This is a terrific demonstration as to where technology is helping us bring our vision to the viewer. The vision or story is what matters, not HOW the image or story is created. Other then the obvious reasons to use this, i.e., can’t take the film crew to another planet (well yet), there are some tremendous savings of not taking a whole film crew on the streets with all it’s cost’s and logistics included with that. I don’t see this as “cheating” , it all comes down to the story that matters.
Archive for December, 2009
Stargate Studios Virtual Backlot Demo
Posted in Behind the scenes, TECH, Video on December 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Twenty Bench on Early Show
Posted in Wine, tagged cabernet, Wine on December 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I want this blog to not always be about photography or video , but anything I might be passionate about.
Although I’m far from a Master Sommelier, I’m slowly acquiring a more refined taste of the ol’ vino. Love me a glass of the Cab!
Some very good friends of mine own the Nine North Wine company: www.NineNorthWines.com One of their Cabernet brands, Twenty Bench
was recently featured on the CBS Early show as a great value, beat out the $74 bottle of Bordeaux , and they sell it at Costco!
Their other wine company is JamesCole Winery: www.JamesColewinery.com, check this out too for a great Cab.
Give this a taste and watch.
Cheers
Learning Tree International
Posted in Behind the scenes, tagged Behind the scenes, lifestyle on December 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Thank god for fun clients! I always have such a great time shooting at Learning Tree International.
Learning Tree is a leading worldwide provider of effective management and IT training.
The concept of these shots was that you can take their classes “anywhere” including your home.
Some of the challenges in a shoot like this are, that we’re pretty limited to the talent sitting in front of a computer and directing them to act like they’re actually engaged in what they are supposed to be doing ….learning. The client will strip in images on the computer screens later.
Secondly, for this shoot, finding the right home that had what we are looking for. We needed clean, simple decor not too distracting , yet with style. Also, this home worked out beautifully technically that it had a lot of available light coming in, which we augmented with our lights. I love lighting this type of scene where my aim is to make it natural, but still give it some shape with a directional feel to it.
It also was so spacious that I had lots of room to control the narrow depth of field. I wanted to concentrate the viewer to the student at the computer and have the background identifiable, but out of focus. You need a good bit of space to accomplish that.
For shooting models sitting in front of computer screens, we have more fun then should be allowed.
Egypt / Lebanon video by Khalid Mohtaseb
Posted in DSLR, Inspiration, Travel, Video on December 16, 2009 | 1 Comment »
This video was all shot on the Canon 5dMk11. Beautiful use of slider for camera
Behind the scenes – Hilton hotel
Posted in Behind the scenes, TECH, Video on December 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
We recently finished a 5 day shoot for a local Hilton hotel after they re-modeled.
With the magic of lighting, and a little compositing we transformed the outside of the building.
I used about every hot light off my grip trailer for this one. Also, in the sky I layered the existing sky along with a stock sky from my library.
Here’s a little video from the shoot:
Converting 5dMk11 video footage
Posted in DSLR, TECH, Video, tagged 5d Mk11, Video on December 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Those of you shooting with your Canon 5d Mk11 for HD video, this a a very helpful article from Vincent Laforet’s blog. By the way, all you should follow Vincent’s blog as well for lots of great inspiration and tech advise.
Convert H:264 to Apple ProRes
Click on link
Vincent LaForet _ H264 to ProRes 422
Thanks Vincent for post!
Love this video shot around the world
Posted in Inspiration, Video on December 8, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Pompeii, Italy
Posted in Travel Links on December 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Pompeii - Bath
The ancient ruins of Pompeii, Italy. This was shot with a stream of available light coming in through one of the openings to the Baths. I loved the texture and colors. And what’s with all the little statues of the men below, they ALL have six-pack abs. I guess this was before the fast food world.
Now click on the Pompeii link to the right, and see the actual streets on Google Earth.
Be sure to hit “Street View”, very cool!
Does anybody know Turkish?
Posted in Travel, Video on December 2, 2009 | 1 Comment »
When traveling, getting off the beaten path is what I love the most. Although, it would be good to know how to speak the language of the locals.
In a tiny village in Sirince, Turkey, I took a walk through the back cobble stoned streets looking for something interesting to shoot. Seeing this obvious tourist, this woman gestured me over to her tiny, very humble home to sell me some of her wares.
Take a look at how I struggle trying to figure out how much Lira this woman wants for a small table linen I was buying from her. It was all worth the effort as I got some striking portraits of her. After taking a few photos of her, she gave me a piece of fruit to feed her donkey that was chained up in this very dark, depressing cave like room next to her home. Ah, I love to see how the rest of the world lives.
See the Sirince Link to the right , to see where this is on Google Earth.
