Yesterday I found out that I’ve been named a recipient of a Visual Arts Grant for Photography from the Ontario Arts Council. I’m enthusiastic to undertake my proposed project – as it is centred in interdisciplinary production and output – something that has become key to my thinking this last year. My concept is based in high-resolution imaging. I plan to make use of large format photography – both emulsion and digital – pushing the qualities of both media towards large scale prints (and that’s just the first step of what I have in mind). I’ll be talking more about my subject matter and process as I undergo my initial tests in the coming weeks.
I love having Cinematographer friends. I got a call from my friend Daniel Grant early yesterday letting me know that he had a RED Camera kicking around for an extra day and that if I wanted to shoot something it was a go. Dan and I share an interest is pushing optics, playing with motion delivery – in general we both like to push visuals very dramatically. We made use of a lensbaby and magnified glasses for some shots. Yesterday afternoon I was using my small prosumer Casio camera to mock-up this sudden RED Shoot. The Casio Exilim EX-F1 is very low resolution – but perfect for roughing out an idea in slow motion – the Casio can shoot up to 1200fps. Today I found myself shooting our project at 120fps on a RED. Again – I have to say, exciting times. Daniel Grant is pictured below. Our Red Shoot will be posted in the coming weeks.
Today I picked up the Canon 5DII, and the Casio Exilim EX-F1. Both of these cameras integrate still and motion technologies. As an image maker who has been working between these two fields (Photography and the Moving Image), I can’t express how excited I am to be working with systems that fuse together these two media. This hybrid technology is really in its infancy. Thinking of the developments in the years to come fuels my desire to push this technology to its limits – to be ahead of the curve. To be part of this first wave of fusion systems will be a real learning process. There will be strengths, and there will be drawbacks. What I feel is most important though, is that we are starting to think in terms of intertwining these two fields: photography and the moving image. A few weeks back I saw Vicente Sahuc’s motion piece “New York 2008“. I think this project is a prime example of pushing available systems to their limits. The piece is pixelated, but who cares? Vicente created a visually stunning project with a camera retailing at less than $1000, a mini-stedicam hand held unit, and roller blades. This is pushing the limits of available technology, through innovative thinking, and skillful execution. Exciting times.
I’ve spent the last few days listening (quick previewing really) thousands of songs in iTunes. I’m currently cataloguing music and soundscapes for use in future motion projects. I’m working/thinking in 30 second motion spots. As a teenager I dabbled in music mixing – so I’m excited to collaborate with the sound designers I’ve been brainstorming with.
As some of you may know I started out in film. After a few years of solid photography work, I find myself now right in the middle of two converging fields. I work and think in a hybrid mode of production – half moving/half frozen in time. An area of this fusion I find extremely interesting is in color grading. I swung by Notch today – a colourist group in Toronto. I’m having the group digitalize some older source footage that I’m going to be colour correction using several programs; Final Cut Pro’s Color, Adobe’s Lightroom, and Photoshop. It really is incredible how much control you can have over a motion file’s color grading (its “look”), with the right know-how and some creative cross platform thinking. It’s an exciting time to be doing what I’m doing; this in-between photography and moving image world. Here’s an image from the elevator ride up to Notch (notch.ca).
Last week I collaborated on a short motion project with Photographer Arash Moallemi. We spent the day in studio shooting with the Canon 5DII in video mode, and the Sony XDCAM EX. The 5DII was incredible for macro shooting. The XDCAM was strong for pretty much everything else. The project is in post-production right now, and should be posted within a week.
It’s been a while since my last post – and I’m glad to break the silence with good news. I just found out this morning that I was selected as the Grand Prize Winner of the Show Your Ontario Photography Contest (showyourontario.com). I’ve been busy with a lot of motion/video shooting as of late…some really excited stuff – I’ll be posting a bunch of new work very soon.
