Archive for the ‘Creativity’ Category

Motion-ing

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Things have been quiet on the blog but not so much in the JLP offices as I’ve been bouncing back and forth between FL and NYC, trying to stay sane between the +/- 50 degree temperature changes between the two HQs. The new year has already brought some fun (and very challenging) commercial and editorial shoots. Right now I’m getting things planned for an upcoming shooting trip that I’m excited about mostly because I’m going to be attempting some motion work which like everyone else I’ve been thinking a whole lot about over the past several months.

Dipping your toes into video isn’t that expensive these days for most of us (because of course the Nikon and Canon DLSRs utilize the same lenses) but operating on any sort of legit production value level can certainly get out of control and up to your neck in pricey accessories in an instant. I’ve decided to start small and try to build from there depending on specific projects and what I want to say with motion. And that last bit there has been why it’s taken me so long to engage in video… I don’t really want to be involved unless I have something to say with it. Seems silly to mention, but I wonder how much of the 2nd generation (I remember the initial newspaper platypus/multimedia “revolution talk” 10 years ago) video buzz is actually connecting on that line.

The only thing I’m sure about regarding video is that I’m definitely going to make a lot of mistakes before I learn my unique way, so I’m going to over share on the blog in an effort to perhaps help others climbing the same hill. I welcome any ideas and feedback into my initial video gear in the comments below.

So to begin (on what is the really boring shit) here is my recent Amazon/B&H shopping cart carnage: Canon 7D body, extra batteries, a couple more of the badass SanDisk Extreme 32GB CF UDMA cards, Hoodman 3.0 loupe w/ strap thing, Manfrotto 701HDV fluid head, Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 CF trip legs, and finally a Tamron 17-50/2.8 APS-C lens.

Some notes about above: obviously the kit is missing audio and post production… I already own an Edirol R-09 recorder and Sennheiser ME66/K6 shotgun mic set-up and don’t plan on doing any interview type stuff at all right now or I would probably invest in a wireless lav system; and I already own most of the video editing software I plan on using. Also I don’t plan initially on doing handheld/follow video type stuff or I would (gulp) consider something like the Merlin or Redrock Micro… enter thoughts of the coyote stepping off the cliff just before he notices there is nothing but air underneath.

Now, the 7D… honestly I don’t like any of the current DSLR choices for my work but the 7D won my purchase because of potential resale (at least in 2010) and because of timing (my upcoming trip will begin before the XTi is released). I read a lot of reviews (the blog ProLost is a fantastic resource that I used at length though I still don’t understand more than about 30%) and because the 5DM2 still doesn’t have 50/60 fps shooting option (which plays heavy into my ideas about what I want to do with motion) I think the 7D is the right choice for me, even though I’m definitely not psyched about using a non-full frame sensor (for the first time in 4+ years).

I bought the Tamron lens because I was going to need something super wide due to the 1.6x conversion (I went 3rd party because the Canon 17-55/2.8 is not well reviewed, very similar, and more than x2 as expensive – plus the slow focus of the Tamron means nothing if I’m shooting video because its all manual). For me, and probably everyone else, the best DSLR is the one that Canon hasn’t announced yet… one that will both be a back-up or replacement to my 1DsM3, eg. full-frame, and with more robust and distinct video features (the 7D has a full-time record button, which is a start).

The DLSR video accessory marketplace is obviously evolving so fast that buying anything is sort of tough because its going to be replaced with something likely to be a whole lot better/cheaper in a matter of months. I found 3 price points in a variety of accessories: $40-$80 for something that simply won’t work or is insanely fragile, $100-$150 for something that will do the job 60-80%, and then $750-$1200 for the real pro solution which immediately makes you think about rental until someone else is paying the bills.

So I hope some of my thinking about my initial video kit helps. I’ll definitely share what else I pick up and how all of it works for my initial projects. Next time I’m going to talk about some of my early inspiration in motion that has me excited about trying to figure out my own style in video. Lastly I want to say hi to some new visitors who might be checking out the blog after a little write up in AdBase today.

Conan

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

I too tuned into Conan’s last Tonight Show and have also marveled at the class he’s displayed during this media storm/NBC meltdown over the last two weeks. On Friday’s show he took a moment to step it up another level by not only being kind to his employer of so many years, but to also forcibly and emotionally beg any young people watching that cynicism and selfishness are not on the path leading to anywhere important. In this media & celebrity atmosphere we live in/under I thought it was pretty much a revolutionary statement, and certainly worth sharing here. I for one am taking it to heart.

Ouroboros

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

Found in the “things you might not know about John” folder: I really don’t like needles, thus I don’t have any tattoos. But if I did have a tattoo it would definitely depict the ancient symbol of a serpent eating it’s own tail, Ouroboros. I was thinking about the dragon today in relation to this new year and decade when a lot of us are feeling like we are on the edge of something different, new and old, devouring our past to stake out the future while simultaneously trying to strip away artifice and excess in an attempt to get back to the genesis of our creative energies. Whether its video, promotion, projects, or just your reading list – there is a palpable energy in the air this January that whatever has come before we are starting over again.

Last week I notched my first editorial gig of the decade (details TK) and even though I have shot for the client before and have shot many, many jobs like it over the past 7 freelance years, I was nervous waiting for the “thumbs up!” call from my editor. I knew I had worked hard, saw well, shot a ton of options, etc.; but still there was that feeling in my stomach. In a lot of ways that feeling is such a gift at this point in my career. That split-second sensation as the caller ID lights up where you go into super fast-forward of the whole shoot, every missed shot, out of focus frame, dodgy lighting cue, and awkward banter with the subject… and then of course they love it and are excited to talk about specific pictures they really dug and how they hope to publish more than they initially planned. But that feeling that you remember from the early days, the mistakes, the gambles that paid off…

Beyond the individual it’s not hard right now to see signs of Ouroboros everywhere: the publishing industry destroying itself before being reborn again with the Tablet?; or maybe the DSLR/HD video “revolution” stepping out of the ashes of newspaper multimedia?

The year might start slowly for many in terms of tangible work with clients themselves slow to get back behind their desks. But I feel like this January has already been 2 months long in the amount of thinking and re-thinking of photography goals, promotional approach, and personal needs. Being in your head can certainly become a problem but right now it feels important, what with the rapidly shifting photography world beneath us. Of course after this thinking I’m running out of the door to take pictures and when the calls do begin to pick up in earnest I’ll feel ready to sprint, tail or not.

2009, Best of

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

The year that was… looking back it’s a blur. There were lots of portraits I’m pretty sure, a bit of travel, some strange little bits I shot for myself, several compelling stories and failed experiments, some work on personal projects, and yeah a bunch of portraits, of athletes and authors, executives and educators, scientists and seniors, divas and the indebted.

Last year I spent a lot of time thinking and looking at scale and felt very strongly that I wanted to incorporate a more removed, grander, almost reverant/classical perspective to serve as a counter point to my portraiture. This year my portfolio has several pieces that definitely are moving in that direction, either in landscape or numbers, and it’s been a really nice challenge and motivation.

In portraiture this year I think that I found a rhythm and method to my lighting style, though that was completely left behind or stripped back when it didn’t fit a particular subject. In some ways I was going at two opposite directions, using a more direct approach with a lot less that had “fingerprints” all over it, and then also building up a whole lot more to create some sort of unmasked ideal. God love my subjects this year who all endured 30-50% more set-ups than I might have insisted upon in years past… I definitely threw more spaghetti/ideas at the wall, which will continue and expand in 2010.

Here then are my (released) favorites, several of which you may have seen:

johnson1

ares12

mascot10

fiolek11

norman6

brown2

jordan1

galapagos4

2010

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Belated happy holidays to you and yours and early returns on a fantastic new year to us all!

It’s hard for me to imagine a bigger and better year than 2009 — one in which I married the woman of my dreams, traveled to see some amazing places, became an uncle, moved to New York City (though still kept my base in Miami as well), turned 30, and continued to work with new and old clients on some very interesting, challenging, and rewarding jobs. 2009 was a great and full year.

What lies ahead in 2010 is the big question… personally I’m both super excited and a little scared. There are so many things to learn and absorb, so many areas to grow in photography, and so many risks out there as the commercial and editorial markets continue to hobble along in a thick fog. Those of us who can maneuver into the right position and take advantage of the many opportunities that will surely surface as our clients begin to truly switch gears will certainly be rewarded. Hopefully I can be smart and open enough in 2010 to treat this uncertain time as my biggest chance…

Whatever happens in the new year I’ll be around to talk about it. Thanks for listening this year and I hope your holiday season was very happy and safe. Best to you all!