Final Cut Pro X Is It For You?

As an advertising photographer who also shoots and instructs video classes, I have people ask me about the new Final Cut Pro X.  Well after spending a day with Diana Weynand  training at DV Expo with X I have a few impressions.

For those who are just getting into video and have no experience with other editing programs except for possibly Imovie the approach Final Cut Pro X takes will not seem unusual for editing and in some ways I like it.  The X approach to organization and selection is handy since keeping organized and finding material is such a big part of video post-production.  Nothing kills creativity more than the frustration of not being able to find your material.

Some of the terminology is different from past editing software including Final Cut Pro 7 with terms like events and selections replacing projects and edited clip.  The heavy use of metadata is also different but very useful in the world of file based content and aliases used in NLEs.

One of the complaints about Final Cut Pro X has been not being able to use your editing in other programs including past versions of Final Cut Pro which has just been resolved with the update giving X the ability to export and import XML files.  Apple also just started offering a 30 day trial version so you can have of taste of what the new approach is like.

DV Expo Pasadena Bold, Fresh Ideas

Being a advertising photographer and videographer in Los Angeles, California, the DV Expo 11 from Sept. 20-22 in Pasadena is three days of new information about digital video following their log line of “Bold, Fresh Ideas to Inspire and Excite is a natural to attend.

Tuesday was a day of conference training where I was lucky enough to sit in on some of Diana Weynand’s Final Cut Pro X training.  I enjoyed the methods Diana used in explaining the intricacies of the paradigm change in the Final Cut Pro editing software.  She had several assistants that helped attendees follow Diana when they needed help which kept the class moving ahead while not leaving anyone behind.  A following blog post will discuss my impressions of Final Cut Pro X for professional  advertising and editorial photographers getting into video.

Wednesday was another day of training and the opening of the Expo exhibit.  I sat in on the Weynand training of Premiere Pro with another trainer.  Since Premiere Pro is very much like earlier versions of Final Cut Pro following the training was easy but exposed me to Adobe’s tools placement and short cuts. It might be a natural fit for the advertising and editorial photographers already familiar with other Adobe software.  Watch for a posting on my impressions of Premiere coming soon.  At noon the exhibit opened so during lunch and the breaks I got the opportunity to see the latest in gear.  Some of my favorite exhibits were there AJA, Carl Zeiss, Litepanels, Marshall Electronics, Panasonic, and SmartSound software.

Even if you don’t go to any of the conference training it is well worth the time to see the gear in the exhibits and attend the free hour-long sessions taking place around the exhibit floor.  You get to talk with manufacturer’s reps that really know their equipment and see the latest they have to offer plus sometimes even a peek into the future.   The hour long free sessions cover a wide variety of DV related topic and you might be amazed at how much many of these speakers fit into an hour.  On Thursday there is a free session at noon by Jan Livingston on the Panasonic AG-AF100 that will give you a detailed understanding of the features of the popular new camera.

For more information on attending go to www.dv.com.  They also publish some outstanding online and printed magazines covering digital video.

Making it big in advertising photography

Make it big.  As an advertising photographer in Los Angeles, I learn long ago clients love to see their product large in the photograph.  Although creatively, in the past, this might not have served the purpose well, now it could be the best advice for much of how photography and video is seen.  As more and more photography and video is seen on smaller and smaller screens the only way to really see it is to make the subject big.

My Secrets of Video for Photographers seminars and workshops take me across the nation.  As I flew to Unique Photo in New Jersey to do my events, I had a chance to watch the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Just a month before this I was in Kauai where they filmed much of the movie.  While watching the movie on the tiny screen in the aircraft I could barely recognize the locations I was just at.  If I had seen the movie on a 40 foot theater screen the impact of the locations might have been greater.  As it was, I had to wait for the medium close-ups to close-ups to visually follow the story.  I attribute my less than enthusiastic reaction to the movie to this size issue.

The reverse of this is true when I am watch the Wild China series by the BBC on my iphone.  Most of the action is set in the close-ups with wide vistas used for presenting the overall environment.  Admittedly, Wild China was produced to be seen on TV where Pirates was for the “big” screen which brings me back to thinking about where your images, be them photographs or video, are going to end up.  When you are deciding how to shoot each shot consider how your shots are going to be seen, on a forty foot screen or a four inch screen.

Two Faced

Secrets of Video for Photographers – New Jersey – Unique Photo

Secrets of video for photographers Friday seminar in New Jersey is more timely than ever for you if you want to have the skills most in demand today.  Saturday workshop info below.

Learn how to make videos that people want to watch. Whether you’re an amateur or professional, learn the techniques that every photographer shooting video should know even if you never take your camera off automatic.  Translate your photographic knowledge in to cinematic genius.  What equipment do you need and when do you need it.  Come and get inspired as well as educated.

The Friday evening seminar will include:

– Visual storytelling

– Basics of camera, sound and lighting techniques

– The latest in video equipment and software for video suitable for photographers getting into video.

– How photographers can apply their present skills to video

– How professional photographers can create new revenue streams

Sept 16, 2011 6 – 8pm

Unique Photo SuperStore
123 US Hwy 46 (West)
Fairfield, NJ 07004
Phone: 973-377-2007

For more information or to register go to http://university.uniquephoto.com/e/index.php/classes/lee-white-seminar-html.html

Sponsors: Panasonic, AJA, Apple, Manfrotto, Zeiss, Sennheiser, Smartsound, Redrock Micro, ManhattanLCD, Beachtek, Indisystems, Chimera, G-Technology, AntonBauer, Red Giant Software, Hoodman, and K-Tek

Secrets of video for photographers workshop in Atlanta on Saturday gives you a quick and thorough education in the tools and techniques every photographer should have when doing video.

Whether you are a beginning, advanced or professional photographer, you can advance your visual storytelling with video in exciting new ways. Don’t miss this opportunity to hit the ground running in your adventure into video.

Come join Lee White, professional photographer/videographer and college instructor as he guides you through the tools and techniques needed to help you make video without pulling your hair out.  Avoid the common mistakes that ruin most novice videography.  Learn what camera settings on your HDSLR for video mean and how best to set your camera for different situations.  Find out how to do good audio recordings. See what video gear can help you make better videos.  Find out what is involved with editing your video, adding music and getting it out for others to enjoy.

The Saturday workshop will include:

– Hands-on experience with camera, lighting and sound equipment

– A chance to direct and shoot talent and a table-top situation

– The importance of workflow including recording formats and camera settings

– How to edit video and output

– How photographers can market their new skill-set

August 27, 2011 9:30am – 4:30pm

Unique Photo SuperStore
123 US Hwy 46 (West)
Fairfield, NJ 07004
Phone: 973-377-2007

For more information or to register go to http://university.uniquephoto.com/e/index.php/classes/secrets-of-video-for-photographers-workshop-with-lee-white.html

Sponsors Panasonic, AJA, Apple, Manfrotto, Zeiss, Sennheiser, Smartsound, Redrock Micro, ManhattanLCD, Beachtek, Indisystems, Chimera, G-Technology, AntonBauer, Red Giant Software, Hoodman, and K-Tek.