I LOVED this class! I've learned so much in such a short time. That always seems to be the case with a Raimist Class.
I had a great time challenging myself to create works of art. I loved all the people in my class. There were people who made me look at things in a new way, people who kept me calm when all of our lights blew on set. People to challenge my creative abilities, as well as people I could laugh and have fun with!
I've developed some lasting friendships in this class and I am excited to take what I've learned and expand upon it.
The most important thing I have learned from this class is that there is just SO MUCH MORE TO KNOW! and I look forward to the journey through trail and error that will lead me to learn.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Artist Statement
I believe that I am a storyteller, first beyond all else. As a storyteller I choose to tell my stories and the stories of others visually. I appreciate the difficulty and refinement it takes to visually tell a story. I also want to tell non-fiction stories. There is something very real about understanding a person through their experience. I want to delve into different types of people intimately. I want those people to know me intimately so I can attempt to tell their story to the world.
I am not jaded enough to think that it is my responsibility to tell other people's stories. It's not, people tell their stories everyday. However, when someone gives me the opportunity to look within them and share with me who they are, it is more for me than for them. What I mean is that I love to listen, then take what I've hard and turn it into something creative.
Tell every story. I want to tell stories that have never been heard before. They don't have to be elaborate or riveting at every point. But instead, getting to know someone who lives in rural Alabama and has lived their her entire life is more interesting to me than putting together a multi million dollar production about a fabrication of the same exact thing. Reality is daunting.
Simply I want to share realities through story telling.
I am not jaded enough to think that it is my responsibility to tell other people's stories. It's not, people tell their stories everyday. However, when someone gives me the opportunity to look within them and share with me who they are, it is more for me than for them. What I mean is that I love to listen, then take what I've hard and turn it into something creative.
Tell every story. I want to tell stories that have never been heard before. They don't have to be elaborate or riveting at every point. But instead, getting to know someone who lives in rural Alabama and has lived their her entire life is more interesting to me than putting together a multi million dollar production about a fabrication of the same exact thing. Reality is daunting.
Simply I want to share realities through story telling.
what have you been learning?
I have been learning so much! The first and most important is I never really understood how much a camera replicates the human eye. I will be walking around and just squint and notice that I can achieve this out of focus look with a camera as well. I have also learned that it is important to be organized and a good planner. Regardless of what field you go in, it is important to know what you want to accomplish and how you are going to accomplish that. Further, Ive learned so much about the manipulation of light that can set the mood and tone of a piece. I
I've also noticed that there is so much to think about within one frame! One frame is like a photograph or a painting and a movie is just a series of those individual photographs or paintings. Attention to detail is CRUCIAL in producing great filmwork.
I also know now that post work flow is very important when calculating the time of when you plan to finish a project.If you don't know the post workflow you may not have the proper converter pplug ins and this could push you back a day (at least) in the finsihing process.
I also learned a great deal about prime lens. 35mm 30mm 28mm and fish eye. These are all lenses that create very different looks. Looks are crucial to visual storytelling! So choosing the right lens for a specific scene is very important.
Last, I learned that reading is key but also doing and participating in hands on activities allows the learning process to come full circle for me.
I've also noticed that there is so much to think about within one frame! One frame is like a photograph or a painting and a movie is just a series of those individual photographs or paintings. Attention to detail is CRUCIAL in producing great filmwork.
I also know now that post work flow is very important when calculating the time of when you plan to finish a project.If you don't know the post workflow you may not have the proper converter pplug ins and this could push you back a day (at least) in the finsihing process.
I also learned a great deal about prime lens. 35mm 30mm 28mm and fish eye. These are all lenses that create very different looks. Looks are crucial to visual storytelling! So choosing the right lens for a specific scene is very important.
Last, I learned that reading is key but also doing and participating in hands on activities allows the learning process to come full circle for me.
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT CAMERAS
I have learned so many things about cameras this semester. And the most important thing I learned is that there is really no good or bad camera, but instead the best camera for a particular situation. So, I've learned to understand what I want to accomplish then research the specs of each camera I'm familiar with in order to find the camera that best suits my situation.
The camera that I've had the most fun with and the one I would probably use as a professional documentarian is the Sony HDV. It's small, easy to hold, looks great in low light and I can use filters to manipulate an image. Also the HDV is capable of crushing the depth of field. Also, the HDV uses tapes! I know a lot of people think tapes are tedious but in the long run you will always have a hard copy of your video footage if your hard drive ever decides to crash.
I would also invest in an DSLR t2i for shooting some of my more poignant beauty shots. I do agree there is an artistic/cinematic feel you get when you shoot with the DSLR that you don't really get with many other cameras that are worth the same price. For the quality, DSLR is a fairly inexpensive choice, but it couldn't be my only camera.
The camera that I've had the most fun with and the one I would probably use as a professional documentarian is the Sony HDV. It's small, easy to hold, looks great in low light and I can use filters to manipulate an image. Also the HDV is capable of crushing the depth of field. Also, the HDV uses tapes! I know a lot of people think tapes are tedious but in the long run you will always have a hard copy of your video footage if your hard drive ever decides to crash.
I would also invest in an DSLR t2i for shooting some of my more poignant beauty shots. I do agree there is an artistic/cinematic feel you get when you shoot with the DSLR that you don't really get with many other cameras that are worth the same price. For the quality, DSLR is a fairly inexpensive choice, but it couldn't be my only camera.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Cameras: Advantages and Disadvantages
DSLR advantages
1) isolate your sibject and force the viewer to look at what you intend them to look at. Also, the sensor on these cameras is amazing and allows the filmmaker to capture amazing colors as well as images in low light which can be amazing for documentary!
DSLR disadvantages:
1. Sometimes I want to see the background! there are other tools in directing the eye besides crushing the d.o.f
In this example this looks like a portrait of a place, but you can hardly tell where any of the speakers are because the background is so out of focus. In my opinion, it takes away from the actual place they are trying to highlight.
The Ex3, in my opinion would be a better documentary camera.
yes, it doesnt have and ISO but it is easier to hold and you are able to interchange lenses much like the dslr. The only problem with the EX3 is if you wanted to set it up to it's full capability ( matte box and red rock adapter) you would need more than one person to operate it and a LOT of time to set it up.
1) isolate your sibject and force the viewer to look at what you intend them to look at. Also, the sensor on these cameras is amazing and allows the filmmaker to capture amazing colors as well as images in low light which can be amazing for documentary!
1. Sometimes I want to see the background! there are other tools in directing the eye besides crushing the d.o.f
In this example this looks like a portrait of a place, but you can hardly tell where any of the speakers are because the background is so out of focus. In my opinion, it takes away from the actual place they are trying to highlight.
The Ex3, in my opinion would be a better documentary camera.
yes, it doesnt have and ISO but it is easier to hold and you are able to interchange lenses much like the dslr. The only problem with the EX3 is if you wanted to set it up to it's full capability ( matte box and red rock adapter) you would need more than one person to operate it and a LOT of time to set it up.
Camera Movement
Sometimes alot of movement can be TOO MUCH movement. What I've learned over all about movement of the camera is that subtle is best! When you watch movies, without a trained eye, you notice that something weird happened with the shot your looking at, but it wasn't anything you could describe. All you know is it fit with the story. So subtle quick movement in my opinion can be the best movement. My favorite movement is the character push-in. After watching movies for so long I had never noticed that in almost every movie when a person finds something out new, or is lonely there is a character push in or push out to add dramatic effect.
I also like wired movements to add to the awkwardness of a movie. For instance in Spike Lee's "Inside Man"
Speed up to 0:57. Cool way to add tension and focus of the eye without crushing the d.o.f.
I also like wired movements to add to the awkwardness of a movie. For instance in Spike Lee's "Inside Man"
Speed up to 0:57. Cool way to add tension and focus of the eye without crushing the d.o.f.
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