David Wilcox Concert

Randomly saw that Wilcox was playing in Auburn on a Thursday night. Even though I couldn't find anyone that could go on short notice, I drove to Auburn with the thinking: "Hey, I AM WORTH going to see Wilcox solo."

I always enjoy Wilcox and his profundity revealed by weaving song and story-telling together.

Here are some things I was able to jot down:

"The hardest songs to write are the ones about the beauty we take for granted."

"Human hearts don't work until they're broken; it's counter-intuitive."

"...a conversation where I have that righteous anger, and it's no longer a conversation; in the time they're talking, I'm reloading..."

"Divers die from coming up too fast from the depths. Musicians die from coming down from the heights. Because nobody teaches them how..."

Beautiful

Marg wanted to paint, and I wanted to color. So she painted canvas, and I colored video.

My first project using Colorista II after going through some lessons from others. 

Shot on a Canon 7D with the 24mm f1.4L. My borrowed slider had some technical issues at the beginning, hence only two shots have it in it.

Edited in Adobe After Effects CS5.5.

Picture Profile Comparison Video

I normally shoot with Technicolor's Cinestyle profile in my Canon 7D, but I was recently challenged by another cinema photographer to shoot with my color in place (just tweaking the color later) because it would allow me to see the scene the way it was meant to be seen and inspire me to shoot accordingly.

I never really thought about it before, but of course I went about to creating my own picture profiles. 

  • HOPPY is meant to be blown out a little, I like to dial it down to see what coloring I can do with it afterwards.
  • NEUE is meant to be almost a little underexposed so a gamma shift later won't blow it out.
  • MARCO is just a yellow coloring, with maybe some interesting possibilities later in how to color it.
  • And FLAT SODA was my attempt to dial in towards the Cinestyle look but with a little more contrast in it.

 

 

Why do I do what I do: Part 2

* In college I was a Broadcast Journalism major with minors in Latin and Creative Writing. Ultimately these areas of concentration are not the best for the field I'm in. But you have to take into account there are four basic considerations in this type of field: technical, creative, critique, and management/administration. The last one you don't have to take any classes in the field, per se, but having familiarity will make one a better manager/administrator.

Technical: Classes that deal with the mechanical and application of the field. This is where you learn how to create a finished product of what is already inside your head. Taking the mental picture and creating an actual picture for the world to experience. This would include the classes you take if you were studying a program in college for this. Majors and classes would be, but not limited to, the following: Photography 101, Mass Communications, Graphic Design, Film & TV, Cinematography, Production, Lighting, Non-linear Editing, Stagecraft

Creative: This is something that isn't learned, per se, but is influenced. This is where all the abstract comes in, where you obtain and experience the art and humanity of others. This is what helps CREATE, or rather, CULTIVATE, the mental picture in your mind. It can be integrated with the critique, but can also be it's own separate entity. Classes might be: Literature, Art History, Studies Abroad, Poetry, History, Philosophy, Religion, Psychology, Physics, Music Appreciation, Speech and Debate, Political Science, Anthropology, Biology, Classics, Mythology, Fairy Tales and Fables, Drama

Critique: I separate this from the above because there are classes where you take a more critical thinking approach rather than just "experiencing" the art and humanity of others. It is usually where you learn to see different sides approach the same argument. It can diminish the "free bird" part of us all if you stay too long in this area, but it helps in seeing what others judgments are. Classes would be: Criticism of British Lit, Art Appreciation, Music Appreciation (usually any of the upper level courses in your major that are not technical in nature)

* I'm not in it for the money, or the position, or for anyone else. I'm in it for me, because it's how God made me, and it's how I see Him as well.

* My advice: Read Fairy Tales. Pick up a camera and start taking pictures. Watch lots of movies. Read lots of books. Understand that, as DG Barnhouse says, elements of the Gospel can be seen in every aspect of life - so why not go on an adventure and see where elements of the Beauty of God pop up - even from people who don't believe in Him, or people who hate Him. God is the Ultimate Beauty, therefore every other beauty is a shadow He casts. And it's neat to see those all over the place.

I was told once that we can only tell what we know. So maybe what we share, creatively, flows from what we experience, both in the darkness and trials of fallen humanity, and in the joys and laughters of how God created us; from weeping widows to newborn babies to first kisses and battlefield deaths... It is all the great story of God, and we are little storytellers as well.

Why do I do what I do: Part 1

This is based on an interview I gave recently. 

Maybe some of the tips and thoughts can help you in this field as well!

* I don't really have a job title. I do two basic jobs: create video projects and take pictures. Along with that I also dabble in some graphic design. All three seem to be married and knowing more about one makes me better at the others.

* I got into this business because I like stories, and this is an avenue of storytelling; I get to do it with moving pictures and sound or music. 

* The most rewarding part is getting your final product after many hours of pouring all your creative energy into it. You get to step back and look at what God has allowed you to bring into fruition. It can be very humbling, especially when you receive feedback from people who say they were touched, or moved, at the emotional level.

* In my industry there's really no such thing as a traditional resume. You have a demo reel, a portfolio, that you show someone. In this day and age it means you have a website. Then you send out the web address to people, and if they like your work, then you're hired.

* Wages are a little tricky. Sometimes you charge by the total hours needed to complete the project. Other times it's like a bid. You tell  a client you will do a project for "X" amount of dollars, and they accept, give a counter demand, or go find someone else. Sometimes a lot of negotiating goes on. But you can also, instead of freelance work, get hired by an agency or company, then you'll make a salary or hourly wage, and the agency or company will deal with all the project negotiations.

X-Factor Auditions Montgomery

I was at the local affiliate X-Factor auditions downtown at the train shed and shot some video. I was really just shooting to 1) shoot something and make a quick video just because, and 2) I still needed footage to test out the variable ND filter I just picked up.

Realized I need to do some real comparison test shots with the ND filter attached with other filter still on lens, without UV filter (that I keep on to weather-seal my lens), and without the variable ND filter. Noticed some degredation of the sharpness, but I imagine that's what happens when you add an additional two pieces of glass to the front of your lens.

 

downtown auditions from R6L [matt wolfe] on Vimeo.