Video
Filmmaking Essentials for Photographers. Mini Courses.
Why Filmmaking Essentials?
One of the main challenges photographers face when starting to shoot video is to focus too much on hardware and software, and forget about the most important part: the story. While this informative course includes some technical information, the main goal is to provide an overview of the many aspects of filmmaking, and identify potential business opportunities with motion. Click HERE.
The “Filmmaking Essentials for Photographers” course is based on a popular event we have been presenting for several years, but it has been greatly enhanced with additional visuals and examples. Some of the clients and sponsors for the live event include Adobe, Adorama Pro, B&H Photo, Cinevate, Future Media Concepts, Gulf Photo Plus (Dubai), HOW Design Conference, International Center of Photography, Lynda.com, McCann Erickson, NAB Show, Panasonic, Photo District News, PhotoPlus Expo, Photokina (Germany), Savannah College of Art and Design, School of Visual Arts, Sony, and X-Rite, among others.
Video
Filmmaking Essentials for Photographers. Online Intro Course.
In 2011 I was invited along with National Geographic photographer David McLain to present a series of two-day workshops nationwide. The events were produced by Photo Quest Adventures and sponsored by PDN, Sony, Adobe, and other leading brands. The main goal was to help photographers transition into video by simplifying key concepts and providing shortcuts, resources, and advice on what gear to buy.
I have been honored to teach “Filmmaking Essentials” at all major industry events, from PhotoPlus to Imaging USA to NAB, from South America all the way to Dubai, Hong Kong, and Thailand, and at home in New York.
Few people know that I never use the same presentation twice. Each and every time I add things I’ve learned, plug in valuable feedback from attendees, students, and this website’s readers, and I strive to improve the educational experience with better examples and shorter explanations.
When looking at the advancements in digital technology since those first workshops it seems like decades have gone by. Today, we have access to a variety of brands and models of very compact cameras that can see in the dark, shoot 4K or higher resolutions, offer incredible frame rates, and even offer GPS and WiFi features so they can be easily controlled by smartphones and tablets. The future is definitively here.
But something quite odd has been happening to my personal and professional focus. The more gadgets we have at our disposal, the more I’ve shifted towards the craft of storytelling. Instead of getting more stuff, I’ve been increasingly interested in constructing and enhancing my stories to better engage the viewer. Naturally, this approach has been reflected in the educational content I produce.
Now, and for the first time, I’m proud to offer an awesome version of my one-hour presentation online. Click HERE.
The “Filmmaking Essentials for Photographers” course is based on a popular event we have been presenting for several years, but it has been greatly enhanced with additional visuals and examples. Some of the clients and sponsors for the live event include Adobe, Adorama Pro, B&H Photo, Cinevate, Future Media Concepts, Gulf Photo Plus (Dubai), HOW Design Conference, International Center of Photography, Lynda.com, McCann Erickson, NAB Show, Panasonic, Photo District News, PhotoPlus Expo, Photokina (Germany), Savannah College of Art and Design, School of Visual Arts, Sony, and X-Rite, among others.
Who is this course for?
Well, as the name implies, this version of “Filmmaking Essentials” covers concepts already mastered by advanced filmmakers or by experienced photographers who are very technically savvy. But I’m confident everyone else could learn a thing or two.
As often as possible we’ll be adding new courses, covering topics like pre-production and post, tips for one-man crews (like journalists) working stills and video assignments, advice on getting started with Color Grading, and many other fascinating subjects. As mentioned above, most of these courses are not and probably won’t be hardware or software driven, but would focus predominantly on answering the why’s, not the how’s, of the fascinating craft of filmmaking.
Also as a first, we are offering several mini-courses (averaging three minutes each and many of them for free) for those who need concrete answers to very specific questions.
So, if this is the kind of content and format you desire, vote with you wallet and let your voice be heard.
Thank you for your continued support. Click HERE to start learning.
Video
Shooting 4K Anamorphic and V-Log with Panasonic’s GH4. Ten Valuable Lessons.
UPDATED: I just added two video tutorials: one comparing “Panasonic’s V-Log L vs. Cinelike D” and the second one “Conforming 4K Anamorphic Footage in Adobe Premiere Pro.”
Anamorphic is enjoying a huge comeback. The reasons to go this route vary from project to project, but generally it’s the desire to achieve a different look and use as many pixels from the sensors as possible. Panasonic’s Firmware Update v.2.2 (available here) enables an Anamorphic (4:3) Mode capable of recording video in 3328 x 2496 pixel (equivalent to approx. 8.3-megapixel) resolution at a frame rate of either 23.98, 24, 25 or 29.97 fps. With an anamorphic lens such as 2x Lomo lenses (see below) we now can capture and un-squeeze a 3356×2496 image in post-production. To make things even better, 4:2:2 / 10 bit HDMI output is also available.
Just like in 2013 when we had the opportunity to field test a GH3 in the Middle East and last year when we shot with one of only three prototypes world-wide of the GH4, for the past couple of weeks I had the privilege to work with director Davis Northern, DP and tech wizard Sean Davis and many other talented people on one of the very first GH4 Anamorphic AND V-Log L projects, shot exclusively for Panasonic North America and produced by The Digital Distillery.
Panasonic 4K Anamorphic and V-Log L – Official Video from The Digital Distillery Inc. on Vimeo.
The project was exciting and very challenging, as working with hardware prototypes and beta versions of software or firmware always is. We had a lot of moving pieces and an extremely tight deadline, but I’m proud of the final results and very satisfied with the lessons learned. This article covers some of the most significant ones, and it is written from my very own personal perspective. As always, I try my best to be as objective and brand agnostic as possible. The lessons aren’t in any specific order and some links will take you to articles with additional information . Please consider using our links to help support our very time consuming articles and tutorials.
Ready? Let’s go!
1. Shooting Anamorphic
It can definitely be achieved by a very small crew on a small budget. We mostly shot with a crew of three, with very limited gear and time. I’ve always assumed you needed a 2-ton truck and a crew of 30 to pull this off. Clearly, this was not the case for us.
2. Lenses
In terms of lenses, we opted to keep a “low profile” while keeping our options open. In other words, we rented a set of vintage anamorphic Lomo lenses (35, 50, and 75mm) and tested an SLR Magic as well as a Letus AnamorphX 1.8X Pro Adapter and a Veydra Mini Prime.
A. Lomo:
The lenses are huge and heavy. Lomo 50mm + 75mm with case = 25lbs. Lomo 35mm with case = 35lbs with each case weighting about 30lbs. Not ideal for the “guerilla” approach we needed for this project. They definitely have a unique look, but are very hard to focus, especially when using a very flat profile. We rented the set for $500/day or about $1,700 for a week including tax. Not cheap by any means but definitely worth the investment in terms of time and quality.
If I were to shoot this project again (or on upcoming anamorphic projects) I probably would test the Cooke Anamorphic/i Lenses (25, 32, 40, 50, 75, 100, and 135mm with a 2x squeeze). Unfortunately these lenses cost about $30,000 each, and the rental rate is about $500 per lens, per day.
B. SLR Magic:
We had access to a very nice selection of Panasonic glass that we wanted to use with an SLR Magic adapter. The first challenge was that the front diameter on all the lenses has to be below 62mm in order to use the step down rings. The second limitation was (for the Panasonic lenses) that anything wider than 28mm would vignette. We could have used the Panasonic 12-35mm lens, at 28mm or longer (kind of pointless), but for some odd reason with the SLR Magic adapter it vignetted all the way even at 35mm. The Panasonic 35-100mm didn’t vignette at 35mm. Go figure. The next usable lens on our Panasonic arsenal was the beautiful 42.5mm Noticron f/1.2, but we needed a step DOWN ring (from 67mm to 62mm) that wasn’t included with the kit. The last option was the Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 lens, which worked well but focusing was a MAJOR issue (not Panasonic’s fault). I found the SLR Magic system very finicky and unreliable and unfortunately I can’t recommend using it.
C. Letus Anamorphx:
The Letus Adapter worked much better than SLR Magic but it was also cumbersome. A matte box is pretty much required and there was an issue with one of our widest lenses. The lesson here is, if you are shooting anamorphic, use the real thing.
3. Storage
There’s some heavy math involved when shooting Anamorphic. An anamorphic lens produces roughly a 2X horizontal squeeze of the image onto film. Traditional anamorphic lenses were designed to work on a 4:3 standard. The anamorphic footage captured with the GH4 on the Atomos Shogun is 3840×2160, so not technically 4K but pretty close. Shooting internally (to an SD card) the footage is 3328×2496, so greater vertical resolution than the 4K standard, but not full 4K horizontal resolution. To keep things in perspective, the 4K footage out of the GH4 4096×2160.
As you would expect, the files are huge. Shooting ProRes 422 you need about 4GB per minute of footage. Two cameras: 8GB, after only one backup you are at 16GB per minute. So somewhere around 20GB per minute is a pretty safe storage estimate for a two-camera setup. As always, we trusted all our very valuable assets to G-Tech Hard Drives.
Regarding Solid State Drives, Atomos has a great chart with all the supported drives for the Shogun and other devices. Make sure you triple check the chart before investing in one.
One SECOND of footage takes about 50MB so even if you are shooting into seemingly endless Solid State Drives, being smart about when to start rolling and when to stop can save a lot of storage.
4. HDMI
As we were shooting, Atomos was literally finishing writing the Shogun’s firmware update (available in May or June as a free download) will enable a number of awesome features:
- Anamorphic de-squeeze for Panasonic GH4 and standard lenses
- RAW recording to ProRes, DNxHR and Cinema DNG for compatible RAW formats
- Expanded RAW compatibility to include Sony FS series, Canon, Arri and AJA
- 3D LUTs on HDMI/SDI output
- Cinema 4K DCI support
- Uncompressed V210 support
- Genlock
We had to use a Small HD Pro7 (to de-squeeze) and the Shogun (to record in 4K). The setup seems pretty obvious after a lot of trials but it wasn’t at first. Here’s the executive summary that will hopefully save you some time and stress:
1. Micro HDMI to Standard HDMI cable from the GH4’s HDMI OUT to the Atomos Shogun HDMI IN
2. Standard HDMI to Standard HDMI cable from the Atomos Shogun HDMI OUT to the Small HD HDMI IN
3. In the Shogun, the 4K downconvert option should be OFF while connecting the Small HD and turned ON when everything is properly connected.
Our Small HD had a nasty tendency to constantly lose signal for no apparent reason, so step #3 had to be repeated many times throughout each shoot.
5. Premiere Pro CC 2014 Workflow
To be totally honest, I was shocked by how easy it was to conform the footage in post. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Import the footage the way you normally do.
2. Select the anamorphic clips.
3. Go to clip > Modify > Interpret Footage
4. Under “Pixel Aspect Ratio” select “Conform To” and “Anamorphic 2:1 (2.0).
5. Create a “new sequence from clip” and start cutting.
6. Done and done. Wow!
Here are some screen grabs from the camera’s LCD:
6. Focus
Focus is super, extra, hyper critical, especially when shooting with a very flat profile like the one we used. Unfortunately we couldn’t trust the SmallHD and had to rely 100% on the Shogun at a 1:2 zoom.
7. Accessories
• A sun hood for your external monitor is absolutely essential (if given the option get the black version).
• Obviously you will need lens adapters if you are planning to use the SLR Magic or Letus AnamorphX options.
• Make sure you get plenty of batteries, The small battery that comes with the Shogun lasts about 30 min only and we got about one hour of recording time with TWO Canon batteries on the Small HD. Instead of buying tons of batteries I’m a big fan of renting them (more here). The same goes for additional Solid State Drives.
8. Bonus lessons:
• Shooting anamorphic takes a lot practice and fine-tuning. I’d recommend scheduling at least a full day to test all the gear before a shoot.
• If we keep a small footprint and move fast, we can get a lot done.
• The “shoot without lens” on the GH4 must be turned on in order to work with the Anamorphic lenses.
And…..here are two more videos (not anamorphic) shot with the Panasonic GH4. Check them out and let me know if you have any questions or comments via Twitter (@EA_Photo)
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
The (amazing) Cinematography of Emmanuel Lubezki (video below)
20 Acclaimed Filmmakers Explain America’s Money Problems in ‘We the Economy’ http://bit.ly/1wq7AF4
This is insane! Disintegrating by Fabian Oefner http://bit.ly/1sKjaVA
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class technology features are truly breathtaking. http://bit.ly/11bpHCs Suddenly $100k seems cheap!
After Effects: Understanding GPU, CUDA, and OpenGL features http://adobe.ly/1xxPzq2
Top 50 YouTube and Vimeo Channels for Filmmakers and Cinephiles http://bit.ly/1zZuqDm via Cinephilia & Beyond
A short history of (believable) CG characters in movies http://bit.ly/1tzpkbn
Brain Jazz: A Mind-Jam with Jason Silva and Douglas Rushkoff (video below)
70-Minute Masterclass With Legendary Cinematograph http://bit.ly/1y3NvoB via Indiwire
Time Is the New Money. Are You Broke? http://bit.ly/1y3NC3y via Inc Magazine
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
A beautiful compilation of silhouettes in cinema. http://bit.ly/1zZuXFh
A Free Image and Model Release Template You Can Fill Out and Sign On a Smartphone http://bit.ly/1qH1ksh
Adobe Releases Lightroom 5.7 with Aperture Importer and Support for the Latest and Greatest Cameras http://bit.ly/1vv0lgC
Danny Boyle & Darren Aronofsky: Directing Style http://bit.ly/1tVuzSy
There Aren’t Enough Women Cinematographers and That Needs http://bit.ly/1wq2I2A via Indiewire
Space Out With This Turkish Musician’s New Instrument http://bit.ly/1EIN0ST
There Are Now Over 20 Cell Phones that Shoot 4K Video http://bit.ly/1wq5IvY
Which Laptops Have the Best, Longest Battery Life? http://bit.ly/1wq64CI via Digital Trends
Watch an Adobe Panel About the 6K Editorial Workflow of ‘Gone Girl’ http://bit.ly/1wq77CN via Creative Planet Network
James Cameron Thinks Oculus Rift is ‘a Yawn’ http://bit.ly/1wq78Xj via Digital Trends
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
How Criterion Collection Brings Movies Back From the Dead http://bit.ly/1tzoyuX via Vimeo
Here’s What Happens When You Put Instant Film in a Microwave http://bit.ly/1qtgQFe via Smithsonian
Confused About Codecs? This Video Tutorial Will Teach You What You Need to Know http://bit.ly/1qOE1FU via No Film School
What We See When We Read http://hntd.ch/1p5YDZh via Cool Hunting
Darkness & Light: Contemporary Nordic Photography http://hntd.ch/1p5YPaU via Cool Hunting
The Yachts Of The Super-Rich Do Battle In These Violent Photo Montages http://bit.ly/1qOFX1d
The Director’s Chair: Robert Rodriguez Interviewing Quentin Tarantino! It looks amazing. http://bit.ly/1qOHnbU
Steadicam Inventor Reveals the ‘Impossible Shots’ That Changed Filmmaking Forever http://bit.ly/1pARVuG via Hollywood Reporter
Satellite Uses Infrared Photography to See Beneath California Forest Fire Smoke http://bit.ly/1w9IPxu via Petapixel
How Gordon Willis Inspired Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen http://bit.ly/1qOG7Wf via Indiewire
News
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
Silent No More, Laura Poitras Talks About ‘CitizenFour’ http://bit.ly/1sIOpG1 via Filmlinc.com
Offsite Collaboration and the Cloud http://bit.ly/1zepGvT via Mastering Film
Watch IKEA’s Spooky Halloween Ad That Pays Perfect Homage to ‘The Shining’ http://entm.ag/1zepJIe via Entrepreneur
Portraits of 10 US Presidents Before and After Their Time in Office http://bit.ly/1vNamn1 via Petapixel
Werner Herzog’s Note To His Cleaning Lady http://bit.ly/1zepPQ1 via Sabotage Times
8 Little Known Secrets of New York City – New York http://bit.ly/1zeq3qe via Weekend Notes
Will Video Kill Photography’s Stars? http://bit.ly/1zepSv7
9 Cinematography Tips for Directors with No Space & No Budget http://bit.ly/1zepRY6 via NoFilmSchool
Access Nollywood, Nigeria’s Booming Film Industry http://bit.ly/1zeq6T0 via Good Magazine
Panasonic and Red hope to replace photos with frames of video http://engt.co/1zeqaCa via Engadget
News
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
The 10 Most-Pirated Movies http://bit.ly/ZEtLdc via PCMag
In Praise Of Architectural Extravagance http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/fastcompany/headlines/~3/0jV4-o40gSE/in-praise-of-architectural-extravagance
10 Tips from cinematographer Roger Deakins http://bbc.in/12UFkiQ via BBC news
Harvey Weinstein Defends Netflix’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” deal http://bit.ly/1xzZozV via Indiewire
Q&A with Master Documentary Filmmaker Manfred Kirchheimer http://bit.ly/1xzYXG1 via SVA.edu
Published for the First Time: a 1959 Essay by Isaac Asimov on Creativity http://bit.ly/1xzZ6Jo via MIT Technology Review
Attention Documentary Filmmakers: Every 2015 Lab, Grant and Film Festival Deadline http://bit.ly/1xzZckh
Canon announces EOS C100 Mark II http://bit.ly/1xzZTtN via DP Review
This may be the most important lesson about color you’ll ever see http://bit.ly/1xA07B8 via RedShark News
4 Ways You Can Save Time in Post by Shooting for the Edit http://bit.ly/1xA0jQT via NoFilmSchool
News
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
The Moving Image Genre-form Guide http://1.usa.gov/1q3nrSJ via Library of Congress
Ever-Changing Technology Challenges Filmmakers http://n.pr/1vNae78 via NPR
Portraits of 10 US Presidents Before and After Their Time in Office http://bit.ly/1vNamn1 via Petapixel
Street View uses ‘camel cam’ for desert trip http://bit.ly/1qo2L96 via Digital Trends
This one is not photography or video related, but it is one of the coolest links I’ve seen in a long time: Your life on earth http://bbc.in/1wsOhdL via BBC – Earth
Modern American Ruins Photographed by Rob Dobi http://bit.ly/1wsOKNh via Feature Shoot
Inside The Design Of Norway’s Beautiful New Banknotes http://bit.ly/1wsOMob via Co.Design
Breaking The Cinematic Fourth Wall
Top 10 slow-mo movie moments http://bit.ly/1sIOh9C via YouTube
Future Storytelling: Projects http://bit.ly/1tDo1P8 via HKW
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
Amazon made the hottest photography and video products announced at Photokina available for preorder! http://amzn.to/1rJwNZp
Case Study: Lighting for Commercials http://bit.ly/1rJwfCL via NoFilmSchool
Dissecting the opening titles for “Manhattan” (2014) http://bit.ly/1rJvUjq via Art of the Title
Amazing Freedive with The Ocean Brothers on Vimeo http://bit.ly/1rJvEAN
NHK demonstrates their 8K 120Hz production system. http://bit.ly/1rJzM3W
BBC Tests Shooting at 600fps in 4K http://bit.ly/1rJzB8N via Creative Planet
Unprecedented access into a fundamentalist Hindu training camp in modern India (watch below) via PBS.
Beautiful images of Airports from above http://bit.ly/1vfZQSP via Fast Company
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
As Protests Rage, These Dizzying Photos Show Life In One Of The World’s Densest Cities http://bit.ly/ZkTbxn via Co.Exist. Incredible photo essay by Australian photographer Peter Stewart.
15 Free Organizational Tools for Photographers http://bit.ly/1w13Tnc via Petapixel
This Real-Time Projected CGI Makeup Is Beautiful And Terrifying http://tcrn.ch/1p3v14R via TechCrunch
Graduating from Zoom-ins and Outs http://bit.ly/1rykMHx via Cinevate
The Village Underground Lisboa http://hntd.ch/1p5YzZK via Cool Hunting
Burning Man Meets TED http://bit.ly/1pAS94X via Hollywood Reporter
Real Time Face Tracking Projection http://bit.ly/1wtX6X2on Vimeo
Girls From Brazil’s Favelas Find Escape In Ballet http://huff.to/1nxpgH7
The five best North Korean films http://bit.ly/1qtblGx via The Guardian
4 Experts Predict How Moviegoing Will Change in 10 Years http://bit.ly/1pASd4F via Hollywood Reporter
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
The 10 Best Tracking Shots http://bit.ly/1q33tdO via Raindance Film Festival. This is only ONE of them!
UPDATED: Canon Permanently Drops Price On Most ‘L’ Glass:
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4.0L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens is 33% off
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Zoom Lens is $999
Drone video shows Apple’s ‘spaceship’ campus construction http://bit.ly/1w13C3B via Digital Trends
My Top 10 Rules of Travel Photography http://bit.ly/1z2Z3Wg via Ami Vitale
The Airbnb of Location Scouting? Set Scouter Connects Filmmakers Directly to Property Owners http://bit.ly/1pgfLRm via No Film School
Watch: Trailers For Martin Scorsese’s List Of The 39 Foreign Films You Should See Before You Die http://bit.ly/1pgfP3B via Indiewire
An In-Depth Guide to the Best Drones http://bit.ly/1pgfZYy via The Wirecutter
The most popular #Film & #Video projects on @ Kickstarter http://kck.st/1q2FYSb
The 100 Greatest Movie Threats of All Time http://bit.ly/1p0T5PU
Mesmerizing GIFs Use Light and Motion to Visualize Sounds http://wrd.cm/1p0VTfV via WIRED
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
The crew of VICE and their go-to Canon gear
Listen to 12 Hours of François Truffaut Interviewing Alfred Hitchcock for Free http://bit.ly/1sOj44w via No Film School
The perfect storm of talent and tools http://bit.ly/1sOj8kQ via Pro Video Coalition
Solving 50 problems in 50 days with design. Just like that. http://bit.ly/XwoK6i
The Art of Editing to Music http://bit.ly/1p0RCsM via Creative Planet
Magnum Photographer David Alan Harvey in the streets of Korea with the Fuji X100S
4K Monitors Under $850 http://bit.ly/VCxBlu via Pro Video Coalition
How To Make A Movie In A Country With No Film Funding http://bit.ly/VCxLcD via Indiewire
The Panasonic Toughpad shows up in a Comic Book http://bit.ly/1pF2QrJ via Digital Trends
Set Etiquette for Cinematographers http://bit.ly/1pF36XK via Mastering Film
News
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
13 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ask A Chinese Photoshop Expert For Help http://bit.ly/XfuCks via The Poke
James Bond: 50 Years of Main Title Design http://bit.ly/Xfvlls via Art of the Title
This Way Up on Vimeo http://bit.ly/1ytjPhD via YouTube
Remembering Robin Williams: 7-Minute Video Tribute http://bit.ly/1lU9R34 via The Playlist
Future Independent Filmmakers Will Make More Than Movies http://bit.ly/V4sc6i via Film Courage
23 eBooks For Photographers That Are Completely Free http://bit.ly/1lZQ0iW via Light Stalking
Acer Reveals B286HK 28-Inch 4K Monitor, Specs, Price http://bit.ly/1pvJOEr via Digital Trends
The New USB Standard Will Turn Your Photo Transfers Up to 11, and It’s Reversible http://bit.ly/1pvKF88 via Petapixel
For top 10 posts 60 Seconds on Set: Focus Pulling http://bit.ly/1pRzXHV
Robert Rodriguez Discusses Hollywood, Film Making and Sin City http://bit.ly/VwVA5h via Comic Book Movie
News
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
Increíbles fotografías subacuáticas de Enric Adrian Gener http://bit.ly/1sQfKDo via Cultura Inquieta
Secret Photos From Inside North Korea Show Life In The World’s Most Isolated Country http://bit.ly/1sQbsMq via Fast Company
Complete your photography kit with Lightroom and Photoshop for just $9.99/month
A Beautifully Filmed Look Inside Sigma’s Lens Factory in Aizu, Japan http://bit.ly/1sQfTXJ
14 Most Colorful Towns and Cities in Europe http://bit.ly/1sQkBEN via The Culture Map
‘Deadline’: A Fascinating Look Behind the Scenes of a Struggling Philadelphia Newspaper http://bit.ly/1sQlbm3 via Feature Shoot
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S added to studio comparison http://bit.ly/1sQlE7v via Digital Photography Review
Apple expands OS X Mavericks Raw compatibility http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5955 via Apple
Adobe Officially Working On Aperture to Lightroom Migration Tool, Releases Accompanying Guide http://adobe.ly/1sQm51U via Adobe
Photos of the Super Moon http://bit.ly/1sQmEZn via Le Figaro
News
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
New Photoshop Extension Cures the Multiple Open Document Blues http://tnw.co/1z5B2AJ via TNW
Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty Discusses URSA & Image Issues with Production Camera 4K l http://bit.ly/1z5B9w5 via No Film School
Planetary Panoramas – 360 Degree Night Sky Time-Lapses http://bit.ly/1opnDMT via Vincent Brady
NIKE world cup fonts http://bit.ly/1qGz4TF via designboom
4K RAW at 1000fps: Astounding Test Video Shot with the Phantom Flex4K http://bit.ly/1lSrkHX via Petapixel
Learn how to increase the production value and emotional depth of your shots with camera movement via http://bit.ly/CameraMovement lynda.com
13 Bad Habits Filmmakers Need to Break http://bit.ly/1o6JcEI via Indiewire
What Does It Mean to Be a Cinematographer? http://vimeo.com/100096260 via Vimeo
Lab tested: The Mac Pro Daisy Chain Challenge http://bit.ly/1o6JMCu via Macworld
This Graphic Details the Daily Routines of Famous Creative People http://bit.ly/1o6KaB3 via Lifehacker
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL! Explore every goal from the entire history of the World Cup over the duration of a single match. http://econ.st/TruWdp via The Economist
10 Social Media Do’s and Don’ts for Filmmakers http://bit.ly/1qcFNEz via Indiewire
Behind the Scenes of OK Go’s Viral Optical Illusion-Packed Single Take Music Video http://bit.ly/1jPimLt via Petapixel
E-books to outsell print by 2018 says new report http://bbc.in/1i6CMPB via BBC News
System requirements for Adobe Creative Cloud http://adobe.ly/1qcGy0c via Adobe
How to Clean Your Camera Gear: Tips From the Canon Call Center http://bit.ly/1l2bCza via Popular Photography
Surprisingly Colorful Photos Reveal a Side of Antarctica You’ve Probably Never Seen http://bit.ly/1jPikDn via Petapixel
Adobe’s Photoshop Express finally comes to Windows Phone http://bit.ly/1qcFGJ5 via Digital Trends
What ‘Ultra High-Definition’ really means http://bit.ly/1qcFBFp via Engadget
5 Inspiration and Organization Tools for the Video Editor http://bit.ly/1qcFSYJ via Videomaker
News
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
Bird’s-eye view of Brazil revealed by hexacopter http://bit.ly/1pDxQqD via BBC News
Yelp plans to add new video feature to its mobile app http://bit.ly/1hD1Nlg via Digital Trends
Tutorial: How to Pick the Best Focal Length When Capturing Landscapes http://bit.ly/1hD1RkO via Petapixel
Ditching the MacBook Air for Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 http://bit.ly/1hD4wuN
“The Beygency” Edit Timelapse on Vimeo http://bit.ly/1rRUYGg via SNL Blog
Meet ‘The Archivist’ at National Geographic http://bit.ly/1hD9ojF via DPReview
40 more maps that explain the world http://wapo.st/NiYxCK via The Washington Post
Google & YouTube Reveal Best Streaming Video in the U.S. Ranked by ISP Google Video Quality Report http://bit.ly/1hDvHWo
How Video Gets To You http://bit.ly/1hDvVgc via Google
What a shot! 25 amazing sports photos http://cnn.it/1ijG3JQ via CNN
News
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
Filmmakers On Developing Style http://bit.ly/S3kZBC via ARCBLOG
BBC to stream World Cup matches in 4K ultra HD http://bbc.in/1i6CFU4 via BBC News
Behind the Scenes with Film Editor Walter Murch http://n.pr/1rS1619 via NPR
Cinematographers discuss their lighting techniques and go-to instruments http://bit.ly/1rS1ixv via HDVideoPro
Computex: Google Glass rival and other wearable tech seek sales http://bbc.in/1i6CM24 via BBC News
How to Maximize Production Value on a Minuscule Budget http://bit.ly/1i6CPL9 via No Film School
Stop Obsessing Over Gear and Just Shoot Your Film. http://bit.ly/1i6CSXm via Indiewire
4K PC Monitor Prices Could Fall Below $400 This Year http://bit.ly/1i7c0Xh via Digital Trends
Google Adds Street View, Indoor Maps of 12 Brazil World Cup Stadiums http://bit.ly/1i7cc8X via Digital Trends
12 Beautiful Metro Stations That Transport You to Another World http://bit.ly/1i7eO6J via Good
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
Managing Creativity: Lessons from Pixar and Disney Animation http://bit.ly/1i7Q2lB via Harvard Business Review
10 Tips for Producing a Micro-Budget Indie Film http://bit.ly/1hD1abh via Indiewire
Fireproof Waterproof Desktop External Hard Drives http://bit.ly/1hD1Cq9 via iosafe
What is USB 3.1, When Will It Be Released, and What Will It Do for PCs http://bit.ly/1r7zGE4 via Digital Trends
Good Video Editing Techniques to Consider http://bit.ly/1hD25si via Mastering Film
Google’s camera app now lets you shoot in different aspect ratios http://bit.ly/1hD12bQ via Engadget
To Hollywood, All Things Hip Lie in Brooklyn http://nyti.ms/1hD2fQs via NYTimes.com
Vittorio Storaro Explains How DPs Can ‘Write with Light’ to Tell a Story http://bit.ly/1hD5kzP via No Film School
9 Marketing Tricks to Steal From the Oscar Nominees http://bit.ly/1f4qu7s via Inc Magazine
T-Mobile launches affordable tablets with 200MB of free data for life http://bit.ly/1r7zBQY via Digital Trends
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
Asus Reveals PB287Q $650 28-inch 4K Monitor http://bit.ly/1hCZQ8q via Digital Trends
Cuba Before The Revolution http://bit.ly/1horg1E via Print Magazine
The 10 Commandments of Color Theory http://bit.ly/1pyJbYt via Designmantic
Behind-the-scenes photos reveal the secrets of Mad Men sets http://bit.ly/1pyJdj8 via Gizmondo
BBC examines 100 years of Leica http://bit.ly/1hD0fHX via DPReview
What is SATA Express, What Will it Do For Laptop, Desktop PC Storage http://bit.ly/1r7zxkf via Digital Trends
A forgotten Belgian genius dreamed up the internet over 100 years ago http://bit.ly/1hD09jC via Engadget
60-Second BTS Video Speeds Through the Retouching of a Corona Advertisement http://bit.ly/1nGMoE5 via Petapixel
12 Invaluable Tips for First-Time Filmmakers http://bit.ly/1hCkzZV via Indiewire
Did You Know: You Can Set Your GoPro to Take High Res Stills While Shooting Video http://bit.ly/1hCZX3L via Petapixel
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order. If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
David Ogilvy’s 10 top tips for video scriptwriting http://bit.ly/1he0m29 via Econsultancy
Be very afraid of AT&T merger http://bit.ly/1nwyeoS via The Chicago Sun-Times
Centr captures 360-degree video at 4K resolution: Connect http://bit.ly/1nwxY9B via DPReview
Extensive Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Making Of Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Black Swan’ http://bit.ly/1nwAcFM via Indiwire
Google’s Robots Are Solving the Biggest Problem in Modern Photography http://wrd.cm/1nwy7cW via Wired
The 10 Smartest Cities In The World http://bit.ly/1nwAm06 via Fast Company
Bentley Shoots Documentary Film Using iPhone, iPad http://bit.ly/1nwAqgi via Digital Trends
China’s Lenovo sees 29% jump in full year net profit http://bbc.in/1nGLAPs via BBC News
Breaking Bad – Motivated Camera Movements http://bit.ly/1pyI4bf via VashiVisuals Blog
Free Chrome Extension Allows You to View RAW Images In-Browser http://bit.ly/1nGMGuy via Petapixel
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
These are my top ten favorite articles of last week, in no particular order.
How to Make a Film Like Alfred Hitchcock: A Breakdown of the Master’s Techniques via No Film School http://bit.ly/RtfwEO
Video Test: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Versus the Canon 5D Mark III http://bit.ly/RtgUac via Petapixel
Thanks to Google Glass, we can watch an IndyCar pit crew at work via Digital Trends http://bit.ly/RtgWiv
Japan man held over ‘3D-printed guns’ http://bbc.in/RtgZLh via BBC News
Epson’s Glass-like ‘Moverio’ specs go on sale for $700 via Digital Trends http://bit.ly/RthJ2U
Is it true? New service detects processed photos http://bit.ly/RthLbc via DP Review
Fascinating Book Described Thousands of Colors 271 Years Before Pantone http://bit.ly/1k8l0PK via Petapixel
The 20 Worst Summer Blockbusters Ever http://bit.ly/RtfsEV via The Playlist
As Digital Cinema Shooting Reaches 4K, 6K, & Beyond, How Will Post Production Keep Up? http://bit.ly/1k8rVZj via No Film School
What’s The Difference Between A Font And A Typeface? http://bit.ly/1jNky55 via Fast Company
If you have something worth sharing next week, please send it my way by email or Twitter.
Video
My Top Ten Favorite Articles of Last Week.
Starting last week, I’d like to share the best 10 articles I’ve read over the past week. I’ll try my best to stick to photo and film articles, but sometimes I might add cool and random stuff. If you have something that should be included please send it my way by email or Twitter.
10 tips for editing video in a thoughtful, compelling way http://bit.ly/1k8lfue via TED Blog
Improved 4K display support in OS X 10.9.3 http://bit.ly/1k8k9OW via Macworld
4K TV shipments skyrocketed last March, exceeding 1 million units http://bit.ly/1k8kDVs via Digital Trends
Lots of Sony news: Sony Ditches OLED TVs (again) to Concentrate on 4K Ultra HD http://bit.ly/1k8kjpw and Sony Sold 39 million Android Phones in 2013 http://bit.ly/1k8krW9 both via Digital Trends and Sony forecasts losses until 2015 after PC exit http://bbc.in/1k8knWy via BBC News
DaVinci Resolve 11 Adds Powerful Editing and Media Management Tools http://bit.ly/1k8kwsX via CineTechnica
The Best Marketing Decision You’ll Ever Make http://bit.ly/1siPIs6 via Inc.com
14 Powerful TED Talks by Photographers http://bit.ly/Rm4zom via Petapixel
The Special Effects in Only God Forgives http://bit.ly/1fP2gVU via Filmslie.com
10 Films In Which Actors Play Multiple Roles http://bit.ly/Rtfixb via Indiwire
Photography
The best 25 pictures of the year.
This is the time of the year for the very bests, top 25, top 100, etc. I don’t usually follow those lists, but I’d like to share some of the images that this year really made me stop and marvel at the world, sometimes in joy, most often in horror. Here they are:
A monstrous dust storm (Haboob) roared through Phoenix, Arizona in July. Source: DanBryant.com
Firefighters of Ladder Company 4 — which lost seven men on 9/11 — perched together on their aerial ladder, watching a news bulletin in Times Square declaring that Osama bin Laden was dead on May 2. Source: lens.blogs.nytimes.com
Facebook played an extremely important role in the uprisings throughout the Middle East. Source: theatlanticwire.com
84-year-old Dorli Rainey was pepper sprayed during a peaceful march in Seattle, Washington. She would have been thrown to the ground and trampled, but luckily a fellow protester and Iraq vet was there to save her. (Joshua Trujillo / Seattlepi.com)
Australian Scott Jones kisses his Canadian girlfriend Alex Thomas after she was knocked to the ground by a police officer’s riot shield in Vancouver, British Columbia. Canadians rioted after the Vancouver Canucks lost the Stanley Cup to the Boston Bruins. (Getty Images / Rich Lam)