When I began this class I honestly did not know what to expect, the only thing I knew was that I was hungry to learn more. I came in so green my nickname may as well have been Big Money. I mean I didnt even know the difference between a grip and a gaffer. I definitely had not grasped fully the rule of thirds or the 180 rule. I had 2 goals in mind at the beginning and that was to find out who iI am as a filmmaker and get a better understanding of the use of the camera, because I have enough respect for this craft that I don't just want to put anything out there.
Now that the semester is over, I realize that I'm still green with the camera but its more of a dark green now. I know that I wont be anybody's DP at any point because my talents are better suited in the director's chair or in the editing room. The good thing is I now have a better understanding of the rule of thirds as well as the 180 rule. This is not to say that I wont keep striving to get better with the camera because I want that so bad I can taste it. So I will at some point invest in myself and purchase a camera. I still believe I have an eye for this every time I look at some of my stills and what I capture convinces me of this so I will find a way to translate that to motion pictures and develop that the best I can. Thank you so much for your wealth of knowledge and experience, you'll hear my name one way or another at some point in the future.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
My Reel & Artist Statement
This collection of clips are from various projects both personal and educational. I have used various devices to capture these clips including the Canon XA25, JVC, as well as my very own iPhone in DSLR mode.
The idea behind this reel is to take you on a journey as the dancer dances. She's thinking about the places she's been the things she has done. I have pieced to gether unrelated clips in order to tell this story. Enjoy!!!
The idea behind this reel is to take you on a journey as the dancer dances. She's thinking about the places she's been the things she has done. I have pieced to gether unrelated clips in order to tell this story. Enjoy!!!
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
3 Featutes Wth Compelling Lighting
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGGON
MEN IN BLACK
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Shot by Shot Analysis of A Scene
In this action Two Shot you can clearly see the antagonist is the focus here and the look on his face lets you know he means business. You cant see Caps face because his back is literally against the wall.
This shot is the OTS version of the previous shot here you can clearly see Cap's face. He don't look to happy does he. Shock treatment will do that too you. I believe the director wanted to catch this moment as a precursor to the antagonist's but about to get handed to him.
As this WS shows Captain America has escaped the elevator ride from hell and is now walking away. This shot is used to let you know that the scene has ended and Cap got away virtually unscathed.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Motivated Camera Movement
In this scene from the Avengers we see the heroes getting ready to fight. They seem to be using the spider dolly to get the effect that says "We're the Avengers, we've assembled and now we are going to disassemble some alien butt." See the way the camera rotates around them?
In this scene from the original Ghostbusters we see Peter Venkman getting slimed for the first time. To get the effect that the ghost called Slimer is rushing Venkman from a POV perspective i figure that either a dolly or a steadicam is utilized to get the effect that we see in the scene.
In this scene from Bad Boys 2 we see one of the coolest gun battle scenes and it was all caught on film by a carousel camera. How cool id that and Mike Lowery really shouldn't be going in people's houses saying he is the devil...for real I'm serious though!
Gear Head Blogs & Sites
Film or Digital?......You Decide!
<iframe width="1110" height="690" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ffxd_FEQHCQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://youtu.be/ffxd_FEQHCQ
What I have learned from watching this video and read this article is that in a nutshell both film and digital have their strengths and weaknesses but what it all boils down to is preference or practicality. When you are filming you can do things that you would never do in digital and likewise there are things you can do during a shoot that you dont have the ability to do while shooting...for instance you can do although very limited on the spot editing.(my words not theirs) Both have major advantages and disadvantages, one quote here touches upon one of those such advantages and disadvantages,"Film forces you to be present, to be principled and respectful of the moments being captured. Because digital affords you the freedom to just let the camera roll without having to be to scrupulous about what you shoot, film can make you a much more disciplined observer."
Sure thw look of film is the stuff of nostalgia with its grainy look and organic feel, something digital has been tryitng to emulate since it burst on the scene but the real reason most if not all filmmakers are going digital and its all because of one little economic word........COST!!!! It's way less expensive to shoot movies digitally in this day and age than film, plus it saves time and money in post production as well. In addition the digital is improving its resolution and overall look almost on a daily basis and seems to have no limit with how much it can improve. for more info check out the link: http://nofilmschool.com/2016/09/debate-still-top-dps-discuss-differences-between-film-and-digital
VINCENT LAFORET
So I read Vincent's review of The Canon 5D MkV which can be found here-->http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2016/08/25/the-new-canon-5d-mkiv-the-perfect-balance/
According to Vincent this camera might just be one of if not the best camera ever made. It's a combination still + video camera and seems to far surpass those that have been made thus far. With such features as HDR video and stills, excellent low light performance, dual pixel (think Lytro and focusing in post or adjusting bokeh slightly), 4K video (with effectively super 35mm crop so you can use cine lenses…), amazing AF with 61 sensors and works with face detection and touch screen both in stills and video, anti flicker for video, very smooth ramping of focus and exposure in video in auto mode......who can argue. Heck it also has GPS, WiFi, and can link multiple cameras to an identical atomic clock, it also has NFC, and with touchscreen pretty much all the features are at your fingertips with the touch of a button. I'm already salivating and I'm not even a camera guy. This camera can even connect easily to smart phones and has its very own built in intervalmeter (I dont even know what that is but it sounds both important and incredible).
In Vincent's own words this camera is "pretty much everything you’d want in a body that size and for this market and the perfect BALANCE."
http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/wp-content/uploads/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv_1-e1472126986313.jpg
http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/wp-content/uploads/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv_2.jpg
http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/wp-content/uploads/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv_4.jpg
<iframe width="1110" height="690" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ffxd_FEQHCQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://youtu.be/ffxd_FEQHCQ
What I have learned from watching this video and read this article is that in a nutshell both film and digital have their strengths and weaknesses but what it all boils down to is preference or practicality. When you are filming you can do things that you would never do in digital and likewise there are things you can do during a shoot that you dont have the ability to do while shooting...for instance you can do although very limited on the spot editing.(my words not theirs) Both have major advantages and disadvantages, one quote here touches upon one of those such advantages and disadvantages,"Film forces you to be present, to be principled and respectful of the moments being captured. Because digital affords you the freedom to just let the camera roll without having to be to scrupulous about what you shoot, film can make you a much more disciplined observer."
Sure thw look of film is the stuff of nostalgia with its grainy look and organic feel, something digital has been tryitng to emulate since it burst on the scene but the real reason most if not all filmmakers are going digital and its all because of one little economic word........COST!!!! It's way less expensive to shoot movies digitally in this day and age than film, plus it saves time and money in post production as well. In addition the digital is improving its resolution and overall look almost on a daily basis and seems to have no limit with how much it can improve. for more info check out the link: http://nofilmschool.com/2016/09/debate-still-top-dps-discuss-differences-between-film-and-digital
VINCENT LAFORET
So I read Vincent's review of The Canon 5D MkV which can be found here-->http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2016/08/25/the-new-canon-5d-mkiv-the-perfect-balance/
According to Vincent this camera might just be one of if not the best camera ever made. It's a combination still + video camera and seems to far surpass those that have been made thus far. With such features as HDR video and stills, excellent low light performance, dual pixel (think Lytro and focusing in post or adjusting bokeh slightly), 4K video (with effectively super 35mm crop so you can use cine lenses…), amazing AF with 61 sensors and works with face detection and touch screen both in stills and video, anti flicker for video, very smooth ramping of focus and exposure in video in auto mode......who can argue. Heck it also has GPS, WiFi, and can link multiple cameras to an identical atomic clock, it also has NFC, and with touchscreen pretty much all the features are at your fingertips with the touch of a button. I'm already salivating and I'm not even a camera guy. This camera can even connect easily to smart phones and has its very own built in intervalmeter (I dont even know what that is but it sounds both important and incredible).
In Vincent's own words this camera is "pretty much everything you’d want in a body that size and for this market and the perfect BALANCE."
http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/wp-content/uploads/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv_1-e1472126986313.jpg
http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/wp-content/uploads/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv_2.jpg
http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/wp-content/uploads/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv_4.jpg
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
My Favorite Film Was Shot By
My favorite film to date is Captain America: Civil War. The Cinematographer/ DP for this film is Trent Opaloch.Trent Opaloch is a Canadian cinematographer and actor best known for his work with directors Neill Blomkamp and the Russo brothers. His major works include District 9 (2009), Elysium (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Chappie (2015). He was born on
December 31, 1969 (age 46). He ha been nominated for
BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography. Some of the videos he has shot include:
| Katy Perry "Part Of Me" | Cinematographer | Ben Mor/RSA Director | ||||||
| Mythos "New Day" | Cinematographer | Neill Blomkamp Director | ||||||
| Sunlike Star "Day Survive" | Cinematographer | Neill Blomkamp Director | ||||||
| Sunlike Star "50/50" | Cinematographer | Robert Brooks Director |
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Trent Opaloch |
His FILMOGRAPHY includes:
- Yellow (2006)
- Tempbot (2006)
- Terminus (2007)
- District 9 (2009)
- Elysium (2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Chappie (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Unnamed Avengers sequel (2019)
He grew up in a place called Thunder Bay in Ontario Canada. He went to film school at Confederation College also in Thunder Bay.
In an interview with Matthew Toffolo, when asked if there was a specific genre of movies he preferred to film, Trent was quoted as saying this " I don’t have any specific genre goals as far as the types of films I’d like to work on really. I’m always just looking for scripts that I enjoy and that hopefully have something to add to what’s out there already. I shoot a lot of commercials in between film projects so I don’t mind turning down things & waiting until something interesting comes along. Feature films have such a long development period & then you’re away from home for most of the year prepping & shooting so you have to choose your projects carefully."
 |
| District 9 |
 |
| Captain America: Civil War |
When asked about having a mentor his response was, "I don’t have one individual really but there are countless people that I learned from when I first started shooting. I started working at Clairmont Camera in Vancouver after film school so I was around professional camera crews full time & just tried to learn everything I could, just hoover up as much information as you can. Why that lens over this one, when to use a fluid head vs. wheels etc. Just tons of little details that you absorb over time. I think that was a great introduction to how things worked on set but at the same time I wasn’t that interested in working on tv shows or MOV’s at the time so I shot my own stuff or with friends on the weekends & was able to develop over time and make mistakes in a safe environment where there wasn’t a ton of money on the line."
Monday, August 22, 2016
10 FAVORITE THINGS TO WATCH
10. Killjoys - The premise of this sci-fi action series is about Space bounty Hunters set sometime in the future but not on earth. The style is light hearted in ways but but also its edgy. Aesthetically this show works because of the flow from the characters to the camera work.
9. Dark Matter - This sci-fi thriller shown on the SyFy channel is about 5 criminals aboard a prison ship who awaken out of stasis with no memory of who they are or about their past. its ironic that they decided to call this show Dark Matter because it is dark, its edgy its action packed with lots of intertwining subplots that links these individuals even more than they realize. This show has to be one of my faves because the camera work, the angles, the framing is so artsy but in a dark action oriented way.
8. NCIS- The name almost tells its own story but this is crime procedural series based upon the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. This show takes an all business approach with a few moments of comedy mixed in to keep it honest.
7. DC's Legends of Tomorrow- If you like comic books and shows with an ensemble cast then this should be your destination point. This is about a mashup of heroes and villains brought together to travel through time to stop an evil would be conqueror named Vandal Savage. The way it is filmed to make these larger than life legends come to life is just beautiful.
6. Orphan Black- Wow talk about "Twin Magic" this is a show about the amazing world of clones....Sarah Manning grew up with enough problems and she thought she was alone in this world except for her foster brother Felix and her daughter Keira but boy was she ever wrong. This dark and edgy clone action drama. is filmed in a disturbed but artsy way that can only be described as gutsy and clever....the camera shots and angles alone tell part of this story that's why i love it.
5. Jessica Jones- This show is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and is about a former superhero who quits being a superhero because she was forced to kill an innocent person using her powers, and becomes a private investigator, because she still wanted to help people but in a different way. I think dark and edgy is becoming a thing with me because Hell's Kitchen, New York could not be anything other than dark and edgy and the town is just as much a character in this show as the protagonist is.
4. Supergirl- This show is based off of the DC Comics character of the same name and is about Kara El aka Kara Danvers aka Superman's cousin, aka Supergirl. This show is smartly filmed given that it doesnt have a phenomenal budget it makes use of the things that it does have and that's strong characters and strong story.
3. Arrow- This show is based off of the DC Comics character Green Arrow. Keep in mind that since Batman was off limits because of studio rights, the decision was made to not only do the Green Arrow story but to also make him a lot darker and edgier than he is in the comic books. They also mixed in elements of the Batman story. This show makes Oliver Queen into a most interesting yet tormented character and the dark tones of the film work sort of lets you into The Arrow's world almost which can be quite riveting at times.
2. The Flash- This show is another that is based off of a DC Comics Character of the same name and chronicles the life of Barry Allen a crime scene investigator who becomes endowed with the gift of superspeed after being left comaatose by a freak lab accident. His prime mission besides stopping crime is to find out who killed his mother when he was a kid. The special effects alone won me over but the well written stories and camera work keep me coming back again and again.
1. Daredevil- This Marvel Comics based show is about Matt Murdock or The Devil of Hell's Kitchen, blinded as a child through a freak accident that gave him enhanced senses and reflexes, leads a never ending battle to protect the people of his city. This show is on the dark side and a lot of the scenes are filmed to depict late night hours....it is feature film quality but for the small screen....Netflix indeed gas a winner with this one.
9. Dark Matter - This sci-fi thriller shown on the SyFy channel is about 5 criminals aboard a prison ship who awaken out of stasis with no memory of who they are or about their past. its ironic that they decided to call this show Dark Matter because it is dark, its edgy its action packed with lots of intertwining subplots that links these individuals even more than they realize. This show has to be one of my faves because the camera work, the angles, the framing is so artsy but in a dark action oriented way.
8. NCIS- The name almost tells its own story but this is crime procedural series based upon the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. This show takes an all business approach with a few moments of comedy mixed in to keep it honest.
7. DC's Legends of Tomorrow- If you like comic books and shows with an ensemble cast then this should be your destination point. This is about a mashup of heroes and villains brought together to travel through time to stop an evil would be conqueror named Vandal Savage. The way it is filmed to make these larger than life legends come to life is just beautiful.
6. Orphan Black- Wow talk about "Twin Magic" this is a show about the amazing world of clones....Sarah Manning grew up with enough problems and she thought she was alone in this world except for her foster brother Felix and her daughter Keira but boy was she ever wrong. This dark and edgy clone action drama. is filmed in a disturbed but artsy way that can only be described as gutsy and clever....the camera shots and angles alone tell part of this story that's why i love it.
5. Jessica Jones- This show is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and is about a former superhero who quits being a superhero because she was forced to kill an innocent person using her powers, and becomes a private investigator, because she still wanted to help people but in a different way. I think dark and edgy is becoming a thing with me because Hell's Kitchen, New York could not be anything other than dark and edgy and the town is just as much a character in this show as the protagonist is.
4. Supergirl- This show is based off of the DC Comics character of the same name and is about Kara El aka Kara Danvers aka Superman's cousin, aka Supergirl. This show is smartly filmed given that it doesnt have a phenomenal budget it makes use of the things that it does have and that's strong characters and strong story.
3. Arrow- This show is based off of the DC Comics character Green Arrow. Keep in mind that since Batman was off limits because of studio rights, the decision was made to not only do the Green Arrow story but to also make him a lot darker and edgier than he is in the comic books. They also mixed in elements of the Batman story. This show makes Oliver Queen into a most interesting yet tormented character and the dark tones of the film work sort of lets you into The Arrow's world almost which can be quite riveting at times.
2. The Flash- This show is another that is based off of a DC Comics Character of the same name and chronicles the life of Barry Allen a crime scene investigator who becomes endowed with the gift of superspeed after being left comaatose by a freak lab accident. His prime mission besides stopping crime is to find out who killed his mother when he was a kid. The special effects alone won me over but the well written stories and camera work keep me coming back again and again.
1. Daredevil- This Marvel Comics based show is about Matt Murdock or The Devil of Hell's Kitchen, blinded as a child through a freak accident that gave him enhanced senses and reflexes, leads a never ending battle to protect the people of his city. This show is on the dark side and a lot of the scenes are filmed to depict late night hours....it is feature film quality but for the small screen....Netflix indeed gas a winner with this one.
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