great video...quality and composition were spectacular.

been following the thread but only now watched the video
lost for words really it's that good

My questions are all specific to your equipment and the making of the video itself:

What considerations/precautions did you take with regards to your camera and lenses (approx $3500 value)? Was it difficult to keep the sensor clean during your travels?

What software did you use to edit the video? What slow motion program did you use?

How much experience did you have shooting video with a DSLR prior to your trip? Experience editing?

I was seriously blown away by the quality of your video. The shots flowed together beautifully with the soundtrack and the overall effect was quite artistic.

I was also really impressed by the sharpness of the picture. I will be traveling to SE Asia/Subcontinent indefinitely next year and had planned to take the exact combination of DSLR and lenses that you made the video with. To see what this setup is capable of (in the right hands) was pretty eye opening, so cheers for that.

Those are some great questions from Decoy Octopus...

In my travel, I noticed that the more I carry, the more it limits me. Having 5K in electronics in my bag+cash+etc definitely played in my decision to not stay in hostels (I had some minor things stolen in the past), camping in organized campgrounds, and rough camping. Going to some places, I wanted to bring my camera but at the same time I was afraid to bring it.

I wonder how much footage you took in total, also...

And how you approached what you filmed and when, and how often...

no tent/sleeping bag?

Most places in SE Asia don't have hostels, they are more guest houses where you get a private room, not a dorm though there are exceptions. It can still have the same vibe as a hostel with a common area, backbackers (depending on location) and food etc. I don't really know what defines a hostel but felt I stayed in waaay more guest houses than hostels in SE Asia, and they usually call themselves a guesthouse. OP said he didn't have much of a budget but he also said he saved on accommodation, he'll have to answer himself. But guesthouses are part of the backpacker way in Asia--there is so much overlap that they are pretty much the same thing

What Justice said. Same thing I guess.

Nope. I had more then enough **** I was carrying. Don't think I would have wanted to add more.

You are very welcome Mostly all of the issues will arise at border crossings. I think Vietnam is the one country that it can be difficult to get a bike in from other countries. But if you are looking to do something like this, I know of some people that just bought in Bangkok and went up to Laos, down through Cambodia. A pretty solid option. I wouldnt suggest doing what I did crossing a border with a bike into Vietnam. With that said, it's very easy to find a bike and just hit the road.

-Didnt take many precautions except just being careful when I switch lenses. Didn't have any sensor issues. Didn't find it all that difficult to keep in clean.

-I used FCPX (Trial ) That was the first video I've really put together. But its a funny hobby so I'll prolly buy the real thing. I used the slow motion in FCPX. It can be really smooth, but it can be awful at times. I am learning currently what conditions are ideal for slow motion. I think the shots I used worked well because there wasn't that much movement. The more you slow down the shot, the better it will look most likely. Like for the Indian man with the white scarf I put it to 2%. Got lucky with the scarf flying. Definitely added some cinimatic effect to the shot.

-Ive owned the DSLR for 2 years maybe. Before the trip I was doing almost strictly photography. I actually didn't even gather that much footage from the trip (not including India). I'd say I used 30% of the shots I took (not including India) for that video. I was an idiot at first and deleted anything I thought didnt look good on the 3 inch display screen. As I said, first time editing footage and putting something cohesive together.

-Thank you kindly. I am glad you enjoyed it! Hope it gets some people out there to get on a plane somewhere and see what happens.

I can definitely relate to these concerns. I was borderline paranoid at times (for no reason) about where my camera was and it's safety. I resolved this by keeping it with or near me at most times. I didn't find this all that inconvenient, or as much as I thought it'd be. Just find a nice pack to carry it in that isnt too bulky.

I came across two filmmakers who had more gear then me (mics, audio equipment, more lenses) and they used a pacsafe so they didnt have to lug everything around. Something worth looking into if it gives you more peace of mind.

In total, I'd estimate I took 2-3 hours of footage (pretty small amount). The last country I was in (India) I took maybe 5-6 hours. And that was only over a 3 month span.

Hmmm, how I approached what I filmed. I try to familiarize myself a bit with where I am, whos around me. I planned some shots, but most were just improv. As in I would just have the camera near me, like the lighting/look of something. Go grab it. Take 15 seconds of it a couple times till I liked it.

I had the idea set in mind to use this song, so I knew I wouldn't be using longer shots, which made the way I filmed and how I recorded a bit easier. It just came down to getting pretty shots.

I didn't start filming a lot until India. To the point of being obsessed at times. I am hoping to put something together with all that footage, and have started editing a bit. But we'll see.

I haven't read the TR but I just wanna say that video is breathtaking. Seriously well done.

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a fantastic way to see things and meet people that you might miss traveling on trains and planes. Must have been an awesome feeling to be zipping down a road with the world opening up all around you. Cheers!

Indeed. That's a good way to describe it. Glad you enjoyed it.

As an American what options did you use for banking.. Did you carry money?(How much would u have on hand with you at times) Use credit card? Did you have any problems using your card in any of the locations?

Awesome video. Currently planning my SE Asia trip, your video has me even more pumped! Ty