My still cameras, [...]]]>

A Canon C300 at the AbelCine introduction. NY, NY, January 25, 2012.

It’s a weird time – I just redid my people print portfolio, first time in years. Yet, last fall was dominated by video work. So, as I redo books (architecture is next) I’m also thinking about video, cameras both still and video, upgrade paths, compromises, choices and where best to allocate resources.

My still cameras, Canon 1Ds Mark III’s, have served me well. Four years old, rock solid. The next generation has been announced and should be out this spring, the 1D X. Primarily, a still camera but with 2nd generation DSLR video (less moiré, less artifacts).

And then there is the C300, a video camera. Stunning images, easier workflow and handling than when shooting DSLR video and the ability to take all of my Canon lenses. And no visible moiré or artifacts.

The former promises a better focusing, higher ISO camera, with slightly better video workflow and (most likely quality.) The still quality is not likely to be noticeably better except in low-light or in AF challenged situations.  The latter is orders of magnitude better on the video front – no more of the subject sitting down and moiré rearing its head and no more unusable shots because there are too many artifacts. Plus, it is better on the high ISO front and second system sound recording can be eliminated if desired.

Attendee tries out the C300 in stripped down mode. Looks and feels much like a medium format still camera - think Hassie or Mamiya. AbelCine, NY, NY, January 25, 2012.

While the options cost real money they also end up in the same ballpark when all things are factored in (old cameras sold, etc.) So, what’s it come down to? In the end, the same ever present question -> Who am I and what do I do? Not what do I do in terms of making the choice seen in the paragraphs above but what is it that I do as a person, as an individual, day to day, as one following my interests, and as one in the still motion world that is photography in 2012. In the end the question is not about equipment, it never is.

To see how far Kodak has fallen is to look back to the 60′s, 70′s, and 80′s when Kodak was ubiquitous. Even as a non-photographer you would have been hard pressed to go a day [...]]]> A Kodak corporate video used as an intro for CEO Perez’s 2006 appearance at the All Things Digital Conference:

To see how far Kodak has fallen is to look back to the 60′s, 70′s, and 80′s when Kodak was ubiquitous. Even as a non-photographer you would have been hard pressed to go a day without coming in contact with it. Film on sale everywhere, Kodak advertising in every medium, and all of the products that came about because of the use of Kodak materials.

Somewhere in the mid to late 80′s the change in photography started and Kodak’s responses kept missing the mark. First versus Fuji with film and then with digital. It wasn’t for lack of trying – Kodak was there first on many things, digital included. But it was as if nothing they did could bring the flow of money on the corporate industrial scale they had known prior and they weren’t willing to be patient enough for any one of their digital investments to grow.

As seen above – they did have a vision of the future, with hindsight an impressively accurate one. But a big corporation is like a huge ship or a tanker, it takes many miles to make it stop and even more to make it change course.

Eastman Kodak Files for Bankruptcy.

Bottom edge, Kodak 35mm slide mount, 1977.

To learn more:

End Piracy, Not Liberty at Google. You can contact your congressional delegation in the column on the right.

Fight for the Future , video by Kirby Ferguson [...]]]>

Click to view PDF.

PIPA and SOPA are not Kate Middleton’s sisters, they are proposed federal anti-piracy bills which if passed would severely censor the Web.

To learn more:

End Piracy, Not Liberty at Google. You can contact your congressional delegation in the column on the right.

Fight for the Future , video by Kirby Ferguson of Everything is a Remix.

Portraits were shot against white seamless. Video was a [...]]]> This past fall I helped with the re-launch of the RRBB Accountants + Advisors web site. First doing portraits of the partners and then, having established a rapport with everyone, being asked to come in and create a short video overview of the firm.

Some of RRBB's partners. August, 2011. Click to enlarge.

Portraits were shot against white seamless. Video was a mix of ambient plus 1×1 LED Litepanels for the interviews and available light for the b-roll. To further differentiate the interview vs. b-roll feel, interviews where shot locked down on a tripod and b-roll was shot using a monopod. The latter introduced a bit of movement and helped enhance a documentary feel.