The Road to Brakel: A Timelapse Tale
Ah, the open road! There’s nothing like a drive to clear your mind and set the stage for a creative endeavor. My destination? The picturesque town of Brakel in Belgium. But this wasn’t just any road trip; I had my Manfrotto 269HDBU heavy – duty lighting stand.
Why the Manfrotto 269HDBU?
As a long-time Manfrotto aficionado, I’ve got more tripod heads than I can count. But the 269HDBU is not your run-of-the-mill tripod. It’s a lighting stand that moonlights as a tripod, provided you’ve got the right Manfrotto head. And boy, do I!
The Heavyweight Champion: Pros and Cons
Let’s get one thing straight: this stand is not for the faint-hearted. It’s heavy, cumbersome, and needs a car with ample trunk space. At 1.8 meters when collapsed, you won’t be taking this on a casual stroll. But what it lacks in portability, it makes up for in height and stability.
The Birth of a Sky-High Partnership
So how did I end up with this behemoth? 🙂 One of the photo agencies I freelance for had a bright idea: “Why not replace the photomast with something more budget-friendly?” Enter the Manfrotto 269HDBU. The deal was simple: I’d pay it off through my photoshoots for them. After a few hiccups and complications (because what’s life without a little drama?), the stand was mine.
The Brakel Debut: Aerial Photography Reimagined
Fast forward (or back) to May 2023, and there I was, in Brakel, setting up my Manfrotto for its first official photoshoot. The results? Aerial shots that would make any drone jealous beacuse with the 269HDBU I do not need a permit.
