Sep 24, 2014 | Field Reports
I’ve written many, many times about how with still images, we need to use any number of techniques to bring movement to our subject. The most common is simply panning. Well, it seems this holds true for video even though it’s a moving medium. While I’m not trying to become a rockin videographer, I would like those times I do shoot video to do a better than average job. This means upping the game so now I’m looking at bringing movement into this moving medium.
The first and seemingly easiest way of introducing this movement to video is what is called a Slider. So, Brent & I went looking at sliders. Did you know that the good ones are bloody expensive, like in the thousand and thousands of dollars?! Not knowing a thing about them and finding renting not practical, I went looking for a cost effective slider that would be a good tool to learn with. I found the Revo 23″ Camera Track Slider and I’m impressed how well simple works.
As you see, the Slider is in a sense just a long camera rail. But in this case, there is a platform on it that can slide, really smoothly. On the Revo I mounted a RRS plate on the bottom so I could mount it to a tripod (it comes with short legs so it can go right on the ground). I then added a small RRS ballhead to the slider platform so I could attach the Nikon 1 V3 and change its orientation. In the top video, I simply pushed the V3 across the slider in front of the Corsair and you can see that effect. The second video, while I slide the V3 across the slider, I rotated the whole assembly on the tripod using the panning motion of the tripod head. Now the UPS man had only delivered this rig an hour before I shot these so these are just the first tests. Tests to me only count when set up in the real world (yes, I know that’s a model), so I took time to find the location, the lighting and set the angle of view. So for my first tests, I was pleased. Pleased that the Revo did such a great job for only pennies. Bummed I have a long ways to go and now, have another tool to figure out how to get around in my luggage.
Sep 18, 2014 | Field Reports
Aviation fans … a great event is coming up in ten days. The Atlanta Warbird Weekend is a great event with great planes and great folks! It’s hosted by the Dixie Wing CAF, a name which might seem familiar to you because our spread on them was just published in FlyPast and we held the Spring Photoshop World Precon at their hangar. It’s also special because one of my favorite planes, the B-17G “Sentimental Journey” will be there. If you want a great time (entrance and parking is free) and some great photo opps (it’s a gorgeous field to shoot at), be sure to put this on your calendar!
Sep 17, 2014 | Field Reports
Think Tank at Photokina yesterday announced their new, monster of a case, the Production Manager 40. Now you might think it looks familiar, that’s because I use the Logistic Manager 30 for my Profoto B1 lighting gear. As can see in the photo above, the Production Mngr 40 holds 4 Profoto B1 units where the Logistics Mngr 30 holds 2. That gives you some sense of how big it is. So, you can carry your gear or ship your assistant around in this case with the utmost protection assured!
Sep 17, 2014 | Field Reports
Upcoming Issue for iPad & Android!
Volume 17.3 Features:
B News: The Business of Photography
YOU can make it in the business of photography! I know you can, I have proof from those who I’ve helped as they succeeded. As you might imagine, just like anything photographic, there is lots of bad information out there about how to succeed and we’re going to correct that. In this issue of the BT Journal, I’m going to lay it all out, step by step so you can get paid for your passion. I’m going to kill myths and spell out the common sense in a way that you can adapt it to YOUR photography and the way you want to make money from it! It will be out in October but don’t wait until then to subscribe!
Sep 16, 2014 | Field Reports
On man, is this question filling up my email box! And to save you time, I don’t have that answer yet as I’ve not seen the D750. And not having knowledge of the D750, I’ve gone full on with the D810 and the announcement of the D750 has me scratching my head like many of you. To make any relevance to my thoughts to your own photography, keep in mind that my primary camera is the D4s and secondary camera is the Df. The D810 / D750 would be as Lindsay states so well in this video, is to fill an unique whole in my bag. In this case, bigger file stills & video.
Here are the base stats for these bodies, all FX format:
[table width=”585px”]
Body,MegaPix, FPS,ISO,Video,Wifi
D4s,16.2,11,100-25.6k,Full HD/1080p 60/50/30/25/24p,No
Df, 16.2, 5.5, 10-12.8k, No Video, Yes
D810, 36.3, 5, 64-12.8k, Full HD/1080p 60/50/30/25/24p, No
D750, 24.3, 6.5, 100-12.8k, Full HD/1080p 60/50/30/25/24p, Yes
[/table]
So by simply looking at these basic specs, I can see where the D750 fits in perfectly to my bag if, if I don’t include the D810. Now the D750 does not have small Raw where the D810 does. The D750 has the swivel LCD for video which the D810 does not have. The D750 has Wifi (with added accessory for FTP) like the Df which the D4s and D810 does not. That has become important to me getting images quickly to a client while in the field. Sooooooo the D750 is lookin really good to me. The big question, which I don’t have the answer for myself yet, and it’s the biggie is, what is the D750 image quality? I don’t need it for high ISO, I have the Df for that. Don’t want it for my primary, have the D4s for that. I need that body to fill in the hole of bigger file quality and the primary video body. After watching Lindsay’s video who I have a TON of respect for, I simply can’t wait to get my hands on the D750. It might be perfect for our work for less dough. And that’s a good thing.
