Picture Stories by Stephen Alvarez

Power of Paper and Glue

 

This TED talk is a year old but still amazing. It is an inspirational way to spend a snowy morning.

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee

Works in Progress

 

One of my favorite days in January is works in progress day at NG. It is day the freelance photographers gather in the NG auditorium or a closed session to show something they have worked on in the past year. I've seen some astounding personal work there and getting ready for it is always intimidating. My contribution this year is above. 

Stephen Alvarez

Washington, DC

Just bought my first ipad photo app, Gerd Ludwig: the Long Shadow of Chernobyl will the ipad replace photo books?

I've been reluctant to purchase an Ipad. Mostly I saw them as an answer to a problem I don't have. However, I have to show clients some work later this month and it is the portfolio of choice these days. Much to my delight I read about Gerd Ludwig's new App "The Long Shadow of Chernobyl" on ThePhotoSociety. So same day I picked up my Ipad, I bought my first photo book replacement. It is a great App. Lots of pictures, interviews and information. I'd still like Gerd to publish a traditional print book, but until then I am happy to have his app with me.

So my question is "Is the Ipad going to replace traditional photo books?" 

Stephen Alvarez

Canon 5D MK II set up for video

 

About a year ago I did a short post on how my 5D MK II was set up for video. As you would expect it has evolved considerably over the year so here is my set up now. As I point out on a PhotoSociety post the camera is set up intentionally so that it really won’t work well as a still camera when I am shooting video. I don’t want to be temped to try and switch back and forth between the two.
Here is the list of what is attached along with links to the stuff.

Jag35 straight rig. I like the Jag35 stuff, it is well made and reasonably priced.

D Focus kit also from JAG35. An affordable follow focus kit. If I was using cine lenses instead of Canon EOS lenses I might consider one of the more expensive kits from Red Rock Micro or Cinevate .

SmallHD DP4 electronic viewfinder. I’ve got a thing for small companies and theses folks in North Carolina make a viewfinder that does way more than I need it to. The HDMI pass through also lets me hook up an additional monitor so that clients can see what they are paying for when I am doing commercial jobs.

Tascam DR-100. I used a Zoom H4N for a long time, but the Tascam also has a line out so I can hook it to my camera and use headphones at the same time. The Tascam has a large dial to adjust the sound input so it is easier for me to adjust on the fly than the Zoom. Last year I was using a juicedlink and running sound straight to the camera only but I find the external recorder give me better sound.

Sescom -25 DB downpad cord. This attaches the Tascam to the 5D. I set the audio levels in the 5D to manual and then one click above off. This cord adjusts line level to mike level and I get ok sound in the camera. I still usually replace the camera sound in post but this makes the replacement easier.

Sennheiser EW100 wireless set. You can’t do interviews without a wireless microphone. There are many out there. I use the Sennheiser.

Rode NTG 1 shotgun. Again there are a world of shotgun mikes out there. This Rode is just good, forgiving and reliable.

Rode Dead Cat. Can’t use a shotgun outside without wind protection.

Set up this way the camera gives me good sound and beautiful video but it is somewhat complicated. There are 5 power switches to turn on. That is a lot to keep track of and it is sort of reminding me of 26 inch mountain bikes. They got increasingly complicated suspensions until someone decided to make the wheels 3 inches bigger. There has to be an easier way to do this and I think it is a dedicated video camera. Canon releases the C300 in January...

Stephen Alvarez

Hell and Back Again, a film by Danfung Dennis

HELL AND BACK AGAIN Trailer from Danfung Dennis on Vimeo.

A little more than 2 years ago I posted a very short piece about the work Danfung Dennis was doing in Afghanistan with the 5D MK II. The film he has produced is wonderful. Look for screenings here.

 

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN 

Most incredible time lapse ever

The most impressive time lapse footage I've ever seen. It was shot from the international space station with a low light camera. Increadible... 

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee

How good can a $300 video camera be?

Pretty good it seems! The pace that video cameras are evolving is stunning. 

Stephen Alvarez

 

Budapest Cinemagraph

I was jet lagged last night, couldn't sleep and didn't wat to resort to sleeping pills as I have to work today so instead I put together this cinemagraph. It is assembled from a 2 second 5D MK II video clip.

Stephen Alvarez

Budapest

Cinemagraphs

While I've been procrastinating today I ran across Cinemagraphs.

Cinemagraphs? say what? They are not quite video, not quite still photos discussed in a blog post at Diegoguevara.com. They are very cool and remind me of the stuff Merge was doing for Horny Toad a couple of years ago. Only cinemagraphs are gif files so they don't require videos hosting hassles. 

OK, shooting in Budapest Wed afternoon and the bags aren't packed so I am shutting down and packing bags

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN

 

Jem Schofield's Canon dslr film making tutorials

I caught up with my friend Jem Schofield over the weekend. He's been busy since NAB with a series of Canon DSLR video tutorials (here). In typical Jem fashion they are thorough and easy to understand. Boy do I wish these had been around when the 5D MK II was first introduced!

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN