We’re gearing up to take advantage of some much needed Vitamin D exposure here at Joby labs, but first some fun finds.

Robot Themed Reviews

Gorillapod loving seems to be get better with nerds. How can you resist taking advice from the Big Shiny Robot? Especially when it is coupled with such a contented, blue, lounging robot and providing “Nerd News & Reviews.”

Oh, and welcome to the world where absurd statements meet Joby love. I get a kick out of the idea that your only option for positioning might be to balance your Gorillapod on a robot.

Leaping Lizzards

This Gorillapod plus self-timer photo barely needs an introduction.

Football Season is Here

Shocking though it may be, Football (American style) season has arrived and according to Tailgater magazine, the Gorillatorch is a must-have item to accompany any pre-gaming feast.

Another action filled week here at Joby and on the web. I was super excited to come across the first video posted below. Enjoy!

A Beautifully Shot Gorillapod Review

With close to 6,000 views already, this gorgeous review by DigitalRev of the Gorillapod line of products is not to be missed. It shows off a number of excellent use cases and comes with some quality lines, given in a deadpan tone.

My favorites include:

“You don’t want to sit down on one of these”

and….

In reference to the quick release;  “That was really quick!” (You might just have to see it to understand this one)

Plus, the fabulous juxtaposition of the Barbie pink Gorillapod at the construction site is pretty priceless.

Alternate Perspectives

While this film does at times make me feel a little sick, it is the closest I will ever come to being a circus performer – thanks Gorillamobile.

Mountain Bikers -  Meet the Gorillatorch Flare

Fun reading on this quality coverage of the Gorillatorch Flare on Mountain Bike Riders website. A full analysis of the use of the hands-free flashlight on and off the bike.

Favorite Line: From repair stand light to front commuter light. Gorillatorch Flare’s versatility RULES

What an amazing assortment of fabulous photos!  Although summer has just arrived in San Francisco, it is winding down in the rest of the world. With that, the Candid Summer Contest has ended and the 5 lucky winners below will receive up to  $100 in Joby products. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who entered the contest.

And now….the winners!

Jump! by TexasBorn

Team Work by DebaPhotoWala

S'mores by Chyidean

Expectant Cravings by Faulkner

Off Road by Daniel Miranda

Some fun video and photography this weeks in Friday finds. Plus, an awesome write-up in the Chicago Tribune. I mean, who doesn’t want a little bit of “portable sunshine” with the Gorillatorch Flare?

Bike Riding Through La Defense

I love the carefree feeling of this take on a biking with a Gorillapod heading through the outskirts of Paris.

Gorillapod as Cover Girl

The Gorillapod in the background looks like it is about to slink into something a little more comfortable.

A New Take on the Holiday Roadtrip

John vs. the Minivan exhibits amazing feats of strength. I particularly like the need for somebody to survey the situation from below – or just take a minivan on the head.

What’s inside your bag?

Summing up the end of a 365/ 365 (365 photos in 365 days)  flickr photographer Aaron Miller shows off his stuff. Here’s what he had to say about his stash:

My workhorse camera was the Canon 50D and I’d highly recommend it to anyone thinking about getting one. Definitely did the job for me. But the camera that I think made the difference for me was the Canon S90, which I have mounted on a little Joby tripod to the right. I carried that thing with me EVERYWHERE (along with that little tripod) and it just does a great job of taking fully manual little pics. I can’t say enough about it.

So, what’s on this table?

Canon 50D
Canon S90
10-22 mm Canon Wide Angle lens
50 mm f1.8
100 mm Canon macro f2.8 L with IS
24-70 mm Canon f2.8 L
18-200 mm Canon zoom
430 EX flash
Yanguno flash
Yanguno wireless flash kit and wired trigger
Canon flash cord
Tamrac Expedition 3 camera bag
Joby gorillapod SLR zoom
Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 tripod with 322RC2 head
Flash stand with umbrella
Macbook Pro 15″ with Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS4, plus Photomatix for HDR processing

I just wish my feet could keep me from tripping, forget playing the piano.

To send you into the weekend with an adventuresome spirit, here are some great photos of ATVing from the company offsite a couple of weeks ago. Some people escaped unscathed and fortunately so did the camera gear.

Charging the Hills

One of the ATV Joby teams

Catching Air

Post ATV Break

Ashlee After a Graceful Dismount

Flickr Photos

And now for some slightly less frightening photos care of Flickr.

Chicago Skyline by Ken Snyder

Ekka, Brisbane

By far the most humorous image of the week…..

It Shrank by MisterPiggeh

Special props for inventive use of self-timer on the Gorillacam.

Friday is here, and the sun has finally appeared. We are literally wearing wool and suede here, in the not-so-summery San Francisco August.

Parkour!

While this theoretically could get a little repetitive there is something so ninja-cool about this video of swinging through windows. Captured with a Gorillapod Magnetic, it comes complete with post-activity grunts.

Flickr Fun

MI6 building under surveillance by Gorillapod SLR and an Olympus.

Given that downloads are disabled for these Gorillacam photos, I decided it best not to post on the blog. So, you’ll just have to see this priceless expression the old fashion way.

A Dabbling of Press

Scary that Autoblog seems to think that we are already in the “end-of-summer.” This guide helps prepare you for the ultimate summer road trip. Of course, hands-free, emergency-ready, Gorillatorch Flare is a must.

And why we are a little worried that it may go to its head, the Gorillatorch Flare was given the close to perfect rating of 9.5 our 10 on the I4U website.

We are headed out to an offsite in Park City, Utah to catch up on all the summer fun that you all seem to have been experiencing. Watch this space for photos of us taking advantage of the great outdoors. In the meantime, enjoy these fun videos of other creactives taking full advantage of the elements.

Taking Down Camp Rocker Style
At times, this does not seem like the most efficient way of packing up, but eventually, like the song, these guys seem to get into the rhythm. Captured with a Canon 5D, a Gorillapod and a soundtrack to rock out to, this video let’s you see a little bit of Mount Adams and the outdoors. Even, when you are trapped inside.

Windsurfing From All Angles

This starts a little slow, but gains energy and ends up with some crazy cool angles as the sail lifts up and over head and the windsurfer takes on speed and really takes advantage of the Gorillapod and Fisheye lens.

Oh Elise

I must admit that when I hear Elise, I think of my fabulous friend (salut Elise!). Apparently, I am in the minority – in this office the Lotus Elise seems to be king. This drive in the Loire Valley is captured with new Panasonic Lumix TZ10 and of course, a Gorillapod. This guy is clearly a gear head…and please, don’t test me on what happens in minute 9 of the movie.

…and a Gorillapod Focus Press Hit

5 out 5 ain’t bad. Especially, when you aren’t selling toothpaste or other dental products. This great review of the Gorillapod Focus by Appletell makes us happy.