Searching for the Ultimate Backpack

I've spent the past few weeks researching backpacks online and in shops. It's been quite challenging to find a suitable backpack that has everything I want. Here is my requirement list:

1. Laptop compartment (must fit 17")
2. Camera compartment (DSLR body with lens at the very least)
3. Real air flow back (like the mesh that separates your back from the rucksack on hiking bags)
4. Waterproof (either a waterproof material or a handy bag to cover it)

After a lot of digging and trying different combinations of phrases in google, I finally managed to find the type of backpack i've been looking for. Here is what i've found:

Naneu K4L v2 - LINK

At first I watched a review on YouTube for the Naneu K4L. Then I went onto their website and saw they've replaced it with the v2.

This bag is amazing. It looks so versatile for taking photos on the move and also for storing everything I need for travelling on a plane and to hotels.

The only down side is that the camera compartment isn't on the side, so you can't swing the bag around for a quick grab and shoot.

It's currently priced at $240, but at the moment I can't find anywhere to buy it in the UK.

GoRuck GR1 - LINK

During my search I found this bag. It's not exactly what I was looking for but I was quite impressed by it.

This doesn't come with a camera compartment, but the bag opens up completely so it would be easy to organise my stuff, including the DSLR in its current padded bag that I have.

This bag looks tough, built to last and is priced at $295

Oakley Kitchen Sink - LINK

The name alone is a selling point, but it also looks really cool.

Some extra features here are the top which has a solid compartment for glasses or phone. At the bottom there's a compartment made especially for damp/wet shoes as it keeps it separate from the main compartment and has drain holes to let the liquid run away.

Good back airflow. Not sure how water resilient this is though.

Priced at £175

Also from Oakley, the LunchBox (£220) also has some great features and the BigKitchen has some more space.

ClikElite Klettern - LINK

I really like how stylish this is, with this vintage look.

It has a DSLR compartment, but it doesn't look very safe, secure or even big enough.

Not much room between back and backpack.

Overall not up to my standard, but really looks like a cool bag.

ClikElite have got one bag which is more suitable for me...



ClikElite Jetpack 17 - LINK

This is quite similar to the Naneu bag.

It has a camera compartment which can be detached. Loads of hidden pockets. And has a breathable back.

The down side is is that the straps don't look very comfortable for a backpack that could potentially be very heavy when full. And it doesn't have a rain cover.





ClikElite also do a Probody Sport CS which would be perfect, but unfortunately it only holds a 15" laptop.

Booq Boa Flow XL - LINK

Booq make some really well designed backpacks and this is no exception. Unfortunately, theyve discontinued it.

Looks comfortable. Water resistant material. Stylish. Camera and laptop compartments.

Again what's annoying is that it's discontinued and really hard to find.


Here are some other things I found during my research:

• £10.79 - cool 15 card holder - LINK
• Ogio do very nice backpacks, but couldn't find one I want because of their rubbish website design - LINK

In summary, I think it's down to these 3 in order of which I would get first:

1. Naneu K4L v2
2. Booq Boa Flow XL
3. Oakley Kitchen Sink

Update:

Have also found Everki, who make some really nice products and have excellent reviews. They don't have a product exactly like what i'm looking for, but they're top quality and will consider in the future.

Zelanga Productions Ident Animation

I've made another ident video, this time for the lovely people at Zelanga Productions. Check it out...
 

VFX Tool Bank Ident

I've made an ident video for this new AWESOME website called VFX Tool Bank. Check it out...
 

How To Do Visual Comedy

Brilliant!

Quick Tip: Deleting lots of constraints in Maya in one go

Here's a nice and simple, built in MEL command to delete all constraints in the scene:

delete -all -cn

More delete commands can be found HERE. 

Add/Remove Frame on Timeline Hotkey

I think it's about time I share this one. Over the past couple of years I have been using a very simple but invaluable hotkey, provided by Cameron Fielding on his blog FLIP. I use it all the time. Thanks, Cam!

// add a frame ( I have this assigned to the (hold) Alt and (press) + key )

timeSliderEditKeys addInbetween;

// remove a frame ( I have this assigned to the (hold) Alt and (press) - key )

timeSliderEditKeys removeInbetween;

Hey you! Have an update...

A very long time has passed by since I last posted on my blog. Life just got very busy towards the end of my AM course and I couldn't find the time. After a few weeks, then months went by I realised that I didn't have much to talk about here anymore, what with there being so many other awesome animation blogs out there.

Today though, I realised that there are some things I can post about, which will hopefully be interesting for old and new readers.

Firstly, let me fill you in on this giant gap...

Before I could even complete the Animation Mentor Animals & Creatures Master Class, I was contacted by SquareZero in London to help them with some creature animation - so the course definitely worked!

It was a very short contract but when it was over I was contacted by TT Fusion to join their animation department and work on the LEGO Movie Video Game. I was there for around 10 months until animation wrapped up.

At the time of writing now, I am working for Lockwood Studios in Nottingham.

All of this experience has been incredible and I am so thankful for all the opportunities. That's what brings me to my reason for picking up the blog again. I think that I can continue to share useful tips, tricks and information no matter how big or small as a way of helping other and keep an archive for me to refer to later, as was the original intention of this blog.

Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 6

This is the last pass of the Dragon Flight assignment that I submit to my mentor, and probably the pass that be in my showreel, unless there are some easy changes to make.

Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 5

This assignment was really starting to come together now. I'd managed trim it down by a substantial amount and have something fun to watch.

Final...

Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 4

From Blocking to Blocking Plus I went through a TON of changes in this assignment! Fortunately I had a peer buddy who noticed that I had made my shot was 3 and a half times over the limit of the assignment - 29 seconds as oppose to 7!!

I had to re-think, re-structure and re-evaluate the whole shot. I asked myself questions like, should I carry on using this matchmove? Will the idea still come through if I cut it down by so much? I was quite stressed out by the whole thing because I know I had to get a lot done in a short space of time and I really wanted this to be a great shot to put in my reel - that's 95% of the point!

I made several versions in each layer, but to save time and space in this post I will just show the crucial versions of each pass...

Blocking 29 seconds version 1 Blocking 29 seconds version 2 Re-Block Version 1 Re-Block Version 2 Re-Block Version 5 Blocking Plus Version 7 I also made the necessary changes to my storyboard

Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 3

Following my mentors final notes on the flght cycle, I made changes and uploaded a revision. The new assignment from last week now required reference footage to help guide me through the complicated choreography and mechanics. The matchmove was a very nice plate of a helicam soaring over the cliffs of Hawaii - perfect setting for a Dragon! This was just the planning which gave an idea how the Dragon was going to use screen space and get from point A, to B and C etc.

Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 2

This weeks assignment was to do final animation of the Flight Cycle following the penultimate notes from my mentor's e-critiques and to start a new assignment, planning a shot against our first matchmove plate.
I couldn't decide which matchmove plate I preferred to use, so I planned out the shots for both and sent them to my mentor for his feedback.

In the end we both felt that the second idea had more potential and used the plate more to its potential.

Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 1

I've had a fantastic break over the Christmas and New Year holiday and felt very excited to start the new and final term of Animals and Creature Master Class.

The first assignment (spread over 2 weeks) is to produce a vanilla flight cycle. For the first couple of days I spent a lot of time reading, researching and studying the various aspects that make up a flight cycle. Here is my first try:
I am pleased with my progress so far because I understand what's going on "under the hood" in this basic flight cycle. But of course there are a lot fo changes to make, which I will do for next week - and demonstrate my understanding more clearly.

Below is the reference video I compiled and the notes I made...

Animation Showreel 2012

As the Gregorian year of 2012 draws to an end, a compilation of my work at Animation Mentor and Ragdoll is here in my showreel.



Soundtrack: Supergrass - Caught By The Fuzz

AM Master Class Assignment 11

The final version of the final assignment in Term 1 of Animals & Creatures Master Class is now complete...
I have enjoyed working on this piece immensely. It's the first time i've been able to animate an angry character and an anthropomorphic character that can change from animal to human characteristics.

I enjoyed everything from the planning stage, watching practically every video of gorillas and chimps on youtube and reading The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris (to learn how I could incorporate human/animal traits). To blocking; creating the environment, getting the timing of his positions and the camera action the way I wanted. Through to blocking plus (adding the inbetweens), polishing and final animation. It's been a fantastic journey. Along the way i've had such great support from other students, a peer buddy, my mentor and the AM staff too.

I can't wait to get stuck in to the second term. There will be so much to learn. For starters i'll learn how to animate to a back plate, which I have done once before back in 2010, but I basically taught myself and haven't done it since. And I'm already reading Birds In Flight by Carrol Henderson, to get a head start on flight, because i'm going to animating this creature...

AM Masterclass Assignment 10

I made a couple of changes from the original blocking after some new ideas suggested by my mentor. And once I got into the swing of animating after being ill I noticed a couple of areas that could be pushed further. One week left to go!!

AM Masterclass Assignment 9

This week I wasn't very well, so I only managed to work on the walk cycle. Next week you'll see a HUGE update to my current assignment, so be sure to check back and leave comments. Only 18 days until this first term/class has finished!!

AM Masterclass Assignment 8

First blocking pass...

AM Masterclass Assignment 7

Final... That's the end of the Tiger assignment now. However, I have some more notes from my mentor that I would like to address which will improve the piece by a long way. I will try to upload an updated version next week.

For the next 4 weeks I'm going to animate the Ogre creature in a Gorilla/Chimp way, demonstrating walking, anger, running down uneven terrain, jumping, making himself big and roaring to ward off a threat on his territory.
I've definitely gone for the most challenging animation I could think of and have spent a couple of days searching for good reference footage. Here is what I have compiled so far...

AM Masterclass Assignment 6

Revisions...