James Boyd Presents

Product Review: P&C Pistol Grip Handle Rig

2012-02-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for an affordable stabilizer rig for an iPhone 4S or small camera (HDSLR or Sony NEX-5N), then I recommend the $59 P & C Pistol Grip Handle Rig. Basically, this rig is two plastic grip handles with 1/4" x 20 threaded studs for attaching your camera or accessories like a small light and/or microphone.

< The two grip handles can be used by themselves, or attached with the included 11" magic arm. It's very lightweight, but sturdy enough to stabilize your shot.

< I've attached my LitePanel Micro Light and the Rode VideoMic to the left handle, and my Iphone 4S to the right handle. In this "Fig Rig" style set up, mobile interviews would be a breeze. You could easily attach the Zoom H1 to microphone for dual-system recording. I'm also using the Cool Lux dual bracket for the light and microphone, and the $20 GLIF iPhone mount.

< Very small footprint to get your footage.

< If you want more stabilization, turn the handles into a line, and gently press the extra handle into your chest. I actually prefer this set up to the "Fig Rig" set up above.

< The red screw handles make it easy to tighten down your camera or adapters.

< Closeup of x3 adapters to attach the light to the cold shoe adapter. The red Zacuto Zotshoe, a 1/4"m to 3/8" f bolt, and a 3/8" m to 1/4" m bolt. This set up is just what I had available in my "Adapter City" bag. There's lots of options for adapters. Check out B&H Video for some cool adapter stuff.

P&C Pistol Grip Custom Camera Handle from emmagination on Vimeo.

Directing With The Jib Arm - "Taste Nirvana" Show

2012-02-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

< So I was able to wrangle my Glidecam CamCrane 200 jib arm on an internet cooking show called "Taste Nirvana." We shot in a studio, which gave me the perfect opportunity to utilize the vertical and horizontal moves of the jib arm.

< I mounted my 5DMKII on a Manfrotto ball head, and counter-balanced with about 20+lbs on the opposite end of the jib arm. Very smooth movements, and I was even able to zoom in and out on some shots. I also did a few rack focus shots, but preferred a diagonal zoom shot, ending on the product.

< Mika and Jack from TASTENIRVANA.com. This was my first cooking show, and I was drooling with hunger by the end of each episode. Thanks to Josh Dragotta, Caleb Varnadoe, Ruth Olvido, Kristen Koskella, Josh Steinberg, and Reuben Lim for being a great group of co-workers.

< Vertical move luv. Jib wrangling, as Jack sets up for a Thai food cooking lesson. I really want to add a pan/tilt head to give me much more control.

Time Lapse: Sundance 2012 Main Street

2012-01-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

I shot a few time lapses while I was attending the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The two shots were done using my Canon 5DMKII and 70-200mm f/2.8L lens. I used an interval of 7 seconds, and the long shot was created over a 9 hour period. The first shot has some flicker to it, and I would've used a de-flicker filter to help clean it up, but I was rushed to upload since I was being thrown out of my condo at checkout time. If the flicker in shot #1 bothers you, just blink your eyes really fast to compensate. I animated in Quicktime at 24 frames, then imported both shots to FCP. While in FCP, I added a touch of contrast, saturation, and sharpness, then created the slow digital zoom in the long shot #2. I exported out with Compressor to a manageable file, and uploaded to Youtube. The music is by Jeff Hefti, and I chose it based on trying to avoid the traditional "speedy" tech song found in so many time lapse videos. I think Jeff's excellent score adds a more somber tone, and is a nice contrast to the hyper activity of Main Street. I always try to create contrast and conflict in art, and again, it was going against the grain of what's out there. I synced the lights in shot #1 to the music cue, and adjusted my long shot (shot #2) to the ending of the music. I actually shot a few more time lapses with my iPhone, but they seemed out of place to the dynamic 5DMKII shots, and decided to keep only 2. I had a great view of Main Street from my condo, and could let the cameras run, while out and about at the festival. I knew that Saturday afternoon and night were going to be the busiest time of the festival on Main Street, so I wanted to capture the population crush that happens during that time period. I wish I had more time in post, but "they" were literally standing at the doorway, waiting for me to leave the condo, as I finished my Youtube upload. I had to checkout. Fate plays its part in the overall quality, but I made my deadline, and left town. Thank you, Sundance 2012!

My personal pictures from the festival can be found here:

Time Lapse: The Road To Sundance

2012-01-19T07:34:00.000-08:00

So I'm heading up to Sundance 2012, and shot a seven hour time lapse of the drive with my GoPro Hero 2. I mounted the camera to the side mirror with the Fat Gecko camera mount, grip tape, a rubber band, and safety twine (that's 4 levels of redundancy). I set up the camera to shoot full res every 5 seconds, and finished in Adobe Lightroom & FCP. I also mounted a 5DMKII and 60D inside the car, but those angles weren't as interesting as the exterior GoPro. I slowed it down to 50% during the Arizona Gorge sequence because it's just so cool. Oddly, there was no snow on this trip, so things are very spring-like. I went through Provo, and around the backside of Park City, to end up at the world famous Egyptian Theater.

< GoPro H2 mounted to side mirror with Fat Gecko camera mount.

< Canon 60D mounted upside down, and the exterior GoPro H2.

Make Your Movie Interview

2012-01-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

I'm about to embark on my 16th Sundance Film Festival, and I'm fired up about all the great films and filmmakers descending on Park City for Sundance 2012. It's such a great time of year for the creative arts, and gives young filmmakers the opportunity to mix and match ideas in the confines of the Wasatch Mountains. If you've never been, I highly encourage you to attend. Crash on a couch, hit the wait list line, and see some world premiere films. The Q&As after the screenings are always fun, and the parties don't suck.

Back in the day, I was the founder of the Nodance Film Festival, which was dedicated to first time filmmakers and digital filmmaking. We were the world's first DVD-projected film festival. That year, I gained a new partner in Forest Whitaker, and he was incredibly generous with his well-earned status to bring amazing talent to Nodance. We invited director Mike Figgis (flown from London), and programmed a retrospective of his work. This interview was from CNN, and we were about to give the Nodance "Free Spirit" award to Mike at the awards ceremony. Salma Hayek was a great friend to Mike, and offered to present the award. I'm the shivering lurkball next to Salma, rocking the goat.

Unfortunately, Nodance is no longer with us, but the hazy memories live on through YouTube. The most important things are to make your movie with whatever tools you have available, and to help other artists. With all the wonderful & inexpensive digital technology being created today, there's no excuse not to make your movie.

How To Light A White Wall Video

2012-01-05T14:53:00.000-08:00

DIY White Wall Lighting from James Boyd on Vimeo.

So I shot my first video blog about creating a DIY white wall video (while gooned on cold medicine, so please forgive any incoherent rambling). I had a large white wall in my dining room, and blasted it with 3 lights. I used the Lowel Tota (750w) centered on the ground behind me, a 600w Smith-Vector Q60-SG behind me to the left of frame, and a 250w Lowel Pro blasting the upper right of the frame. The goal is to over-expose the back wall by at least 2 stops, then use a correct exposure on your subject in front. Try to include some separation between your subject and the back wall for maximum effectiveness.

For my key light and fill light, I used the Creative Light Softbox umbrella with (x4) Alzo daylight balanced bulbs (5500k color temp). I was very pleased with this simple and inexpensive light that produces no heat, and uses very little electricity. I connected the bulbs to a 4-socket adapter with a light socket stand adapter and umbrella holder. All in, you're looking at $128 for the light, adapters & stand.

< Lighting Diagram for white wall video.

< x4 Alzo bulbs daylight balanced to 5500k color temperature.

< Creative Light Softbox Umbrella with x4 bulbs inside. I used this for my key light. For the fill light, I only used x1 bulb.

< 600w Smith-Vector Q60-SG light for the background fill.

< 250w Lowel Pro light for some additional blast fill on the wall. I love this little light for its versatility.

< Behold the power of the awesome 750w Lowel TOTA light.

< DIY dining room studio.

< The 5DMKII camera was sitting 10 feet back from subject (literally in my kitchen). I shot ISO 160 with exposure of 1/50th second @ f/4.0. Notice I used a Nasty Clamp for my Sennheiser 416 shotgun microphone. I shot dual system sound with the Zoom H4N, and synced it in post. I used the grey color board for focus, then removed it for shooting.

10 New Year's resolutions for the filmmaker

2012-01-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! If you're searching for a few extra resolutions to kick off 2012, Scott Macaulay from Filmmaker Magazine has listed 10 New Year's resolutions to make yourself a better filmmaker:

1. Amplify your voice.
2. Improve your social.
3. See the essential 100 films.
4. Work for a friend.
5. Make more [films] than you did last year.
6. Make one piece in a different form.
7. Read more.
8. Review your productivity and alter your creative behavior.
9. Learn a new skill.
10. Change your viewing practices.

You can read the full article with explanations HERE.

Imagine how you would grow as an artist, if you added just a few of these to your life.

Remember, filmmaker are not born, they're made. Make yourself good.

Ed Burns' "Newlyweds" shot on the Canon 5DMKII

2011-12-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

< I watched Ed Burns' "Newlyweds" last night on Amazon Instant Video. No rolling shutter or moire complaints from a $9k movie shot on the 5DMKII. It's all about story. Three lenses, natural light, and Twitter--get ready for the American New Wave. Check it out for $3.99 VOD.

Also, check out this article about Ed and his use of Twitter.

Philip Bloom reviews the new Canon C300 camera

2011-12-24T19:06:00.000-08:00

< Filmmaking guru Philip Bloom has released his review of the new Canon C300 camera. Well done, PB.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.

Filmmaker Eddie Burns getting it done with VOD

2011-12-17T19:08:00.000-08:00

< The LA Times has posted a great article on filmmaker Ed Burns, and his DIY Video-On-Demand distribution strategy. He shot "Newlyweds" with the Canon 5DMKII for $9,000, and hopes to make a chunky profit from VOD.

Here's another article on how he shot it, and used Twitter to involve his fan base.

Follow Ed on Twitter: twitter.com/edward_burns.

Movie: FOUR LIONS - terrorism made funny

2011-12-02T18:09:00.001-08:00

< After missing it at several festivals, I finally caught "Four Lions" the other day. This U.K.-based import is truly one of the funniest films I've seen in years, and I highly recommend it. It's full of awesome quotes, too numerous to list. Squat jogging, wookie or bear, SIM card eating, etc...

For more information on Film4 Productions CLICK HERE.

Camera Test: Canon EOS C300 = Awesome

2011-11-29T22:24:00.001-08:00

< CLICK HERE to watch the funniest camera test of the new Canon C300 from director Jonathan Yi on Vimeo.

Time Lapse Photography: This is why...

2011-11-26T11:49:00.001-08:00

Short Film: "Address Is Approximate"

2011-11-22T09:33:00.001-08:00

< U.K. based director Tom Jenkins has released a beautifully shot stop animation film titled "Address Is Approximate." It tells the story of a lonely desk toy that uses Google Maps Street View to take a cross-country trip. Shot with the Canon 5DMKII, Tom produced, directed, lit, edited, and color graded the movie himself. A little creativity and experience goes a long way.

VIEW FILM ON VIMEO HERE.

< BTS - 5DMKII & Dragonframe keypad.

< BTS - 5DMKII + slider + Dragonframe.

< BTS - upside down 5DMKII on slider.

You can "like" Theory Films on Facebook HERE.

Concert review: COLD WAR KIDS at the Troubadour

2011-11-19T01:09:00.001-08:00

< The COLD WAR KIDS are a band--a good one, and "band" is the key word. It's very obvious that these guys love playing music with each other.

< They were constrained on the tiny, yet iconic, stage of the Troubadour, but seemed to use every inch of the space. When the band members constantly rub their sweaty heads on each other, it's very clear that they're communicating on a deeper, more meaningful, level. That infectious love bleeds into the audience, and we all bond together as one.

< Not to take anything away from the other musicians, but there's a mountain on the left side of the stage in the form of guitarist Jonnie Russell. He rocked some wicked guitar, piano, vocals, and even smashed a cymbal to its death. I have to give props to drummer Matt Aveiro for creating a massive sound, with one arm playing drums, and his other arm playing the rumba shaker. Bassist Matt Maust might be the coolest dude in rock for sitting at the front of the stage, and asking the ravenous fans how "they" were doing.

< Lead singer/pianist, Nathan Willett, crushes the vocals with his beautiful falsetto, and deep, dark lyrics. This was a sold out "fan club only" show at the Troub, and I realized very early on that it was a singalong by the loyal fan base. They played for a good hour and a half before taking their first break, played all their heard-on-the-radio-stuff, while not ignoring the more obscure first album stuff. I loved every minute of it, and I hope you get to see the COLD WAR KIDS up close, so you can understand their level of musicianship and artistry. Thanks.

What's wrong with THE WALKING DEAD?

2011-11-14T09:24:00.001-08:00

< Matt Zoller Seitz at Salon.com has posted his regular Monday morning bitchfest about my favorite show. I completely agree, and feel the show is quickly losing steam. With no less than three eye-rolling acts of stupidity per episode, you wonder how these characters ever survived this long. A zombie drama with no zombies is getting tedious. Break out the piggy bank, boys, and hire some writers who know zombie survival. Hire me. I'm available, and Rick would be a dead man.

Photo: "Shane Walsh" (Jon Bernthal) - The Walking Dead - Season 2, Episode 3 - Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

READ the Salon.com article HERE.

< If THE WALKING DEAD has taught us anything, it's to always pair up with a fatty when a zombie horde death is on the line. More SHANE please.

Time Lapse: Sunsets in the Sofax

2011-11-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

< CLICK HERE to watch the time lapse video.

This is a collection of sunsets shots from my front porch in the Sofax (or Southern Fairfax) area of Los Angeles. Shot with Canon 5DMKII and 60D. Finished in Adobe Lightroom & Final Cut Pro.

HDR time lapse at 1:25 (Photomatix Software)

HDR time lapse at 2:39

Music: "Forty-Two" by Sonic Adventure Project (with permission).

< Porchlapse: It was raining hard, and I was barely protected on my porch. One shift of the wind, and I would've had to grab my gear, and head inside. My luck held, and I got a su-wheeet opening shot.

SUNSETS IN THE SOFAX on Vimeo.

New cameras abound: Canon C300 & Red Scarlet

2011-11-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

The new Canon C300 was released today with heavy promotion (including Martin Scorcese giving a pep talk). Canon also released a new set of lenses to accompany their new $20,000 baby.

Check out Engadget's live blog of the Canon event, complete with the specs.

Not to be outdone, Red released their new Scarlet camera:

The Scarlet camera specs are very similar to the Canon C300, but at a much lower price point ($13k). Check out the specs on the Nofilmschool site.

Oh yeah, and Redrock Micro released their new cage specifically for the Canon C300, and a universal cage for regular HDSLRs (The ultraCAGE):

Cinematography wizard, Philip Bloom, gives his updated take on the two cameras HERE.

Review: CineSkates Table Dolly system

2011-11-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

< JB's review: The CineSkates dolly ($200-350) is a modular system designed by Justin Jensen and his highly successful Kickstarter campaign. The three skate wheels clamp onto the Joby GorillaPod Focus tripod, and presto -- instant table dolly. The wheels are nice and smooth, but there seems to be a flaw in trying to use the GorillaPod as the base. In my experience, the GorillaPod Focus tripod is great for clamping a camera into odd spots. However, it's less spectacular as a support for a rolling tripod, without a good deal of labor to align the wheels perfectly straight. You can twist and contort the legs into many different positions, but "straight" seems hard to achieve. Again, this is less about the functionality of the CineSkates, and more about the difficulty in aligning the legs of the GorillaPod. At $50/wheel (x3), it becomes an expensive wrestling match, and you could be burning precious time for a "trick shot" with the CineSkates table dolly. Check out a CineSkates video HERE. Overall: B-

< CineSkates table dolly with GoPro Hero2. Use it only on a smooth surface to eliminate camera shake. The wheels clamp on perfectly, but the entire system is expensive and frustrating to align.

< JB's BONUS REVIEW: The Pico Flex Dolly ($70) with the IPhone 4S. For the price point, and set up speed, I highly recommend the sturdy Pico Flex Dolly. It's a heavy piece of alloy metal with a 2-axle, 4-wheel system. Very smooth wheels, and it can be aligned straight or curved within seconds. This is better for iPhone filmmaking, and might be too small for HDSLRs. For a small table dolly, and an affordable price point, I really liked the Pico Flex Dolly. Check out a Pico Flex Dolly VIDEO HERE. Overall: A -

Also: A sample video of the Pico Flex Dolly taking on Batman.

< The CineSkates dolly with the GoPro Hero2 & the Pico Flex Dolly with iPhone 4S.

Game review haiku: "Batman: Arkham City"

2011-10-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

The Batman is pissed

Blobs need a good ass kicking

Greatest game evah

Sneaky cat hottie

Teases the Batman with claws

Green eyes whip cleavage

Why won't this crazy

Lunatic just off himself

Ass with a bowtie

Little fat bald man
Dude when will you ever learn
Penguins can't fly

< JB's review: A+ / Gameplay, graphics, story all top-notch. Kudos to the music score. Can be difficult, with too many options during combat. But, the zipline/glide method of transportation is super cool. I'm miles from finishing, and it's quite possibly the best game I've ever played. The thugs talk a lot of smack, so I always end every fight with "I'm the effing Batman, dummy!" If you like the Batman, you'll love this game. If you like action/adventure games, this is the new king. It's that good.

< If you see this, you've got too much free time.

Trent Reznor and transmedia at the Sundance story lab

2011-10-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

< Trent Reznor teamed up with 42 Entertainment to bring cross-platform entertainment to his "Year Zero" world.

If you've never heard of transmedia and ARGs, this is a great article from the inaugural Sundance New Frontier Story Lab.

Read the full ARTICLE HERE.

GoPro cameras in action with a BASE jump

2011-10-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

I get vertigo when they accidentally clang heads. Thanks to F-Stoppers for the link.

REVIEW: IPhone 4S

2011-10-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

< For kicks, I went to the Apple Store today, and demanded an iPhone 6 from the clerk. As the smoke wafted from his glued-on Vulcan ears, he tried to explain that there was no such thing. Disgruntled, I flashed the Spock salute, and said, "May The Force Be With You." He collapsed into the fetal position, banging his head like Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man." I try to leave rainbows wherever I go.

Review of the iPhone 4S coming soon (see below).

< iTimelapse rig with the iPhone 4S and Philip Bloom pocket dolly.

< With some long distance cropping, it holds up pretty well. IPhone 4S shot. Photoshop.

< Pano love with iPhone 4S. Three shots stitched together in PS. Universal City as seen from Mulholland about 11:15 am.

< IPhone 4S.

< IPhone 4

< IPhone 4S + Owle Bubo + Bogen Magic Arm + Philip Bloom Pocket Dolly with Kessler Oracle controller.

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

< He was my real world Jedi hero.

Project: Dallas Cowboys TV

2011-09-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

< So I was lucky enough to get ahold of an all-access media badge to the Dallas Cowboys vs the San Francisco 49ers football game. I was told I could bring any camera equipment I had available.

< I brought my 5DMKII, a 70-200mm f/2.8L, and my 2x extender. I wanted to shoot at 1/1000 sec shutter to really freeze the action, but since I lost an f stop with the extender, I tried to cheat down to 1/500th sec shutter speed. I found 1/800th to be my sweet spot at f/5.6 - f/11. I also shot in multi-shot mode.

To understand my obsession with the Cowboys, you have to go way back to the early days. The salad days...

< Xmas in 1972. 4 years old.

< Me and my buddy, Mike Medina, with Cowboys' Tom Landry at training camp in Thousand Oaks, CA - 1979 (11 years old).

< My autograph board from 1979.

< Me walking on the field at Texas Stadium 1992. I worked as a PA for the Thanksgiving game, and got to wrangle cable for the post-game interviews.

< Me working the field at Candlestick in 1994. I worked the game, and got to wrangle audio for the post-game interviews. I remember standing next to Troy Aikman, and wondering if the moment was really happening.

< Me working the field at Candlestick in 2011.

< Go time!

< 49ers Isaac Sopoaga.

< 49ers QB Alex Smith.

< Cowboys' RB Felix Jones gets outside.

< D Linemen Marcus Spears & Jay Ratliff celebrate the OT victory.

< The NFL logo at the center of the field.

< Helmets.

< WR Jesse Holley observes the spectacle of the NFL.

< WR Miles Austin bounces into the end zone for his 3rd TD of the day.

< WR Miles Austin.

< Tony Romo works it out with the O line.

< WR Kevin Ogletree.

< Romo calls the audible.

< Tony Romo with Cowboys' head coach Jason Garrett.

< Romo played with a fractured rib and collapsed lung, and it showed in the huddle. Cowboys won in overtime.

< Romo grits it out on the sideline.

< After treatment, Romo returns from the locker room.

< Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

< Cowboys' media man, Scott Purcel.

< Crazy legs Dwayne Harris.

< OLB DeMarcus Ware.

< TE Jason Witten.

< Tony Romo in the post-game press conference.

TO SEE THE FULL SELECTION OF PICTURES: CLICK HERE.

On set: "Saving Lincoln" stills & EPK video

2011-08-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

I was hired by producer Reuben Lim to shoot stills and BTS/EPK video on the all digital feature film "Saving Lincoln," starring Penelope Ann Miller. I can't release any stills yet, but here is a BTS shot of me rocking the monopod.

< This is the 5DMKII video unit I used for the BTS/EPK interview footage of "Saving Lincoln." That's a Rode NTG-2 mic with XLR out to the DXA-SLR XLR input. From the DXA-SLR to the camera for in-camera synced dailies without the pesky AGC (or auto gain control) issues.

Because the microphone shockmount malfunctioned, I had to include 2 adapters (the gold bolt and red Zacuto doohickey). All mounted to a Manfrotto monopod.

< My one-man-band gear bags. 1) RT - camera bag with lenses 2) LFT - audio bag 3) BTM - Misc gear bag. Tripod & monopod. Despite all the expensive gear, I was most excited to finally use my tripod-chair.

< The green screen workspace for the cast and crew EPK interviews of "Saving Lincoln."

Project: "Underwater Anna" with the AquaTech housing & 5DMKII

2011-07-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

< So I was lucky enough to get ahold of the AquaTech waterproof camera housing for the Canon 5D Mark II. I also had the port adapter for the 14mm wide angle, and the 580EX II flash housing. I was very excited to finally be able to bring my HDSLR underwater.

< The AquaTech is intended for shallow water (33') or rain, and has a waterproof acrylic-backed housing system. When put together, it's fairly heavy to hold. But when you get it in the water, the system has positive buoyancy. It will even float on the surface, but cannot be used as a life preserver.

< The 25mm Port Extension & LP-1 Dome Port are necessary for the 14mm wide angle lens. You must also order the TTL cable separately, if you want to move your flash off your camera's axis.

< Through a mutual friend, I found model Anna Panici. She had experience working underwater, and even brought her own water wardrobe for the shoot. When she learned the pool wasn't heated, the look on her face was priceless. Thanks for it all, Anna!

< I stumbled upon a cool new filter in CS5 called HIGHLIGHTS/SHADOWS that cuts a lot of glare from the sky and pool, and brings out the blues. I added yellow saturation to the dress to bring out its natural color.

< This shot is what I consider the money shot of the day. There were a lot of average snaps, but this one just seemed to stand out with the hair, face, light, blue sky, etc. coming together in one big moment of synchronicity.

< We found a sunny corner of the pool, and it provided us with awesome natural reflections off the water's surface. For this shot, I hung Anna backwards over the side of the pool, with her calves holding her down to the ground above.

< Anna rocking it.

< Anna twisting on the surface.

< I loved the bubble ripples throwing shadows on her face.

< Too weird to promote. Too cool to delete.

< Anna upside down, but flipped.

< Anna from Heaven. This was just a magical stroke of good luck, where the setting sun lined up perfectly by the water's edge. Had I been more clever, I would've had her float into the sunspot. Instead, I was slowly drowning, and felt it more prudent to return to the world of oxygen.

< Me, taking a quick breather.

< Camera assistant, Robert Stenger, shot with the 70-200mm lens in its waterproof housing.

< Rob working the Sola 1200 dive light as a fill. I went for one Sola 1200 as a subtle fill light, while the other Sola was used as a background light. They both did the job--sorta. While they work great as macro dive lights, they were very weak in the pool during the daylight. They salvaged their performance once the sun went down, illuminating the pool with shafts of light. Promising, but I wouldn't recommend them as any kind of fill.

< The new Sola 1200 dive light ($700). 1200 lumens in the darkness of the ocean, but as a fill light it left me wanting something more powerful. I'm keeping them because I know I'll use them on some production when I need a small and bright battery-powered light.

< A cool accident shot. We waited for the sun to drop, and then draped a black waterproof tarp over the back wall of the pool. I was going for a poorman's darkness infinity look. The slow shutter speed gave Rob the hand tracers.

< Here's me with some 3-point lighting. I'm using the pool light (very yellow) as my key light on my left side. I'm using the 580EX II flash on the right side of my face for fill, and the Sola 1200s are dangling on a pole behind my head. Photo: Robert Stenger

< Here's a BTS video frame grab from property owner and legit cameraman Jim Perry. While we worked, he brought out his sweeeet SI-2K camera and recorded us.

< BTS: Discussing the shot.

< Another BTS frame grab from Jim Perry.

1 year anniversary today

2011-07-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

< Just sayin'.

Brodie Butler's "Point Blank" short film

2011-06-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

Aussie photographer Brodie Butler and Elliot Vassila have made a cool short film with his 5DMKII called "Point Blank." It just goes to show you what you can do with an afternoon of talent & imagination...and a wee bit of Steadicam. Nice work, mate.

Apple releases FINAL CUT PRO X

2011-06-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

< If you haven't heard, Apple has released FINAL CUT PRO X to their app store for $299. They also included new MOTION & COMPRESSOR programs for $49 each. There's now no need to transcode your HDSLR H.264 footage to Quicktime, and you can shoot, import, and edit on the fly.

The new FCP X version does not overwrite your previous FCP versions, but it will rearrange the files for import. Any plug-in filters from earlier version will not work in the X version, until updates can be made.

I'll update this entry later with reviews as they appear.

UPDATE: Ken Stone weighs in with his overview.
UPDATE: Digital Rebellion has the good, bad, and ugly facts.
UPDATE: Wide Open Camera's interesting take: calm down.
UPDATE: New York Times says long live Final Cut.
UPDATE: Apple hits back.

REVIEW: Los Angeles Film Festival

2011-06-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

DAY 1:
So I was lucky enough to get the Pechanga Pass for the LA Film Festival. This got me access to the red carpet world premiere of Richard Linklater's new film "Bernie," starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey. After several Redbull/Vodkas, it was time to strumble down the red carpet, past the fleet of paparazzi that were clearly very excited to take my picture. First, you have an escort that announces you to the photographers, which makes things very weird because no one knows why you're on the filmmaker's carpet, and second it becomes very clear that you're not Lady Gaga (I left my meat suit in the car). It felt good to muck up the system, if only for 10 minutes.

< Thank you, WireImage.

< WireImage next to Rick.

< JB & Kevdog rocking the after-party of "Bernie."

< Opening night after-party at LA Film Fest / LA Live.

< Noir app shot from the red carpet.

< LA Film Fest stylin' me out. Thanks, gang.

We got to sit directly behind Linklater, while he watched his movie in front of his first real audience. I watched his every reaction, the light of the film flickering off his face. When the director sits in front of you, there's pressure on you to laugh in the right places. I made it a priority to not even fidget, because I could inadvertently cause a scene to get cut because I twisted in my seat in the wrong place. Jack Black was most excellent as the real life convicted murderer "Bernie." Black even manages to crack you up with his "gay waddle" into prison in the film's final scene. It's truly a talented individual that can make you laugh while simply walking away from camera. "Bernie" is a low budget quirkfest, with plenty of real life Texas character interviews to keep you laughing. Shirley MacLaine was awesome as the mean-as-a-snake wealthy matriarch. I particularly liked the (*spoiler alert) mid-Act 2 climax of Bernie shooting MacLaine's character, as she reacts in closeup to her own murder. However much I love Rick's films, I felt he confused his genre in several scenes deep into the film. But he made me laugh the hardest during the "mini-states within Texas" scene. Being an old-school Texan myself, I understood and appreciated his deft explanation. Linklater was one of the first Texas-bred filmmakers to come out of Austin, and I remember reading about SLACKER when I was just a young puppy at SMU in Dallas. He made me feel I could just go out and make a movie, and that energy ultimately brought me to LA. Thanks, Rick, for doing it all these years, and keeping it real from the hillbilly kingdom of Texas. Overall grade: B+

Update:
DAY 2 - I saw the U.S. Premiere of "Drive" by director Nicholas Winding Refn, and starring Ryan Gosling, Albert Brooks & Bryan Cranston (by Bold Films - opens wide on Sept 16th, 2011).

I am a huge fan of the director's low budget first film "Bronson." It was dark and imaginative, and shot for less than a milli. After hearing the buzz from "Drive's" Cannes world premiere, and Refn's subsequent win of the Palm d'Or for best director, I couldn't go wrong on my Friday night. Based on a book by James Sallis, Gosling plays a Hollywood stunt driver that moonlights as a getaway driver for mob-related crimes. Things go awry, and Driver (that's Gosling's name in the film) must make things right at the cost of his personal safety. The first 10 minutes are spell-binding with a combination of "slow-chase, fast-chase" between the LAPD and Gosling. Loved this sequence. I also liked the mid-Act 2 climax of a robbery gone wrong, followed by a car chase with a slow motion crash and getaway. But, make no mistake, this is no car chase movie. "Drive" is a stylish drama with great actors, and some intense action scenes. The 80's synth music score sets this film apart from a normal crime-noir thriller, and the atmosphere is excellent (e.g. Gosling wears an inhuman rubber mask to settle a score on a moonlit beach). The gore factor takes me out of some scenes, and the ending is a bit cliche. But, I loved Albert Brooks as the jovial, blood-thirsty mobster, and Gosling simply crushes it. I highly recommend this drama when it opens on Sept 16th.
Overall grade: A-

To read a real review: MOVIELINE "DRIVE"

DAY 3:

< I went to the filmmaker lounge for the Pechanga Casino Night party. This was a high energy party with lots of fake blackjack. I had a few Stellas, and eyeballed the Maker's Mark. For future festivals, if you're only going to supply the bar with sponsored alcohol, please add a breath mint sponsor. Stella beer and Maker's Mark whiskey are brutal on the palette.

< I took my Stella-fueled death breath to the MMA documentary "Once I Was A Champion." This was a very sad, but inspiring doc about one of the more interesting fellows of the MMA world, Evan Tanner. Being a long time UFC fan, I was pretty bummed to hear of his passing, and now I got the full story after his death. There was no mythologizing of the man, but a brutally honest telling of his story from the friends he left behind. Evan was no meathead in the MMA world, but a sensitive and brutal warrior that seemed to spend his life seeking a deeper understanding of the world around him. It was a very heartfelt doc, but also very sad to see Evan's potential wasted due to his obvious alcoholism. In the last years of his life, Evan became a writer of blogs, and his fans (myself included) got to enjoy the fruits of his interesting labor. It's clear that even though Evan left us too soon, he touched so many along the way. Godspeed, warrior-poet. Overall grade: B

DAY 4:

< Being a big fan of James Franco, I stepped up for the world premiere of his new directorial effort "The Broken Tower." The film is a black and white biography of a poet from the 1920's named Hart Crane. With very limited budget, Franco jumps around from New York to Paris to Cuba to Mexico. If you like 5 minute takes of an angst-ridden Franco walking to nowhere, you'll love this movie. I hated it, but loved the filmmaker because he takes chances. It's not every film that you get to see an Academy Award nominated actor gobble dork on screen, but there it was--hanging in my mind like WTF!? Reminded me of "Brown Bunny" without Chloe. A totally gratuitous, and wasteful ending to a tender scene between Crane and his lover. I really liked the poetry readings by Crane, but could've used a few tracking shots of the audience reaction to help break up the monotony. If you like 10 minute takes of Franco reading poetry, you'll love this movie. I did enjoy the black and white, suspension bridge angst shots, but after 10 minutes of it, I needed a vampire or a zombie to keep me interested. Some sort of antagonist, or a protagonist goal would've helped me endure the 90 minute torture. As it was, it smelled of an experimental, angst-ridden, film school project for a celebrity-fueled, star powered 2nd world premiere. Overall grade: C-

< I followed the Franco screening with the DEVIL'S DOUBLE premiere party at WP24. This was a weird party with lots of old rich men entertaining gaggles of super-hot 28 year old actress/model/yoga instructors. Did I just see Jack Nicholson talking to Sarah Palin? Was the Stella beer making me see things? Nope, just body double actors that added an odd, but much needed theme to the party. The view was cool, but I missed out taking any pics. Meh...

DAY 5:

< I was very excited to see the Brazilian film "Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within." I heard only good things about this film from Sundance 2011, but wasn't able to catch it. The film is directed by Jose Padilha, and is a pulse-pounding, real-world actioner taking place inside the prisons and favelas of Rio de Janeiro. It has excellent characters and plot that are intertwined with the corruption of Brazilian politics. The human elements are what make this film great, and the gritty handheld camera work made me tingle. Sure, there's chopper play, but well-done chopper play. At times, it was a "Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" map where you chase the drug dealers across the favela's rooftops, but also had heartfelt soft scenes between father and son. I really liked that both main characters were on the side of good, while being compelled to use different methods to achieve their goals. The film is a bit melodramatic towards the end, but it all adds up to a complexity rarely seen in American actioners. Overall grade: A

GoPro 3D flat panel housing available

2011-06-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

A kick-arse website named EyeOfMine.com has just released a 3D flat panel housing for the GoPro underwater camera ($149). This eliminates the curved lens housing from the factory GoPro camera, and provides better underwater clarity and focus. Perfect for your Hawaiian shipwreck dive.

They also make single flat panel units starting at $79.

There's also MakoSpearGuns.com that are selling flat panel replacement kits ($21.95) for the curved GoPro lens covers.

Time Lapsing the Milky Way

2011-06-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

Movie: "Plains Milky Way" by Randy Halverson

Filmmaker Randy Halverson has made an awesome time lapse of the Milky Way as seen from central South Dakota. He used a Canon 60D and T2i, along with a Dynamic Perception Stage Zero Dolly (DynamicPerception.com).

If you're interested in shooting stars, below is filmmaker Ben Canales' excellent intro tutorial on how to shoot the night sky.

Movie: Ben Canales with his star photography tutorial

More of Ben's work can be found at TheStarTrail.com.

Review: Atomos Ninja Field Recorder

2011-05-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

JB's review: I first want to address the negatives of the Atomos Ninja Field Recorder ($995). It doesn't work with the current crop of HDSLRs. If you own a Canon HDSLR (which is the largest segment of the market), DO NOT purchase this device. Atomos is very clear on their website, that their product does not work with most DSLRs.

Regardless, I tested both my Canon 5DMKII, and Canon 60D with the Ninja. The black borders are the actual recorded image from the video tap, and not a photoshop border.

< The onscreen icons coming from the HDMI out of the 5DMKII ruin the fun we could be having. Canon, please twist my melon with a firmware update to correct this, especially since the new DSLR cameras won't emerge until 2012.

< Atomos claims they didn't notice the white focus square when they tested the Ninja with DSLRs because they tested against a white background. Very sketchy information here, as there is an obvious black border around the focus square.

But despite the problems with DSLRs, I still purchased the Ninja from B&H video hoping to get 10-bit uncompressed to ProRes video on-the-fly. I rented the new Panasonic AG-AF100 for the weekend, and went to work. I discovered (via Philip Bloom's video - see below) that the Ninja will only accept a 60i, not 24p, 8-bit HDMI feed from the AF100. This wasn't a big issue since I was still recording/uprezing to ProRes HQ, and planned to get it to 24p in FCP. Since this was test footage, I didn't really plan to do serious color correction with the 10-bit stream. Also, I was only exporting to the web. It wasn't a big deal to capture in 8-bit. The AF100 has an HD-SDI out, but that will have to wait until the Atomos Samurai comes out in the fall. Since I'm hardly an expert in camera, the following is simply a review for the filmmaker that wants a "nice" image for professional, and/or semi-professional productions. And, man, do you get a significant visual bump up in bitrate with the Ninja (200 Mbps ProRes HQ vs 24 Mbps native AVCHD of AF100). Also, this is not a review of the AG-AF100. If you want a more technical review of the Ninja, check out the UrbanFox.Tv review. Now...on to the good things.

< The Ninja fired right up with the battery power. It's heavy in a good way, but not so heavy that it would topple over a camera. The touchscreen is really cool, but needs "sticky fingers" to select the menus. "Sticky fingers" means to firmly press & hold the menu for about 1 second.

< First thing to do was update the firmware to the latest version. This was a simple process that took about 5 minutes real time. Follow the instructions. Version 1.5 is the version I tested (May 6th, 2011).

< The caddies are fairly flimsy plastic. You place your SSD drive (not included or shown) into the case, then use the included screws to put it together. Very easy, if you follow the instructions. I'm curious how the caddies plastic will hold up over time, or on heavy projects.

< After I installed the 128 GB SSD into the caddy, I needed to format the drive before it would record. Using the blue arrows on the touchscreen was a very simple way to get going.

< The kit includes two caddies for multiple hard drives. I only used one 128GB SSD drive in the caddy for my test. You can also purchase more caddies, if needed.

< Once you finish recording, you slide the SSD caddy into the master caddy. Connect it to your laptop with either the FireWire 800 cable (not shown), or a USB 2.0 or 3.0 cable. The FireWire 800 cable needs power from the USB port (supplied), but the USB cable works directly.

< The Pelican-like carrying case.

< Panasonic AG-AF100 with Atomos Ninja connected by HDMI cable. The Atomos Ninja monitor was of secondary quality compared to the AF100's flip out screen. I could've used an additional Marshall or Ikan monitor, but I was lazy, and just used the AF100 screen for composition and exposure.

< The Ninja screen can be used as a secondary monitor in a pinch, but you might want to consider a Marshall or Ikan monitor for focus and exposure control. The playback option on the Ninja is a joke, and should only be used to make sure you actually recorded something. When playing back, it skips and is blocky like an old video game. Your actual dailies are pristine. Atomos claims they're going to update the firmware to improve the playback capability.

< Out in the field with Ninja and AF100. The bright sunlight really affected the Ninja despite the maxed out brightness. The menus were still readable, but the monitor option was just a blur. Once again, the best way to handle the poor monitor was just to ignore it, and only use it for the menu system like "record." Another point about "sticky fingers": make sure you actually STOP recording. Otherwise, you could accidentally use up valuable drive space, while setting up your next shot.

< A visual comparison of the high bitrate ProRes HQ (220 Mbps) with the AVCHD (24 Mbps). Still, both only 8-bit with the HDMI out of the AF100.

< An example of the bitrate from the above shot of the flags. The shot was 1:20 long, and took up 2.16 GB of ProRes HQ. But look at that SWEEEEEEET bitrate in full HD. Yummy.

OVERALL: Currently, it's not for HDSLRs. It's better suited for camcorders like the Sony EX3 (native 10-bit), Sony F3, Canon XF305, or Canon XF105. It worked as advertised, as long as you have the right camera to be able to get the 10-bit uncompressed quality output to ProRes HQ, 422, or LT. If you own the AF100, this is still a great way to make your footage look better. I recorded over 5 minutes at a time, and had zero issues with the SSD drive. I hated this product on night one, but by night three, I loved the results I could see with my naked eye. It's affordable. It's well-built. I even accidentally knocked it off my camera case, and it survived an 8-inch fall to the pavement--the heavy feel mentioned earlier contributes to its sturdy aluminum design. Very curious to see the upcoming HD-SDI Samurai. I also liked the cool carrying case, and multiple caddies. The Ninja doesn't have XLR inputs for audio, which is an asset of the higher-priced competition. I did no audio testing, as I was strictly interested in getting the best visual quality from the footage.

"24 Hours Of Neon" - an HDR tone mapped time lapse by Philip Bloom

2011-05-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

Philip Bloom has done it again. He's created an HDR tone mapped time lapse of Las Vegas, shot from the MGM Signature hotel. I highly recommend watching the video and listening to his commentary of each shot HERE. The bar has been raised again. Take notes and learn, younglings.

24 Hours of Neon from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

I'm embarrassed to even put it on the same page as Bloom's, but here's my quick sunrise time lapse from the Signature hotel looking east toward the airport. I literally stumbled home from a night of blackjack, set up my camera, and went to sleep. I had no idea the moon was about to rise over the mountains. It's one of those beautiful surprises you get when finally putting the pictures into a movie. Oddly, my balcony in tower 3 is featured prominently in Philip Bloom's piece. Really glad he didn't catch me howling at the moon.

Time Lapse: Vegas Sunrise from James Boyd on Vimeo.

Philip Bloom compares the AF100, F3, and FS100

2011-05-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

AF100 vs F3 vs FS100 Part 1: The Real World from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

AF100 vs F3 vs FS100 Part 2: In depth and conclusions. from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

Vincent Laforet @ The Association's HDSLR workshop

2011-04-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday May 21st, The Association in Los Angeles will be adding pulitzer prize-winning photographer and director of REVERIE, Vincent Laforet, to their Pro Level 1 Canon HDSLR workshop.

In addition to the normal class, Fletcher Murray and instructor Snehal Patel will add an additional 2 hours for Vincent to impart his wisdom to students of this very special class.

This is a first-rate, hands-on HDSLR class that just got even better. It takes place in Burbank, CA (by Waner Brothers Studios), and registration is $399 on the Association website.

You can see REVERIE here from Vincent Laforet. A must see for any HDSLR fan.

Laforet's 3-day online seminar with Chase Jarvis' CreativeLIVE can be viewed HERE. I've watched this class over a weekend, and it's the bombdiggidy.

Atomos wins NAB 2011 for me

2011-04-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

If JB's unofficial, sitting-at-home-capacity, opinionated awards were handed out this week, my favorite unofficial NAB award would go to: The Atomos ProRes video recorder. While there were a lot of great cameras and new EVFs, the NINJA ($995) & SAMURAI ($1495) ProRes video recorders seem ready to be real game changers. You're basically using your uncompressed HDMI out signal from your camera to record to a hard drive with on-the-fly lossless conversion to ProRes 422. I highly recommend paying attention to this new device for HDSLR video projects. If it works as promised, the compression to H.264 will be thing of the past for HDSLRs.

UPDATE 4/22/11: see review from UrbanFox.tv, and please make note of the current HDSLR limitations (tech issues with Canon 5D, 7D, 60D, & T2i, but works on Panasonic AF100 & GH2, and the new Sony F3).

< The Atomos Ninja ($995)

You can watch this cool Cinema 5D video from NAB on the Atomos device, and how it works.

David Shapton on all you need to know about the $995 Atomos Ninja from cinema5D on Vimeo.

Also, be sure to check out Black Magic's new uncompressed Hyperdeck Shuttle & Studio versions. The Ki Pro Mini, Fast Forward's Sidekick, and Sound Devices Pix 220 are other 10-bit ProRes 422 external recorders that are worth watching.

JB's unofficial runner up: Final Cut Pro X - but only because it was just a presentation, and not a hands-on demo. Anything less than a stunning new NLE, and Apple will have lost their loyalty in the market.

Chase Jarvis lays out the tax law for photographers & filmmakers

2011-04-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

Death, taxes, and Charlie Sheen. The three words that strike fear in anyone's heart (it's four words, actually). But not to worry. Our friend, and amazing photographer, Chase Jarvis has written an excellent article on tax situations for photographers and filmmakers.

The 7 Common Tax Mistakes Made By Photographers from PhotoShelter.com on Vimeo.

It's always prudent to check with your tax person first, but hopefully these scenarios and realistic deductions can help move you into a more professional (and profitable) place for your new HDSLR business.

Apple announces FINAL CUT PRO X @ NAB 2011

2011-04-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

At the NAB 2011 convention today, Apple has announced their major new upgrade to the Final Cut Pro platform. Looks very, very sweet. Background rendering, and no more transcoding. All for $299 in June. Suck it, Adobe.

Follow the live blog here (from our friends at Photographybay.com):

< Apple presents FCP X @ NAB 2011

Watch Eric Reagan's front row video of the entire earth-shattering event. Supreme thanks to Eric & Photographybay.com for live blogging the scoop for the rest of us who couldn't make it.

Or here's a nice recap from our friends at Crunchgear.com.

Lapsin' in Big D

2011-04-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

I'm traveling through Dallas to see friends, and got a nice view of the Dallas skyline. I brought my 5DMKII, 60D, 70-200mm, 2x extender, 100mm, 14mm wide, and lots of mounting options. My favorite tool this trip has got to be the Bogen Magic Arm. It's so versatile, allowing me to get the camera right up next to the glass,. But it also needs something heavy to connect that 3/8" mount. So I brought my Manfrotto 190X tripod, which packs up nicely into the suitcase. I'm also using the Delkin Fat Gecko suction mount, which is another great tool to get up close to the window. Below are a few stills from the time lapsing. I promise to post the video when it's complete. Follow this blog entry for updates.

< Room #1: The new anti-gravity mount is working perfectly on the left camera. Attn: nerdlingers, there's no such thing in nature...yet. It's actually the Delkin Fat Gecko holding up a lot of glass (the 70-200mm lens with 2x extender).

< Through sheer luck, the W Hotel upgraded my room, and this was the view they gave me. Thanks, front desk Meagan.

< Room #2: time lapse heaven. 5DMKII, 60D, & iPhone 4. Since I'm out of cameras, I took this shot with my laptop (Photo Booth). Floor to ceiling windows and balconies are always in demand if you're lapsin'. Ask for them.

< Cranes are your friend when lapsin'.

< Rocker-lapse before the Mavs game.

< Worker-lapse.

< View of Dallas skyline from uptown.

< Dallas Mavs fans exit the AA Center. For this time lapse, I used my iPhone 4, a Nasty clamp, and the GLIF mount.

< Mmmmmm...14mm f/2.8L. I want to be buried with this lens.

< The final morning commute time lapse from the balcony of the W Hotel in uptown Dallas, TX.

More to come...

An awesome HDSLR soft case: The Kata Bag

2011-04-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you search the world for the perfect camera case. I've settled on the Urban Disguise 60 bag for most of my travel. I like the Urban Disguise 60 because it holds a sick amount of gear, and my 17" laptop. However, after watching this video on Kata Bags, I'm seriously considering adding another bag to my arsenal.

Kata's VDSLR bags highlight review from Johnnie Behiri on Vimeo.

Check out the Kata Bag website.

360° Time Lapse at the Hard Rock Hotel

2011-03-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

So I planned a mini-vaca to visit some friends in San Diego. I rolled up at the local Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp District of San Diego, CA. Ordered me up some Woodstock suite, complete with walkaround balcony for some good quality lapsin'. I applied some discipline to myself on this trip, such as one camera bag, 2 lenses only, and no large tripod. Also, don't think, just make.

< "Stay classy, San Diego..."

< The Gaslamp District of San Diego. It used to be the red light district for the Navy liberty weekends, but has since been renovated into a thriving arts and shopping district.

Not knowing what I would be encountering at the hotel room, I came prepared with a full array of rigs, clamps, and adapters. All this gear, and my 17" laptop, fit snuggly in my Urban Disguise 60 camera bag.

< When I reached the room's balcony, I was very pleased with the multiple angles I could shoot. I had the San Diego convention Center to one side, and the San Diego skyline to the other. I also had a really low angle view of the Gaslamp District's busy streets.

< Sunsets are always a gamble, and I was disappointed that the sun went down behind another hotel. Made the best of it by focusing on the sunset reflections in the windows of the buildings.

< Night #1 exploded into a monsoon in the streets of San Diego. This time lapse was shot with the 60D, 50mm lens, and lenskirt. I'll post the video time lapse when I finish the longer piece edit.

< I used the lenskirt, which did a great job cutting down the window reflections. I mounted to the gorillapod and set up on a hotel chair. The floor to ceiling windows of the Hard Rock were excellent for maximizing my shooting angles.

The weather finally cleared up enough to venture out onto the balcony for some sunshine time lapses. I was running my 60D & iPhone (iTimelapse app), and clicking away. One horrible overlook was forgetting to bring an ipod. My new laptop didn't have my iTunes, and my iphone was busy working on the time lapse. I contemplated silence, while bathing myself with the San Diego sunshine.

< I mounted the Camalapse egg timer to the Delkin Fat Gecko dual suction mount, and shot the 360 degree time lapse of the San Diego skyline and the Hard Rock Hotel. I also used a Contour camera mount, that I improvised together with some gaffer's tape to hold the iPhone 4 in place. I would've used the iPhone shockmount, but the winds were too strong. Quick note: my new GLIF mount didn't arrive in time for this trip, but it would've worked great here. Also, I'll never travel without the Delkin. Let me repeat that: I'll never travel without the Delkin Fat Gecko. So versatile, and sturdy.

Overall: I really liked the Delkin Gecko mount with the 60D and iPhone 4. The lenskirt for the 60D worked really well for its first time in the field. The Manfrotto suction cup malfunctioned, and never worked, also knocking out the Bogen Magic Arm. I stuck with the Delkin and Gorillapod, which turned out to be my champions of the trip. The Pedco Ultraclamp was also a great mounting option (especially with the Bogen), but I didn't use it as much as the others. Good times.

< Rain Jacuz for the dedicated. "Spring Break, my ass..."

iPhone 4 Two-Axis Time Lapse Rig

2011-03-17T21:51:00.000-07:00

I had some free time to kill, so I hooked up my iPhone 4 with the Camalapse 360 ° egg timer, the Kessler ElektraDRIVE, and the Philip Bloom pocket dolly. I created an affordable, two-axis time lapse rig for the iPhone 4.

< The Camalapse egg timer ($25) hoists the iPhone 4 and shockmount holder.

< The Kessler Oracle controller with the ElektraDRIVE motor pod and Philip Bloom pocket dolly.

< With the Kessler ElektraDRIVE 200 series motor pod.

< The shockmount holder fits onto mic stands, but also has a 1/4" f adapter to mount on top of the Camalapse egg timer. It works great because you can get to the back of the camera to set up your shots. However, outside in the wind, the iPhone 4 turns into a wobbly sail.

< I used the ElektraDRIVE 200 series motor, which is faster than the 500 series motor pod. The speed of the egg timer is fairly matched by the speed of the 200 series motor pod.

< The Bogen Magic Arm (with additional adapter) mounted to the Philip Bloom pocket dolly made a nice way to skim the tops of the blades of grass. I tried to find a way to mount the camera upside down (like HDSLR), but was thwarted by the auto-level of the iPhone 4.

GoPro camera brings first-person perspective to intense bike race

2011-03-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

VCA 2010 RACE RUN from changoman on Vimeo.

Review: Kessler Oracle Controller & ElektraDRIVE Motor Pod

2011-03-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

The review: I enjoy making time lapses so much, I invested in the Kessler Oracle Controller and ElektraDRIVE motion control system. I've wanted to try out this gear for a long time now, so I was very excited to get started. After watching several video tutorials, I connected the motor pod to the Philip Bloom Pocket Dolly, and was up and running in less than 15 minutes. It's a nice, tight seal between the dolly and motor pod, and a simple two-cable power up. I ran off A/C socket power, while I charged the battery. When it was ready, I connected to the Oracle Controller, and spent the better part of the day time lapsing with no power issues. The "simple" set up in the Oracle was easy for me to get a quick start, and once I finished my 30 minute calibration, I was shooting my first motion-controlled time lapse.

< The battery-powered Kessler Oracle controller & elektraDRIVE motor pod with Philip Bloom Pocket Dolly.

< The Kessler motion control time lapse system.

< When using the outrigger feet of the pocket dolly for ground shots, you might need a monitor to be able to see your shot. The IKAN v5600 is perfect for time lapses on the pocket dolly due to its light weight.

< Oracle controller resting on my improvised Redrock Micro 15mm rod holder. The knee pads help with ground shots.

< iPhone 4 time lapse of my time lapse.

After several practice runs on the front porch, it was time to get the gear out in the field. I packed up my gear into one 1510 Pelican case (Oracle, monitor, batteries), one camera bag (with 5DMKII, 60D, 70-200mm, 2x extender & 14mm wide), and the pocket dolly. I chose a nice sunny spot at El Porto Beach in Manhattan Beach, CA, and quickly set up a low key time lapse. The key to not being hassled in the field is to keep the gear as inconspicuous as possible (e.g. leave cases in the car).

< Out in the field shooting a beach lapse. Very low key set up, and the stone bench made for a great level shooting platform (but no tight foreground). I stashed the battery and Oracle under the bench, and enjoyed the sunny view.

< The ElektraDRIVE 500 series motor pod connected to the Philip Bloom Pocket Dolly. I'm also rocking the 2x extender, and a Singh Ray ND filter. My rule of thumb for the time lapse is one exposure every 10 seconds for over an hour.

Overall: This was my first experience with Kessler gear, and I'm very impressed with the simplicity & sturdy design of the system. You can use the ElektraDRIVE for time lapses, and motorized dolly moves on small sliders like the Philip Bloom Pocket Dolly ($1000). There's still plenty for me to discover like the smart lapse system in the Oracle, and any number of tweaks in the advanced mode (e.g. incline power, slow/fast ramp up/down).

From my initial test day with gear, I've already started to plan my epic single axis time lapse movie because the time lapse and slider possibilities are endless. It's great gear, and at an affordable price ($1400) for the independent production company or specialized HDSLR filmmaker.

Ethics statement: I wrote this review because I purchased and love the equipment. No company is sponsoring me. I would not endorse a product I did not believe in.

Top Ten WALKING DEAD survival tips

2011-03-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

In honor of the WALKING DEAD Season 1 Blu-ray DVD release, I bring you the 10 most important survival tips for the coming zombie apocalypse:

1. If you wake up naked & alone in the hospital, you've probably encountered a zombie apocalypse. Don't waste time wondering why that small child is snarling at you. Pick up the nearest pitch fork, and enjoy the little things.

2. If you plan a fish fry, post a lookout. I can't stress this enough.

3. Don't ride a horse into the middle of a zombie occupied city. Duh, this is just common sense. Think metal or plastic pedal transportation like a bicycle or Big Wheel. Plus, that horse can be put to good use later on as jerky, or a Mr. Ed puppet show.

4. Make sure you drop into conversation with your other survivalists that you took a few EMT classes at the local juco. They won't expect much from you, but they certainly won't handcuff you to a roof at high noon in the middle of an Atlanta summer.

5. Publicly acknowledge that you've actually seen zombie movies, books, and video games, and that exploring a darkened basement is ALWAYS a bad idea.

6. Stop looking for a cure to the zombie virus. Period. Even with your Juco EMT training, you're still not smart enough to do anything about it. More likely than not, you'll infect yourself.

7. Keep racial taunts to a minimum. You're fighting for survival in the zombie apocalypse, not living out an episode of "Oz."

8. If you have a limited supply of bullets, don't shoot that walking corpse in the chest, and look surprised when he doesn't keel over dead. Aim for the head first, and when your fellow survivalists stand around gawking at your quick thinking, you can use your new power position to demand more meat at the fish fry.

9. Stop creating scenarios where you have to sneak back into the zombie-infested city. And, certainly don't listen to the idiot who suggests smearing zombie guts all over you will allow you to walk freely among them. A zombie's nose is decaying--he can't smell for shit.

10. Travel is overrated. Suggest to the group that it may be best to hunker down in a bank vault or water tower. You've watched 900 hours of Bear Grylls, played 1500 hours of "Left For Dead 2," and attended a "Survivor" finale party-- you're ready for some undead Alamo. The last thing you want to do is take a gamble on any government agency like the CDC, especially at dusk with women & children in your party. However, you do have a contingency plan that involves flinging the smallest children at the swarming zombie horde, while you scurry over the roof. It's a bleak, black world in the new zombie apocalypse--realists survive.

*** SUPER SECRET BONUS TIP

11. Gather the hottest women in a group, and handcuff them together in the safest part of your zombie Alamo. The least attractive women can guard the front door, and skin goats in the off hours.

Now, protect them all with your life. This is your only hope for the future.

Tell the beautiful women that they have a very important job in the new world, and that involves livin' & making babies. They'll be so impressed with your new peacock-like display of organizational skills, they'll want you to father their post-zombie human race.

Review: Glidecam CamCrane 200

2011-02-27T17:52:00.000-08:00

JB's review: So I got ahold of Glidecam's CamCrane 200. This is a simple, tripod-mounted crane that will create basic jib arm type shots. The action is smooth, and gives the camera a "floating" feel. There's no pan or tilt function on the head, but you can always upgrade this area. Otherwise, you simply mount your camera or rig to the head, and move 10' from floor to ceiling. It's fairly silent, and much sturdier than I expected for a prosumer level device. It's important to balance the rig properly with the appropriate amount of weight. Glidecam recommends a 3-1 ratio of camera weight to counter-balance weight, so I used Boa bags & weights for about 38 lbs of counter-balance. The provided fine tuning weights are an excellent choice to get that "floating balance point." While the price point was a great entry, I had to upgrade my tripod to a heavy duty Manfrotto, that was more expensive than the actual crane (there's also a Cartoni for $529). It's important not to skimp on your legs, and make sure you have a tripod that can handle the weight. My only other complaint is the instructions are terrible, and I did better building the crane just using my horse sense. I recommend this system if you want more production values for simple HDSLR projects like music videos & commercials. For under $700, it's affordable, but make sure you also have a heavy tripod.

< Shipping contents.

< CraneCam shrapnel.

< You insert the brass bearings into the boom poles. I had to pound mine in like a monkey.

< The vertical support unit is built with solid & heavy aluminum. This should provide plenty of strength for the small size of HDSLRs.

< A balanced CamCrane 200 with mounted Canon 60D.

< A very simple mount: the Manfrotto 486 ball head attached easily to the CamCrane's mounting plate with the included 3/8" bolt. Using the ball head to control my shooting angle gave me awesome versatility and diversity with shots.

Frankenrig: The shoulder-mounted, battery-powered 5DMKII

2011-02-18T15:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a little gear porn for the weekend. My very own 24 lb., shoulder-mounted, battery-powered Frankenrig. So proud of my lil' monster. We sat down with Thor to talk about his upcoming movie project. He didn't give us much, but didn't complain either.

< Canon 5DMKII, 24-70mm f/2.8L lens, Redrock Micro shoulder rig, Redrock follow focus, Ikan v5600 monitor, Zoom H4N, DXA-SLR, Switronix Powerbase-70 battery, Rode NTG-2 mic, LitePanel Micro, articulating arms (x2).

Cables: Hosa XLR Y-Splitter, XP-DSLR-C p-tap cable, DR-E6 DC Coupler, P-tap to Ikan cable.

< With names.

< The cable on the monitor was loose, but I tied it up. Thor seems unconcerned. The camera and the monitor are battery-powered by the Switronix Powerbase-70, and the sound gear is running on simple batteries. Thor runs on the sound of his enemy's breaking bones.

< Thor sat stone-faced for 2 hours while I shot him in his grandeur.

< The cine arm gave me more flexibility with where to position the monitor.

< Very important to have these port saver adapters from the camera's mini-HDMI out to the monitor. It blocks the focus a bit, but well worth not having the hassle of a broken HDMI cable stuck in your camera.

< Mount the fluid head plate to the 3/8" hole in the bottom of the Redrock Micro shoulder rig. I don't feel this in my shoulder at all.

< Attaches in seconds to the Manfrotto 504HD fluid head on Manfrotto 535 carbon fiber sticks.

< From shoulder-mount to fluid head tripod in seconds. Just make sure your tripod head can handle the 25 lb. rig.

< My new favorite fill light. The iPhone 4 and the "myLite" app.

Review: GoPro LCD BacPac

2011-02-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

JB's review of the GoPro LCD BacPac. This is a great addition to an already great camera. This add-on LCD screen finally gives the user a view of what the camera is shooting. It can also playback the video with sound and/or pictures. The BacPac snaps onto the existing GoPro HD Hero camera, and with a simple firmware upgrade for the 1080p cameras, it can remove the guesswork from blind, old school Hero cameras. It reminds me of the Canon 60D, with its much-needed swiveling LCD screen.

For $79, the BacPac is a fairly affordable upgrade that brings this tiny camera to another level in weather-proof sports cameras. If you love your GoPro Hero, you'll likely freak out with this new addition.

< This is the size we're talking about.

< The BacPac connector.

< Once hinged, the LCD gently snaps right into the Hero camera Bus port. It adds very little weight to the Hero camera.

< You press the new button for 2 seconds, and you'll enter LCD menu.

< Some of the sample menus from the LCD menu. This is a great way to understand what the different settings are when you're in the field.

< The new waterproof door (provided) needs to be clipped on. Make sure you follow the directions on replacing this. I used the STANDARD waterproof door.

< The LCD BacPac & Hero camera ready for underwater or mountain terrain. Also shown is the tripod connector (black).

< GoPro + BacPac in recording mode. Your video mode is displayed in the upper left.

< GoPro + BacPac in playback mode. It's very handy that the on-screen display shows the resolution and frame rate.

< A cool tiny speaker for your video playback.

< Shooting video in the weatherproof case.

< GoPro gives you a set of new case doors, and operating manual.

Sundance 2011 - Filmmaker James Boyd's Ski Day

2011-01-29T11:44:00.000-08:00

Shot at Park City ski resort during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival with the Canon 5D Mark II and 14mm f/2.8L lens.

Filmmaker shoots feature film on 7D, sells it for $4 million @ Sundance.

2011-01-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Drake Doremus (LIKE CRAZY) has sold his feature film to Paramount Pictures for $4 million dollars after its world premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

When dealing with HDSLR technology, once again the freedom and flexibility of HDSLRs win out over slow & bulky cameras of the past. According to Drake, "I wrote ‘Like Crazy’ as a sensitive love story that would be character-driven. We had a young cast and I wanted the actors to be able to improvise and go with the flow of the take without having to stop the cameras every two minutes. With the 7D we ran lots of takes for 10 minutes without stopping the camera – at appropriate moments I was able to step into the scene and give the actors subtle direction and let them continue to perform. It was amazing to be able to let the camera roll knowing that we weren’t burning through our budget. The actors loved the opportunity to stay in the moment and experiment with different approaches.”

HDSLRs are taking the indie world by storm, and it's more about intimacy than budgetary concerns.

UPDATE: "Like Crazy" has won the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Read the entire article here from our friends at Planet 5D.

Sundance 2011 - "Crazy Beats Strong Every Time" short film

2011-01-19T10:23:00.000-08:00

Day 1 - Los Angeles to Las Vegas (4 hrs)

Day 1 - Vegas Layover

Day 2 - Las Vegas to Park City, Utah (6.5 hrs)

Canyons of Arizona

80 MPH - I'm starting to see colors...

Frozen Deer Lake behind Park City

Living Room

View of Egyptian from condo

DAY 3 - Opening night

Party #1: Artist At The Table event.

Stanley Tucci & Sundance Festival director John Cooper.

America Ferrera

Sold out crowd at Eccles Center for the Harry Belafonte world premiere of "Sing Your Song."

Danny Glover at "Sing Your Song" premiere.

Robert Redford intros the "Sing Your Song" premiere.

Harry Belafonte seated at the "Sing Your Song." premiere.

The prince of Park City - Morgan Spurlock.

Filmmaker party on opening night.

DJ Scooter rocks the house at the filmmaker party.

James Franco steps out on Main Street to pose for pictures with his adoring fans. He was gracious enough to chat for about 20 minutes before the crowd swell forced him to retreat. Great guy, and total stud to give some love to the people.

James Franco flashes the money maker.

James Franco drifts away in thought. Congrats on the Oscar nom.

Franco swarmed by fans.

Me shooting some random b-roll on Main Street with 5DMKII & 70-200mm with 2x extender.

Sundance filmmaker's late night lounge.

ESPNzone's NFC/AFC championship party at Tao underground.

Lance Weiler's transmedia exhibit at the New Frontier for PANDEMIC.

The cast & crew of "Crazy Beats Strong Every Time" screening at the Holiday Cinema IV.

Cast & Crew of "Crazy Beats Strong Every Time" - Sundance 2011.

The cast & crew prepare for the Q & A after the film.

Crowds line up for the "Crazy Beats..." screening.

Lead actor Dante E. Clarke.

Writer-Director-Producer Moon Molson at the screening of "Crazy Beats Strong Every Time" in Sundance Shorts Program III.

3D Rig For GoPro Sports Camera

2011-01-05T22:25:00.000-08:00

If you're into cameras, then you know all about the GoPro 1080p sports cameras. They now have a double camera housing kit that syncs the two cameras for 3D.

This is an ideal system for 3D sports videos, where lightweight, wearable cameras mix with high quality HD.

Check out the Gizmodo article for more pics and details.

UPDATE (4/4/11): Here's a review of the GoPro 3D rig.

HALF-LIFE screens on Sundance Channel - Wed 5pm PST

2011-01-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

The award-winning feature debut from director Jennifer Phang will make its cable premiere on Sundance Channel this Wednesday Jan. 5th at 5pm PST.

It also screens on Thursday Jan. 6th @ 5:25 am, and Sunday Jan. 16th @ 12:10 am.

"Half-Life" world premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, and went on to win several awards on the festival circuit. The shoestring-budgeted film was shot on 35mm film, and is combined with some killer animation. It stars Julia Nickson, James Eckhouse, and Leonardo Nam. I was the co-executive producer on the project.

"Half-Life" is also available on DVD through Amazon.com & Netflix.

AbelCineTech's Field of View Comparator

2010-12-27T12:42:00.000-08:00

The smart dudes at AbelCineTech have released a really cool "Field of View Comparator" for determining what different lenses look like on different cameras. Say you have a full frame Canon 5D Mark II, and want to see what a 35mm lens looks like compared to the new Panasonic AF100.

Simply plug in your camera & lens size, and the calculator will give you the results. It's very helpful for understanding how your full frame sensor behaves compared to a crop or magnified sensor (like the Canon 7D).

Check out Philip Bloom's Blog for more details, and video explanation of full frame vs crop sensors.

Also, the ARTEMIS iPhone app is an excellent way to see different focal lengths on the go.

Roving Cameras Add Coverage To Productions

2010-12-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

The folks over at PhotocineNews.com have posted an excellent article on the benefits of adding multiple camera HDSLR coverage to any production shoot. The theory goes you set up your A & B cameras as usual, but then add roving "pick your shot" HDSLRs to add depth and speedy diversity to your coverage. This technique worked very well for the 5DMKII "House" finale, and the George Lucas/Philip Bloom "Red Tails" shoot. I experienced it first hand on a shoot I did for the PBS/ITVS series "Exposure."

EXPOSURE

While shooting production stills on "Exposure," I decided that I was wasting good camera angles, and felt compelled to shoot HDSLR video during the takes. Since our valiant crew only had an "A" camera angle, I gave the director, DP, and editor a few more options in post-production by adding my 5DMKII footage. Yes, it was sloppy and improvised, but if they needed a quick cutaway, my 5DMKII footage was there for them.

I highly recommend adding multiple HDSLR cameras to any production in order to flesh out your coverage. These cameras are inexpensive, and coupled with a good zoom lens (and smart operator), you can get more interesting coverage from the same setups, without the hassles of a full crew and camera package.

"Crazy Beats Strong Every Time" accepted to 2011 Sundance Film Festival

2010-12-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

"Crazy Beats Strong Every Time" has been accepted to the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The 27 minute short film is directed by Moon Molson, produced by Jennifer Phang, and executive produced by Reuben Lim. 44 short films were selected from a record 3,453 submissions. "Crazy Beats Strong Every Time" will screen five times at Sundance from Jan. 20-29th, 2011.

Yours truly is the co-executive producer of this film, and I'm very excited to screen it in Park City for the Sundance audiences.

Sundance Film Festival - 2011 Screening Schedule

• Friday Jan. 21st @ 9:00 am / Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City

• Saturday Jan. 22nd @ 6:45pm / Broadway Centre Cinema 5, SLC

• Monday Jan. 24th @ 9:00pm / Holiday Village Cinema 4, Park City

• Thursday Jan. 27th @ 7:00pm / Redstone Cinema 7, Park City

• Saturday Jan. 29th @ 8:30pm / Prospector Square Theater, Park City

READ SUNDANCE PRESS RELEASE HERE

"Crazy Beats Strong Every Time" Facebook page

How To Make HDR Photos With 5DMKII

2010-11-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

HDR (or High Dynamic Range) Photography is the simple process of taking three exposures of the same subject, then merging them in post into a highly detailed image. HDR photography reveals better highlights and shadow details, and gives you a more accurate photograph of what the human eye sees.

HDR Photography: "Chairs With Sleeping Dog"

• 10 Steps To HDR •

1. Use APERTURE PRIORITY mode.

Aperture Priority Mode

2. Use low ISO like 100.

3. AUTO-FOCUS on subject, then switch to MANUAL FOCUS.

4. Turn on CONTINUOUS SHOOTING shooting mode by pressing the "AF-DRIVE" button, rotate button to "multi-square" logo.

5. Activate AEB mode in camera by

a. In MENUS (camera menu), select [Expo.Comp/ AEB], then press "SET."

Exposure Comp / AEB menu

b. Turn upper DIAL to set AEB amount.

c. You can set exposure compensation amount with the dial.

d. Best with 2 EV spacing (e.g. -2 EV, 0, +2 EV). Nikons can add more exposures (up to 9), but Canons will only create 3 exposures.

e. Keep the tall red thing at zero, and rotate the dial out to the +2 & -2 EV setting.

f. Press the "SET" button to select

g. When you exit the menu, the AEB level picture will be displayed on the LCD panel. The AEB will remain until you turn off the camera.

LCD showing ready to take HDR

6. Use tripod & LIVE VIEW to "lock up" the mirror and prevent shake.

7. Use INTERVALOMETER as manual shutter release to prevent shake.

8. Hold down shutter for two full seconds, and three pictures should fire. Your first image is the regular exposure, then the underexposed photo, then the overexposed photo.

9. Use Photomatix software for creating HDR images, including batch processing & tone mapping presets. $119 Pro version or free trial. Awesome video tutorials.

10. Export your image.

Ridiculously Tone Mapped Photo

• LINKS TO HDR TUTORIALS •

Canon HDR Tutorials

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Trey Ratcliff HDR Tutorial

FOR MORE INFO ON MAKING HDR TIME LAPSE VIDEO

Andrew Geraci's HDR time lapse tutorial video - Part 1

Amazon.com launches new studio for the masses

2010-11-20T20:31:00.000-08:00

From Hollywood Reporter:
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE.

or

GET STARTED WITH AMAZON STUDIOS HERE.

or

READ WHY IT'S A BAD DEAL FOR ARTISTS HERE.

Time Lapse: Vegas Sunrise with 5D Mark II

2010-11-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

Time Lapse: Vegas Sunrise from James Boyd on Vimeo.

Simple Glidetrack HDSLR setup for flyover shots

2010-10-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

Filmmaker Dan McComb has developed a Glidetrack system to create simple flyover shots.

For more info, check out Dan's Blog.

Review: Philip Bloom Signature Series Pocket Dolly

2010-10-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

So I was lucky enough to get a hold of the new Philip Bloom Signature Series Pocket Dolly, and have to say I'm very impressed. I bought the 3' model, mounted it to my 504HD fluid head, and went on a slider mission. While being ridiculously lightweight, it is still an extremely well-made piece of alloy metal (7 lbs). I found the sliding action to be very smooth back and forth, and it even works really well as a vertical dolly. I used a Manfrotto 496RC2 ball head mounted to the included flat mount adapter. This gave me a quick way to mount the horizontal slider moves, as well as the vertical stuff.

< In vertical dolly mode

< Vertical dolly shot

It will also work with the Kessler Elektra drive and Oracle systems, so you can motorize your real time moves and time lapses. The drag control can give you the variable friction you need, while also locking down the head to keep it from moving. The crank is handy, but I found it to be too jerky (it's better used with a motor). I'd rather just push the head with my fingertip for smoother control. Since everything is stainless steel ball bearings these days, the Kessler design delivers crazy smooth & silent moves. I don't mind the belt drive, but I'm worried that the rubber material could break over time (time will tell).

< Mounting the Pocket Dolly to the 504HD fluid head mounting plate with a 3/8" bolt.

I will admit that the slider was a bit too heavy for my Manfrotto 504HD head. So once I mounted the slider directly to the tripod, I had better horizontal results. If you're planning vertical dolly shots, or even more advanced jib-type shots, you will need a fluid head that can handle the 7 pound slider.

The slider comes with a pair of outrigger feet for ground shots, and a nice carrying bag. But, I really wished the shoulder bag had a hand strap (Meh...knitpicking).

Overall, Philip Bloom put his name on this slider for a reason: it screams quality and functionality. It could be my favorite new toy, and I can't wait to shoot more video with it.

If you want to add higher production values to your simple shots, you should purchase the Philip Bloom Signature Series Pocket Dolly. You'll never second guess this well-made dolly slider ($1095).

Ted Hope talks Nirvana, grass roots, and DIY distribution of indie films

2010-10-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

Uber-Indie Producer, TED HOPE, discusses how grass roots distribution and audience seeding is the wave of the future, while hoping to have your film picked up at festivals such as Sundance is a thing of the past.

Producer/Editor: Chris Stetson

Videographer: Horst Dieter Baum

From: Double Hope Films

View Part 1 HERE
View Part 2 HERE
View Part 3 HERE
View Part 4 HERE

Double Hope Films Facebook page

IRONMAN 2 Uses 5DMKII For Action Sequences

2010-10-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

< 5DMKII providing crash cam footage on IRON MAN 2.

Read the complete article here.

I met DP Matty Libatique (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, IRON MAN, BLACK SWAN) back in the Nodance Film Festival years. He sat on my storytelling panel with Forest Whitaker and Mike Figgis. He's a really low-key, and extremely talented dude. Great on a snowboard.

< Matty Libatique @ Nodance

My AC friend, Kevin Potter, was operating on IRON MAN 2, and recommended the 5DMKII to me as a solution to what I was looking for in a still/video camera. Little did I know at the time, this was the opening salvo in the HDSLR revolution.

New 3D micro DSLR rig from Redrock Micro

2010-09-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

For more photos: Redrock Micro 3D DSLR Rig

New $200 DIY wireless monitor for DSLRs

2010-09-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

Check out this new DIY wireless monitoring system for $200 from San Diego based photographer Robert Benson.

DSLRWirelessMonitors.com ($200)

This garage-made system is intended to be a workaround in a pinch versus a beautiful, dependable solution. But for the price point, I'll give it a whirl! Thanks to Snehal Patel from The Association for the heads up.

UPDATE (9-21-10) : I received my setup within two days. I had it connected and working within 5 minutes from the box. I installed the 9v battery to the transmitter, plugged it into the camera's A/V out, and turned on the monitor (it came already charged, and will work without a power cable for about 2.5 hours). The transmitter disabled the on-camera display when connected to the A/V out, so focus and composition had to be done with the monitor only. I put a few walls in between the monitor and camera, and while there was some distortion, it was still usable in a pinch. You could even transmit to multiple monitors, if needed.

Overall, I'm very happy with the results of this system. It does show some breakup the further away you get from the camera, but within 20 feet it was better than I expected. You can definitely achieve focus from the monitor, if needed. Such a simple solution for the price point.

Inventory

20 feet away in hallway

5dMKII vs 7D lens comparison test

2010-09-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

5Dmk2/7D lens comparison test from Mike Collins on Vimeo.

As you can see in this great video, a big difference in the two cameras.

Time Lapse: DRAFT DAY

2010-09-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

Off to the set of "Exposure"

2010-09-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

My Mobile 5DMKII Shooting Package