Picture Stories by Stephen Alvarez

Soggy morning, headed to the NG Seminar

Soggy morning here in Nashville. Headed to DC for the NG seminar. Always happy to go see my fellow photographers.

Stephen Alvarez
Nashville, TN

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

I just finished reading The Gun by C.J. Chivers

above, art therapy by a returned Lord's Resistance Army abductee, Kitgum, Uganda

I just finished C.J. Chivers' 2010 addition of THE GUN . It is an extended history of the AK-47 by a pulitzer prize winning New York Times corespondent. It is a fascinating study not just of a weapon but of small arms proliferation during and after the cold war. From my reporting in Africa I knew there were a lot of AKs in circulation, but I had no idea of the total number until reading this book. 

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN

reviewing pictures for my PhotoSociety page

I've just been reviewing some photos for my PhotoSociety page. Its been fun to go back and review some of my iconic images and try to decide what to put up in the page's slide show. Take a spin through the member pages. There is some incredible work by wonderful photographers. 

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN

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

Martin Scorsese was just here... He is making a movie in Paris

The canal Saint Martin, with the Paris Fire Brigade

A year and a half ago when I made this picture the firemen told me "Martin Scorsese was just here, he is filming a movie in Paris." At the time I didn't think anything of it. All I wanted was to watch them dive in Paris's Canal St Martin. As it turns out Scorsese had just been there, scouting the movie Hugo. I don't think the canal made it into the film. Too bad, it is a very cinematic place.

More Canal St Martin pictures here.

Stephen Alvarez

Lighting with new equipment good bad an ugly

 

above assistant Bennet Farkas standing in as I set my lights

Last month a friend asked me to start a big portrait project. 140 people in 3 cities. My first thought was "I need new lights!" I've been using Elinchrom Ranger Quadras and an Elinchrom 600 monolight happily for a couple years. But I knew I'd have to light entire office spaces so I wanted to add a couple extra monolights. While I like the 600 I'd always been bothered that it is 110volts only. Lots of my work does happen over seas so a multivoltage light seems better. The Elinchrom BX500Ri seemed to be the perfect light for me. Almost as bright as the 600, 90-220 volts, plus it takes the same flash tube as my Ranger Quadras. Sounds perfect so I ordered 2 along with a 27.5-Inch Rotalux Deep Octabox.

So are they perfect? Well maybe half perfect.

Even if you don't speak Spanish, watch Percebeiros it is a beautiful film

 

Watch Percebeiros by David Beriain even if you don't speak Spanish, it is a beautiful film.

 

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 

On the road again

On the road again this week shooting more corporate work. I have posts planned about some of the mountain of lighting gear I'm using but we will have to see if I've got a minute or two to put them together. In the mean time everyone have a great week. 

Stephen Alvarez