Flash Photography Essentials
Yesterday, a friend of mine who does a lot of video work asked me a big question. “I’d like to start learning some photography. Portraits to begin with. What type of strobes would you recommend? I know...
View ArticleCompetition for the MoVi?
While most of the attention at NAB was focused on the high-dollar MoVi camera gimbal, this also happened: Yes, that’s a very similar concept, for $1,800 compared to $15,000 for the MoVi. Granted, this...
View ArticleSteal The Shot: GQ & Esquire Covers
If you happened to peruse the magazine rack at your local bookstore this month, you may have done a double-take … GQ’s cover photo featuring Robert Downey, Jr., and Esquire’s photo of Robert Redford...
View ArticleCanon 5D Hacked for RAW Video
Just when you thought that Blackmagic had made it safe to write off DSLR video as a transitional form in the evolution of filmmaking, the wizards toiling in obscurity on the “Magic Lantern” Canon...
View ArticleHow To Shoot RAW Video On Your Canon 5D2, 5D3 or 6D
After spending most of the morning sifting through the Magic Lantern forums, I’ve figured out how to install Magic Lantern on my Canon 5D Mark II (note that it is the II, not the III). As far as I know,…
View ArticleTesting the Canon 5D2: RAW vs. H264
I can’t sit on the sidelines when something like RAW video functionality on a DSLR comes out. There are a lot of nice test videos out now, but I needed to shoot my own. So, here it is! My first…
View ArticleLED Lighting Is Finally Affordable
There’s a great scene in The Devil Wears Prada, in which Meryl Streep’s character explains how concepts in the fashion industry begin with the avant-garde, move to upscale designers, filter from there...
View ArticleCanon 5D2 – RAW vs. H264 In Real-World Production
When I was in middle school, I saved my pennies until I had enough money to buy a Gameboy. I played Tetris until I could close my eyes and see falling blocks. All the game graphics were gray/green...
View ArticleCanon 85mm Lens Faceoff
Canon manufactures two different 85mm EOS lenses. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM sells for about $2,000. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is still wicked fast, and sells for about $400. Can one prime lens...
View ArticleEverything I Know About Color Grading
A colleague recently complimented me on my skill with color grading. I was a little surprised, since I don’t feel that this is a particular strength of mine. However, I do feel reasonably confident in...
View ArticleLED Lights Keep HVAC “Cool Guy” TV Commercial Cool
Last week, I posted a glowing review of a three-light LED kit from Genaray. Even though the kit is designed to be used for a traditional “three-point lighting” interview setup (key light, fill light...
View ArticleChicago Sun-Times Replaces Photographers with iPhones
No, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke, although it certainly sounds like one. The venerable Chicago Sun-Times (which has been in print, under one name or another, since 1844), has fired its entire staff...
View ArticleWhat Is This Thing?
A reader sent me a question that I could not answer today. Barnsley writes, “Hey Alex, I have seen this little cannon-looking thing on most big movie shoots. I have been wondering about it for almost 4...
View ArticleCrew of One: Marlon Stafford
Longtime reader Marlon Stafford recently completed “Recession Proof,” a gritty, dramatic short film shot under severe time, location and equipment constraints. I think he did a great job with it, and...
View ArticleColombian Army vs. Rebels in Music Video Smackdown
Everybody loves music videos … Even guerrilla fighters in the South American jungle! According to this article from PRI, the legendary FARC movement – historically associated with kidnapping, murder...
View ArticleSummer Soundtrack –“Lumen” by Natalia Clavier
Times, places and events have their own specific soundtracks. Whatever was on the radio when you were learning to drive is probably fixed in your mind forever as the soundtrack for that era of your...
View ArticleUsing Available Light for Documentary Filming
I’ve done a number of videos for Wild Dunes Resort, and most of them have showcased all the great things to do on the beach where the resort is located. For this project, however, the assignment was...
View ArticleIs Adobe Considering Linux?
Back in 2010, when I started to get really annoyed that Apple was abandoning its creative pro customer base in order to focus on consumer gadgets, I bought a small HP laptop that ran the Linux...
View ArticleTwo Indy Films Worth Seeing
I don’t often get the chance to watch indy films, but when I do, I usually enjoy it more than I expected to. That was certainly the case yesterday, when – thanks to Netflix streaming – I was able to…
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