Posted by Don Miller on December 15, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Your probably wondering what's the deal with video, and why should I care. I feel after several weeks with the 5DII I can give a simple answer.
Whatever type of nature photography we do, it
1) Usually takes a lot of effort to be at the right place at the right time
2) We see things most people may only see once or twice in a lifetime.
If you're like me, when you see a special image, you take a lot of variations on that image. Change the focus point, stop down more, stop down less and maybe shoot different perspectives too, if possible.
You've done all the work has been done to take a gorgeous video, except push two buttons. If your a digital pro or semi pro making money, how can you not collect stock footage? It's just giving money away. If you not selling, why would you not want to add the dimension of time for the 'cost' of pushing two buttons?
No matter how you feel now, the first time you see a gorgeous HD video of your work you will love it. Did you see the captive Lynx shots?
http://www.vimeo.com/2418304
It was the guys first outing with the 5DII. And it pretty clear he has no video experience. But it show how having the ability to record is great. He could take great photos. Or he could take great photos and video. Same amount of work.
Well, my prediction is that eventually photography will cease to exist and everything will become video. In a few years time you just film your subject and later choose the perfect "pictures" from hires stills.
Marsel, almost 20 years ago a good friend of mine said the exact same words.
It was stated something like this as I recall; "Paul, it's the future of photography. You'll just video it all and watch it on your monitor. When you see what you like, "click", out comes the print."
UGH, I said.
But it's getting frightingly close now, isn't it? My guess is we're there in under five years.
UGH indeed.
Posted by Jerry Greer on December 16, 2008 at 1:06 PM
One word "Red"! Pretty sweet system I have to say. I'm certain that I'll be going that route at some point in the near future. Well, once the prices come down a bit. I'm already shooting HD video and stills but it takes two cameras.
No doubt after looking at the link Jerry provided, UGH! , becomes and understatement. That truly was some amazing equipment and will probably find it's market even at the price range it is now. I guess that is why I keep grinding film, I cannot afford to even window shop anymore.
Posted by Don Miller on December 16, 2008 at 2:58 PM
I don't see traditional photography going away. A print is organic. Who want to look at a video monitor on a living room wall? Or see photo books on a kindle? The more we are surrounded by technology, the more we want things we can touch and have an organic feel.
Those of us who do all or part digital capture now have a easy second way of capturing what we see. Some images are best captured by freezing the moment. Some are best capture as a segment of time. The main reason I found the Lynx video interesting is that most of it impact is the result of its behavior in time. In addition to video, the photog also could probably have all the stills he wanted too.
I see HD video in still cameras as an expansion of available creative tools, not a fundamental change in how people want to experience the world.
Posted by Don Miller on December 16, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Jerry said:
"One word "Red"! Pretty sweet system I have to say. I'm certain that I'll be going that route at some point in the near future. Well, once the prices come down a bit. I'm already shooting HD video and stills but it takes two cameras. "
I think Red combining video and still will work well of some area, such a news gathering. But there are a hundred issues Red will need to address for Red to become a true DSLR replacement. And pulling stills from video will work in some situations, but not others.
Posted by Jerry Greer on December 17, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Don,
Here's some info on the new Scarlet FF35 it can be easily configured to a 24MP (stills) SLR. This camera looks like, with a little time, will be perfect for the nature photographer. Adobe already has a patch for the Red RAW. As for a DSLR replacement, this is way beyond a replacement. 6K cinema is 10 times the resolution than 1080P! There's no DSLR that can get even close to 6K cinema and 24MP stills. Oh, and you can use Canon or Nikon lenses.
Scarlet 6K FF35 Body Only - Full Frame 35mm, 36mm x 24mm, 6.0µm pixel pitch, 24MP Mysterium Monstro sensor. DSMC in full glory. A full frame cinema camera, shooting an unprecedented 6K motion image at REDCODE 100, shooting at the same frame rates as Scarlet 5K S35 from 6K down to Full Frame 1080P, while offering a mind boggling still burst rate up to 72 fps with 24MP full frame resolution. Using special RED Electronic FF35 lenses as well as legacy Canon and Nikon lenses, with the appropriate lens mount, Scarlet FF35 becomes the most capable and universal camera ever built for the price, an amazing $9.75K. No compromise in imaging quality. No line skipping, no games. Professional still. 6K cinema.
Kennan Ward is using the Red One right now for stills and video. That camera does 13+MP stills but is designed (HUGE) for mostly cinematography.
Discussion
10 repliesWhatever type of nature photography we do, it
1) Usually takes a lot of effort to be at the right place at the right time
2) We see things most people may only see once or twice in a lifetime.
If you're like me, when you see a special image, you take a lot of variations on that image. Change the focus point, stop down more, stop down less and maybe shoot different perspectives too, if possible.
You've done all the work has been done to take a gorgeous video, except push two buttons. If your a digital pro or semi pro making money, how can you not collect stock footage? It's just giving money away. If you not selling, why would you not want to add the dimension of time for the 'cost' of pushing two buttons?
No matter how you feel now, the first time you see a gorgeous HD video of your work you will love it. Did you see the captive Lynx shots?
http://www.vimeo.com/2418304
It was the guys first outing with the 5DII. And it pretty clear he has no video experience. But it show how having the ability to record is great. He could take great photos. Or he could take great photos and video. Same amount of work.
It was stated something like this as I recall; "Paul, it's the future of photography. You'll just video it all and watch it on your monitor. When you see what you like, "click", out comes the print."
UGH, I said.
UGH indeed.
Red Epic Digital
Those of us who do all or part digital capture now have a easy second way of capturing what we see. Some images are best captured by freezing the moment. Some are best capture as a segment of time. The main reason I found the Lynx video interesting is that most of it impact is the result of its behavior in time. In addition to video, the photog also could probably have all the stills he wanted too.
I see HD video in still cameras as an expansion of available creative tools, not a fundamental change in how people want to experience the world.
"One word "Red"! Pretty sweet system I have to say. I'm certain that I'll be going that route at some point in the near future. Well, once the prices come down a bit. I'm already shooting HD video and stills but it takes two cameras. "
I think Red combining video and still will work well of some area, such a news gathering. But there are a hundred issues Red will need to address for Red to become a true DSLR replacement. And pulling stills from video will work in some situations, but not others.
Here's some info on the new Scarlet FF35 it can be easily configured to a 24MP (stills) SLR. This camera looks like, with a little time, will be perfect for the nature photographer. Adobe already has a patch for the Red RAW. As for a DSLR replacement, this is way beyond a replacement. 6K cinema is 10 times the resolution than 1080P! There's no DSLR that can get even close to 6K cinema and 24MP stills. Oh, and you can use Canon or Nikon lenses.
Scarlet 6K FF35 Body Only - Full Frame 35mm, 36mm x 24mm, 6.0µm pixel pitch, 24MP Mysterium Monstro sensor. DSMC in full glory. A full frame cinema camera, shooting an unprecedented 6K motion image at REDCODE 100, shooting at the same frame rates as Scarlet 5K S35 from 6K down to Full Frame 1080P, while offering a mind boggling still burst rate up to 72 fps with 24MP full frame resolution. Using special RED Electronic FF35 lenses as well as legacy Canon and Nikon lenses, with the appropriate lens mount, Scarlet FF35 becomes the most capable and universal camera ever built for the price, an amazing $9.75K. No compromise in imaging quality. No line skipping, no games. Professional still. 6K cinema.
Kennan Ward is using the Red One right now for stills and video. That camera does 13+MP stills but is designed (HUGE) for mostly cinematography.