final cut pro + after effects
it was about a year ago today that i left freelance world behind (for now), and took up a position full-time at jerry garns studio. we've been a part of some cool projects, forged new long term clients, and have improved the work with existing ones. we also went head first into the world of shooting video.
initially, everything about this new world was a challenge: video codecs, sound capture, timeline-based editing, new equipment, and suddenly everything costs more too. but the reward is pretty staggering, and the method of story telling is fresh. i went to school for photography, wanting to be a photographer and only a photographer. but thankfully, the marketplace has changed, requiring most of us to broaden our skillset even more. i'm learning from those that have been around the industry for awhile, that those who succeed adapt with the changing marketplace. after writing that, i might as well slap myself in the face, uh duh. but it's easy to say, and an uphill struggle to do.
this past year, jerry and i have been shooting many projects with UCLA. we've created many short video clips together for the UCLA fund, the department within UCLA that promotes the school with fundraising. it's been a great client-artist relationship, as together, we've pushed our capabilities to achieve what we wanted.
being the electronic sponge that i am, i was elected to shadow final cut editors and see how it's done. being no stranger to unfamiliar software, i got the hang of the operation of both final cut pro and after effects quickly. the bigger beast is thinking in video versus thinking in stills. when on set with a still camera, i know exactly what needs to happen in front of the camera, to make a good product on the other end of it. however, with video, the way the still photographer thinks is challenged. in a way, it's both more forgiving and more exacting.
with video, storytelling and message are the first two musts. with photography, storytelling and message are sometimes completely absent, and acceptably so! the biggest learning curve hasn't been the hundreds of pieces of equipment, overwhelmingly complex pieces of software, or the exponentially higher number of hours required to put it together, but the ability to tell a story. the best stories are not told, but shown.
Don’t say the old lady screamed-bring her on and let her scream. — Mark Twain
a work in progress, to be revisited?
this last weekend i hit the studio again to shoot a rather uniquely featured teapot. i kinda liked the way that it looked, kinda not, but really wanted to give it a shot. as one familiar with lighting shiny objects would guess, the mirrored surface presented some challenges. the solution-not surprisingly-was similar to how car photographers approach shooting cars: in pieces. since the best look often can't be achieved in one take, the technology gods have blessed us with masked layers. a few different lighting setups and some experimentation yields the best possible result:
i think it turned out very nice, very pretty. but next weekend i have a plan to put it not under, but over the spotlight. confused? come back next week!
as if 1 wasn’t enough…
you thought that i'd stop with some photos of jimmy? i stuck around for another setup and knocked out a pretty sweet shot courtesy of surfas (but they don't know it). i keep picking super difficult to light subjects (not you jimmy), you'd think i'd give myself a break and do something easy. i have a few more ideas knocking around up there, i'll try to put one in the studio again soon!
james bennett
it was fun to get into the studio today and take some time with a friend to have fun behind the camera. i met jimmy recently on a shoot with jerry garns. we had him on his vintage lambretta scooter posing with smokin' hot erin michelle conroy, all in front of randy's donuts. jimmy has a great look, he's a cool guy, and i had a great time shooting with him today. here's a quick one from the shoot:
sandstone peak via mishe mokwa
last weekend a couple good friends and i grabbed some backpacks, water, and some really cool hats to hike up to sandstone peak. it's the tallest point of the santa monica mountains in the malibu canyon sitting at 3,111 feet. from the top-and on a clear day-you can see mount baldy, the valley, and catalina all from the same spot. the trail itself starts from a dirt lot about 1 mile east of the circle x ranch on yerba buena road. follow the mishe mokwa trail signs for a 6 mile, 3-4 hour, 1,500 elevation change hike.
although the hike was amazing, the views spectacular, and the company unmatched, our favorite part of the day was eating a late dinner at the natural cafe in westlake village. you'll have to check out my facebook page to see the awesome hats, but here's one view from the top:
ooioo & xxs
here are a couple songs that have been on repeat in my playlist recently, i felt compelled to share these. the band names may look like a tough letter assignment from scrabble, but they'll bring more joy if you just listen!
morro strand beach
i often reminisce about my time spent around the central california coast. although it was a brief year of my life-that felt even shorter-it was the single most defining year of my life, and you can blame my photography endeavors entirely on morro bay and the surrounding 'wildnerness'. memorial day weekend was spent in the great company of some new and old friends at morro strand beach. it was an action packed two night and three day excursion consisting of relentless wind and rain, a bank robbery, fish and chips, smores, and fireworks (which was perceived to be 'gunfire' by elder campers, who in turn called out a police helicopter to canvas the campground with a searchlight). the proof:
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- morro strand beach with friends
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- dinner
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- morro rock from the north
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- things you can’t find on a southern california beach.
junip
Junip - In Every Direction
Junip - Always
José González - Far Away (Red Dead Redemption)
Junip is the trio headed by José González (singer, guitar) accompanied by Elias Araya (drums) and Tobias Winterkorn (organ, synth). Their CD/LP titled "Fields" released in 2010, and I just can't stop listening. Junip has a completely unique sound, one that I am thanking the stars to have found. These three songs are some of my favorites (the third one will be a little more difficult to find). I felt like I needed to share them, as Junip has quickly found a place in my top ten favorite artists.
Junip describes their sound as "a hazy, organic, melodic and hypnotic musical environment that leans on an unconventional blend of influences, from John Martyn’s folk-jazz to Richie Havens’ psychedelic soul via the more motorik elements of so-called ‘krautrock’." As being one whom does not boast musical expertise, that description sounds about right to me, but I'd add that José is pretty wicked with a geetawr...
the observatory: for observing things
The Griffith Park Observatory is quickly becoming a favorite place of mine to walk up to, and then back down. Today I brought my camera, these are some of the things that I saw:
