I've been messing with this for a few days now. First I used my Manfrotto Magic Arm and some Avenger F1000 suction cups that I use for my automotive rig but I was restricted and couldn't get what I wanted. Plus I couldn't see what the photo looked like unless I dismantled the whole thing.
I then tried my tripod with two legs extended right down to the floor and third leg against the back seat. Wedged in between the bottom and back rest along with some socks to stop it from moving around a bit. I also used the rear seat belts strapped around the two legs along with the two front seats pushing up against the legs so its as stiff as it could be.
If I could I'd make the perfect back that sits between the driver and passenger head rest and seat but I installed Honda S2000 seats in my Prelude so this can't be done. I did however make a camera mount out of a aluminum bar and a T shaped bracket thingy....
I tried it out first with my fathers old video camera but everytime the camera senses the smallest bump in the road it stops recording. I'm assuming it does this because the camera has a HDD.
I also can't mount my DSLR as it hits the window. So I have to extend the bracket but if I do that it will start to bounce from the weight. I could just extend the bracket and drill a large enough hole so I can mount my tripod under it and brace it up against the middle of the rear seats or floor of the car. It might help. Other then that I was thinking of a using two suction cups on the two rear windows, Manfrotto Super Clamps and a round bar with the camera mounted in the middle or anywhere else.
Basically in order to have no vibration what so ever I have to construct something that's super strong and solid as a rock.
I still think my photo turned out alright. I'm going to try it out again tonight from the front passenger side window facing up just a little bit catching the shift stick, my arms, steering wheel, dash and front windows. We'll see how it turns out.
I think you did very well.
I have a car that has hollow head rests, and I'm able to remove the rear seats, so I can install my tripod behind the passenger seat, lower the back rest and run the center column through the head rest and this way jam the tripod. Its very sturdy this way. It also allows more view in front as I don't see the rear view mirror as much. And I lower the strengh of the dash lights a bit.
I then aim my external flash towards the roof at very low strengh and 2nd curtain to help freeze the movement of my hands on the steering wheel.
It also helps to have a very smooth road surface
Thanks! That means a lot to me. I still have to learn how to use an external flash as I would like to learn flash photography.
Smooth road surface around the lower mainland of British Columbia is VERY hard to come by in my opinion. All I see are pot holes, bumps and cracks. Even on the highway. The city doesn't do much about it. So this task might be a bit difficult but I'll keep trying as I'm determined.
