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guest video: calling for backup

29 September 2008 10 Comments

It’s Monday…where’s the original video? The plan was in place for shooting this weekend and a model all lined up. Then an old, forgotten back injury came to revisit on Saturday morning and it’s taken me off of my feet for the weekend. A visit to the chiropractor today should get everything back in place (literally) but it’s left me calling for backup to get through video Monday.

Everything happens for a reason and it’s given me time to cruise around the ‘net, looking at some interesting videos from other sources. Here are three very different video links for inspiration / consideration:

(1) GIANTS: RAPID FIRE PHOTO SEQUENCE (1:51)

The New Jersey Star-Ledger newspaper put together this stop motion sports video that I found interesting. It’s a series of still photo bursts stitched together as a video. I understand that some SLRs can do this right in the camera, including an entry level model like the D60. Not still photography, not video…but I want to try it! I think it might look interesting using slow shutter speeds sometimes, adding blur to the image series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNmCn8eapIE

(2) PROOFING WITH PORTABLE DVD (4:22)

The last time I needed a guest video I turned to David Tejada. He happens to have an existing video that complements the tethered capture video we ran last week here on prophotolife. David shows how to connect your DSLR to a portable compact DVD player screen for review. If you haven’t seen it, it’s very cool. http://davidtejada.blogspot.com/2007/12/proofing-with-portable-dvd.html

(3) MODEL POSING 101 (2:21)

This video was created for models (not photographers) by the massive Ford Model Agency. I held back a few chuckles, especially when the ultra-thin supermodel showed how to look even ultra-thinner. But the tips are sound, translate well to any model and could be useful to beginners. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFKrrdJxakE

I hope there’s something of interest here. We’re shooting all day Tuesday and Thursday so hopefully I can get everything “back” in place and returned to normal today!

10 Comments »

Craig Lee said:

I’m sorry to hear about your back. Mine goes out on occasion as well, so I can sympathize. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

# 29 September 2008 at 10:23 am

John Brainard said:

Sorry about your back! Hopefully you’ll be back to normal again soon, or even better.

I saw that David Tejada video before and subscribe to his RSS feed. I think that video was the single most valuable video to me. He doesn’t talk that much about the lighting, but I can see a little what he’s doing and hope to be able to recreate that on a regular basis. It would be nice to supplement my income with a little bit of portrait photography. Being that I’m interested in Real Estate, those kinds of portraits would be the most ideal.

Thanks for the links!

# 29 September 2008 at 11:34 am

Eduar said:

Jim I really hope you are better now, take some time to rest!!

Hope you are better soon, thanks for the backup links

# 29 September 2008 at 11:47 am

Marcin Retecki said:

This “RAPID FIRE PHOTO SEQUENCE” made me think. I don’t quite like this effect but I have seen many movies created by still photography. I’ve recently discovered Monzani, he is playful portrait photographer that creates films from his photo series. It’s completely different thing than the film you linked but I find it interesting.
http://jmonzani.deviantart.com/gallery/#Movies

# 29 September 2008 at 1:45 pm

John Gibney said:

Sorry to hear about your back - I do know what it’s like - I’ve been there.
I wish you a speedy recovery, and look forward to more of your excellent videos.
Again, thank you for all the work you put into your marvellous site.

-john

# 29 September 2008 at 4:18 pm

Tracey said:

Well Jim,

I guess we are all entitled to sick/down time. Hopefully you bounce back as soon as possible. We miss ya so get well soon. Great substitute videos, nothing like a Jim original though. I have had these vidoes del.icio.us-ed for months, so I speak from first hand knowledge. Get some rest, Later.

# 29 September 2008 at 6:53 pm

Jim Talkington (author) said:

You guys are the best, thanks for the well wishes. I’m back at it again after seeing my chiropractor / miracle worker this morning. I won’t bore you with the details but it’s my sacroilliac (hip, to put it plainly) that “goes out” every few years. The good news is that once it’s popped back in it feels like simultaneously winning the lottery and Super Bowl! I’m looking forward to a goooood night’s sleep.

# 29 September 2008 at 9:02 pm

Jim Donahue said:

The model posing vids are really helpful and they lead to other posing vids as well…Thanks

# 29 September 2008 at 11:13 pm

Raymond said:

Sorry to hear about your back Jim, take care of yourself, the blogosphere can wait! “sacroilliac” there’s a song about that — The Andrew Sisters. Well, maybe not *about* that but it’s the only other time I’ve heard this word! “There’s a strange click-clack In the back of my sacroilliac”

That model video was funny — but it does bring up the point that how the photographer works with the model, particularly non-models, to get the right poses is a very interesting topic.

A lot of the time I’m watching instructional videos which are supposedly about lights and camera settings and really what I find more interesting as a learning experience is hearing the words the photograph speaks to the model to get certain results.

# 29 September 2008 at 11:39 pm

Matthew Botos said:

Glad to hear you’re making a quick recovery, Jim! That was a nice trio of videos - the rapid sequence of shots gives a better sense of camera speed than just an fps spec.

# 30 September 2008 at 8:09 am