Extracting a photo from Oarstack video

If you’re looking for a crew photo, it is possible to extract one from Oarstack video on YouTube. Results will vary, but they can be OK, like the frame below from this video. Click the images for larger versions.

magicactions-extracted-closeup

At the time of writing I’m using the Magic Actions for YouTube extension with the Chrome browser to extract frames. Plugins can turn into a security risk, so you’ll need to satisfy yourself that it’s still safe.

If you’re happy and have the extension installed, first adjust some settings. If the extension is working you’ll see its icons below YouTube videos. Click the settings one as shown below.

magicactions-settings-icon

Most of the settings don’t matter, but the resolution should be set to the same as the source video, which for Oarstack is usually HD1080p.

magicactions-settings-hd

Setting the player type to HTML5 will activate the slow playback features, which will be handy for choosing the right frame.

magicactions-settings-player-type

Then find your chosen video – this is our example – and set the playback speed to 0.25. This will make it easier to choose a good frame.

magicactions-settings

Drag the slider to somewhere just before the area you’re interested in.

magicactions-coarse-find

Play the video and try to pause it at the right frame. If you miss it, drag the slider back and try again.

magicactions-fine-find

When paused at the right frame, click the Capture icon.

magicactions-capture

This will take you to the capture page.

magicactions-capture-large

It’s worth experimenting with the sharpen filter if the image is soft. Click the save button when done.

magicactions-capture-save

You should now have a 1920×1080 image, a bit like the one below.

magicactions-extracted-youtube

Things to consider are:

  • Video compression will produce artefacts in the images. These will be at a minimum when there’s not much ‘going on’, or not many rapid changes to compress, at that point of the video.
  • Most Oarstack slow motion video alternates between real frames that the camera captures, and interpolated frames that the software generates. If some frames are interpolated the description will say so. Interpolated frames tend to have more artefacts than the real ones.
  • Oarstack video is taken with a fast shutter speed – usually 1/1000s or faster – to aid generation of slow motion using frame interpolation. This is unusual, and makes the video look jumpy when viewed at full speed, but is good for grabbing frames. Other YouTube videos might not give such good results.
  • Oarstack video and images can be used freely for personal use.

May Bumps 2014 Thursday Footage

May Bumps 2014 highlights (extended with Thursday footage)

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M1 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M1 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M1 slow motion

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W1 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W1 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W1 slow motion

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M2 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M2 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M2 slow motion

May Bumps 2014 Wednesday Footage

May Bumps 2014 highlights

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W2 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W2 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W2 slow motion

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M3 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M3 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M3 slow motion

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W3 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W3 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W3 slow motion

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M4 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M4 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M4 slow motion

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W4 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W4 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division W4 slow motion

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M5 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M5 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M5 slow motion

Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M6 normal and slow motion
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M6 normal speed
Cambridge May Bumps 2014 division M6 slow motion