my camera locked into place for when I needed it. In fact, the Capture Pro Clip not only put my bulky Nikon DSLR within easy reach, but it held it in such a way that it didn't become a major annoyance either. It wasn't slapping against my body as I moved, nor was it a hinderance in any way to mobility. And since you can easily adjust exactly where the clip is placed, you can find a comfortable position to hold the camera that works best for you. For me, it was on the shoulder strap of my backpack, but it could just as easily have been on my belt too. 

Installation of the clip takes just a few minutes, and Peak Design includes all of the tools you need to do so right in the box. It is best that you lock it into place before heading out into the field however, as that will give you the time you need to adjust its location if necessary, and make sure that you are comfortable with it before setting out on a trip. It also gives you a chance to test the Capture Pro's release mechanism, which is easy to get the hang of, but can be a bit slow at first. Getting acquainted with how it works ahead of time will save you a bit of frustration later. 

Adventure travelers and photographers will love the level of convenience that this product brings to the table, For me personally, it is simply a better way to carry your camera that doesn't compromise on your ability to get the right shot. On top of that, it allows you to hike, climb, and even jog without a heavy camera body getting in the way. It short, it is an efficient way to keep your camera close at hand, ensuring that you won't miss a single shot.

Peak Design offers the Capture Pro Clip for $79.95, and for my money that is the best option for active travelers. But if you're looking for similar performance while saving a few dollars, the standard Capture Clip is available for $59.95 instead. While not quite as durable as the Pro model, it offers similar performance at a value price. 

Video: On the Road in New Zealand with Photographer Chris Burkard

Chris Burkard is a professional photographer who travels the globe to capture athletes in remote and extreme places. In this video, he takes us along on a journey to beautiful New Zealand, giving us a glimpse of some of the exceptional landscapes found there while his subjects hike, climb, windsurf, and paddle their way through that amazing place. This clip is so beautiful it will inspire you to get outside and go on an adventure of your own.

Video: Austria in Time Lapse

Austria is one of the more beautiful countries in all of Europe, with alpine settings that can rival any of its neighbors. That is brought home in this video in stunning fashion as we get an amazing look at some of the landscape found there through beautiful time lapse photography. You'll find open meadows, flowing waterfalls, and incredible snowcapped peaks are all part of the montage. The three-minute clip will also be a good reminder to not skip Austria the next time you visit Europe.

Pictures in Motion – an Austrian time lapse movie from Michael Stabentheiner on Vimeo.

Take A Virtual Tour of One of the World's Largest Caves

Vietnam's Son Doong Cave stretches for more than 5 km (3.1 miles) in length, 200 meters (660 ft) in height, and is over 150 meters (490 ft) wide. Those dimensions are enough to put it amongst the larges caves in the entire world, although unless you make the journey to visit it yourself, it is hard to put those numbers into perspective. Fortunately, National Geographic is here to help.

Recently, Nat Geo posted an online project that allows us to explore Son Doong ourselves, without having to make the arduous journey to the remote section of the Vietnamese-Laos border. In fact, you don't even have to leave your comfortable chair.

The virtual cave expedition starts at the entrance to Son Doong, but soon drops under the Earth into the depths of its subterranean chambers. The experience comes complete with 360º panoramic views, ambient sounds, and a host of facts and information about the site. Visitors to the website can use their mouse, trackpad, or keyboard to pan around the room in all directions, viewing the cave chambers in detail, and even zooming in to examine the site more closely. The 500-megapixel photos offer stunning resolutions, making the experience that much more realistic.

All told, there are about 10 individual regions of the massive cave than can be explored in this manner, taking us to the depths of the Earth to give us a glimpse of this magnificent cave system. But, if exploring Son Doong virtually simply isn't enough for you, there are options to actually go into it yourself and spend some time trekking through, and camping in, its stone halls.

Most of us will probably have to be content with using Nat Geo's virtual Son Doong Cave to get our views of the place. It is a pretty compelling use of technology that gives us a chance to see what it is like there. While you're wandering through the online version of the cave, see if you can spot the base camp for the team that took these images. It can be found in one of the chambers, and it truly helps to give the place a sense of scale.

This is very cool stuff.

Video: The Northern Lights Over Iceland

March of 2015 brought one of the greatest displays of the Aurora Borealis – AKA the Northern Lights – ever seen over the country of Iceland. That light show is captured in stunning fashion in this video, which features six minutes of mesmerizing still and timelapse photos of the skies ablaze with brilliant colors. The Northern Lights remain one of the greatest natural phenomenon found anywhere on the planet, and it never ceases to inspire a sense of awe and wonder. Enjoy.

Litríkur Stormur from Stephane Vetter on Vimeo.

Video: The Earth in Motion

This beautiful video uses timelapse images to capture all of the motion that is taking place around us, even if we don't happen to notice it. Stars move across the sky, the wind blows through the trees, rivers and streams flow, and so on. There is movement taking place around us at all times, and it is an indication of life unfolding across the planet. We don't always take the time to recognize the importance of these forces at work, but watching this clip will remind you that they are there. I hope you enjoy.

Move from Aaron Keigher on Vimeo.

Video: Adventure is Calling (Part 2)

A year or so back I posted a video that was made by three friends who quit their jobs to go off and travel across the U.S. for two months. Along the way they captured some amazing images of their journey and turned it into an inspirational short film called Adventure is Calling. Now, one of those travelers is back with a second video that continues on the theme of delivering inspiration to travel. This three-minute clip offers some stunning timelapse images from across the U.S. and Canada that will quite simply take your breath away. These are some of the most compelling outdoor settings that you'll find anywhere, and if you don't feel inspired to go find an adventure of your own after watching this, you should probably check yourself for a pulse. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Adventure Is Calling II from Shane Black on Vimeo.

Video: A 10k Timelapse Demo

Remember when we all use to get excited about 1080p HD video? Now, while everyone is busy talking about 4k resolutions, the filmmakers behind this demo have made the leap to 10k. Shot with a camera that is capable of collecting 80 megapixel images that provide a stunning resolution of 10327x7760 pixels. In the short film we get a glimpse of what this looks like with some fantastic timelapse images shot in and around Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The sense of scale is very impressive, with details that will blow you away. If this is the future of video, I can't wait for it to get here.

10328x7760 - A 10K Timelapse Demo from SCIENTIFANTASTIC on Vimeo.

Video: Explore the North - A Journey Through Norway

Last year, filmmaker Theo Gove-Humphries spent some time traveling through Norway, documenting the landscapes that he found there. Along the way, he captures some of the incredible places that he discovered using timelapse photography. The result of his hard work is this 2+ minute clip that is amongst the most beautiful that I have ever seen. It is a visual postcard for what Norway has to offer, and makes a case for why we should all go visit. Simply spectacular. Don't miss this one.

Norway - Explore North from Theo Gove-Humphries on Vimeo.

Video: Timedrift - Alpine Settings Captured in Timelapse and 4K

You'll be hard pressed to find another timelapse video as beautiful as this one. Shot in and around the Italian and Swiss Alps, it features some beautiful alpine images that are simply breathtaking. This is two minutes and forty-five seconds of pure bliss for anyone who loves the mountains. And if you're fortunate enough to own a 4K monitor, the entire video is available here in that format as well. Enjoy!

TIMEDRIFT | ALPINE 4K TIMELAPSE from Martin Heck | Timestorm Films on Vimeo.

Video: Exploring Norway with a Wildlife Photographer

This video takes us on an incredible journey through Norway with wildlife photographer Michael Martinez has he goes in search of the perfect shots of animals in their natural habitat. He finds plenty of wildlife to shoot, but it is the stunning landscapes of Scandinavian country that will leave you breathless. The clip takes us to some truly wild places, with amazing images of those remote destinations. Beautiful.

NORWAY - A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNEY from Romain Decomble on Vimeo.