Think Tank Photo Designs Carrying Solutions for the Working Photographer

Hurry and get your submissions in.  The contest closes Sunday May 26th, so you only have a week!

The prizes for the Best Overall and Best Documentary categories in the APA 2nd Annual Short Video Contest are the Airport 4-Sight Rolling Camera Bag and Airport International Rolling Camera Bag.

Think Tank Photo Airport 4-Sight

The Airport 4-Sight™ is the most convenient, lightweight camera bag solution on 4-wheels. With the introduction of the 4-Sight, Think Tank Photo has created an entire new category of lightweight rolling camera bags.  Features: International and U.S. carry-on size, 4 wheel rollers minimize effort when transporting gear, especially in crowds and airports, Side rolling feature easily navigates narrow confines such as airplane aisles,  two position locking handle for better ergonomic needs, Lightweight, yet offers outstanding protection for Pro DSLR kit and other fragile accessories, 3 handles for easy retrieval from overhead bins, integrated removable Cable Management organizer, lockable zipper slides on main compartment.

Airport International Rolling Camera Bag

The Airport International™ V 2.0 Rolling Camera Bag has been designed to be both huge and small. The perfect roller for traveling both US domestic and overseas, it’s compact yet spacious and fits in overhead bins on most international flights. The Airport International V2.0 is a real workhorse with room to carry two or three pro-size bodies (unattached), all of the standard lenses and other gear a professional or semi-professional photographers may need while working on-location. Front cable & lock secures laptop, keys or other other items, strong rear cable & lock secures entire bag to a fixed object.  Holds up to a 500 f/4 lens, unattached, additional smaller lenses and up to two, professional size camera bodies

Think Tank Photo was founded by professional photojournalists who now firmly occupy the cross-over/convergence space.  Think Tank Photo focuses on studying how photographers work, and developing inventive new carrying solutions to meet their needs. By focusing on “speed” and “accessibility,” we prepare photographers to Be Ready “Before The Moment,” allowing them to document those historic moments that reflect their personal visions and artistic talents. For some companies, it is only about the product. For us, it is more: It is about supporting photographers doing their job. If we can design products that help photographers travel easier, take pictures faster, and organize their gear more efficiently, then we will have accomplished something beyond the bags themselves.

More information at thinktankphoto

Interested in winning one of these cases?  Check out APA’s 2ND Annual  Short Video Contest for 2013.

O-Fly Lightweight Shoulder Rig and iLED 144 Dual color light

The prizes for the Best Overall and Most Innovative categories in the APA 2nd Annual Short Video Contest are the O-Fly Lightweight Shoulder Rig and  iLED 144 Dual color light respectively.

ikan designs and manufactures digital video and DSLR gear used by independent filmmakers, videographers, and professional photographers. Our mission is to build products creative people want and need at a reasonable price.

ikan’s commitment to delivering quality gear with exceptional customer service sets us apart from competitors who offer similar products. These traits have helped us become the leading manufacturer of affordable production gear for use in the field or in-studio.

ikan O-FLY Offset DSLR Shoulder Rig

The Flyweight Offset DSLR Shoulder Rig, O-Fly, features lightweight and easy to break down comfortable padded shoulder, ribbed non-slip rubber handles, offset system with vertical adjustment, and designed for DSLRs and small to mid-size camcorders.

Ikan iLED144

The iLED 144 On Camera Dual Color LED Light features wide angle beam pattern, tungsten to daylight switching, intensity dimming, on-board battery indicator, and stackable mounting option.

Find out more at http://ikancorp.com

Interested in winning a shoulder rig and on camera light?  Check out APA’s 2ND Annual contest for 2013 at www.tinyurl.com/apavideo.

Master Directing With Hollywood Camera Work

The Prize for APA 2nd Short Video Contest “Best Directing” and “Best Overall” categories is sponsored by Hollywood Camera Work and is a Master Course DVD Set

Master Course DVD Set – The most comprehensive Directing Course in the world. Over 9 hours of 3D animated instruction. Region Free. Plays on all DVD players in the US, 99% of all DVD players worldwide and all computers and notebooks worldwide. Includes access to the Hollywood Camera Work User Group, where you can discuss high-end filmmaking technique with like-minded and serious individuals and Personal support and coaching by Per Holmes through the Forum — get help with specific production problems, take part in exercises, and get the most out of the training by having direct access to its creator.

More information at Hollywood Camera Work

A New Way to Move the Camera the indiSYSTEM Vortex dolly

The prize for the “Best Dramatic Short” sponsored by indiSystem is the Vortex DSLR Dolly.

indiSYSTEM Vortex dolly

Their slogan isn’t a fancy one made by a focus group, or a bunch of ad men, it is the philosphy behind indiSYSTEM.

indiSYSTEM is capable of being your number one source for follow focus, matte box, DSLR rigs, camera slider, and other custom camera accessories meant to make your photography life easier and more efficient.

The Vortex dolly is a completely new way of moving the camera for spectacular new shots.  Its’ two arms allow movements that up until now have not been possible with any other dolly.  You can move in/out, around corners, in circles just about anyway you can imagine.  Think combination steadicam, slider, and skater dolly, all quickly set up on a set of tripod legs or the available indiBASE!  It’s hard to describe but a dream to use.

For more about the Vortex visit www.indiSYSTEM.com

Chimera When You Need Innovative Lightbank Solutions

The prize for the “Best Lighting” sponsored by Chimera – Choice of Medium or Small Video Pro Lightbank or 1X1 LED Lightbank in the APA 2nd Annual Short Video Contest.

Every photographer, videographer, cinematographer and lighting specialist knows it takes more than vision to create a masterpiece. It takes the right equipment. And for more than 30 years, Chimera has developed and invented innovative products that have changed the way the industry creates perfect light.

Chimera continues to innovate and invent solutions for photography and film—from the creation of the famed Illuminata, to the development of Speed Rings and Pancake Lanterns, to the 2009 introduction of the F2X for large area lighting. You can count on us to give you the solutions for tomorrow’s projects!

Our lighting essentials and accessories are lightweight, portable, durable and heat resistant—making it easy for you to turn your vision into a masterpiece.

Video Pro Chimera Lightbanks

Video Pro lightbanks are all perfect when you need controlled soft lighting on small sets. They’re also ideal for use as a separation light or small fill. These standard-depth banks are extremely lightweight and are primarily used with single broad-beamed, open-faced instruments.

They’re ideal for all Chimera Circular Speed Rings measuring 3 to 9 inches (78 to 230 mm,) Adjustable Speed Rings from 5 to 9 inches (125 to 230 mm) and Dedicated Speed Rings.   Available in sizes from XXS to Large.   Video PRO Plus comes standard with three screens (full, half and quarter grid) so you can quickly and easily modify light output.  Screen constructed of unique, custom material that’s anti-aging and anti-static.

You can also use Fresnels up to 1,000 watts, especially if you use diffusion in the gel holder to spread the beam.  Lightbanks available for Barger 4 and Barger 6 Stip Lights.

TECH Lightbank 1X1 LED lightbank

There are also the Chimera TECH Lightbanks for LED, Plasma and Remote Phosphor lights—the perfect way to get the most out of the new lighting technologies , and still create beautiful, diffused talent-friendly light.

Info on the Video Pro Lightbanks and 1×1 LED Lightbank can be found at www.chimeralighting.com.

Interested in winning a lightbank?  Check out APA’s 2ND Annual Short Contest for 2013 at www.tinyurl.com/apavideo.

DP4-EVF the Field Monitor and Electronic View Finder in One

smallHD DP4-EVF

Title: DP4-EVF the Field Monitor and Electronic View Finder in One

The prize for the Best Music Video category in the APA 2nd Annual Short Video Contest is a smallHD DP4-EVF

The SmallHD DP4-EVF was designed from the ground up for the DLSR shooter. In dynamic shooting environments pulling critical focus and maintaining correct exposure can be a challenge. The DP4-EVF’s extensive software features are designed to continuously give you the information you need, so you can concentrate on composition.

The DP4-EVF is two tools in one, 1) a world class standalone field monitor and 2) an electronic view finder. There is no other product on the market that provides both of these features in one lightweight integrated package.

Features Most Interest To DSLR Shooters:

Focus Assist Plus provides best in class focus assist technology.

Multiple exposure management tools

DSLR Auto Scale to maximize the size of the displayed image

Integration with both Canon and Nikon battery systems

Bright screen for outdoor shooting

Electronic Viewfinder

HDMI pass thru to allow others on the set to see the action

SmallHD was founded in by budget conscience filmmakers to deliver innovation and unprecedented customer support for the DLSR shooter. The following is a short list of those innovations.

Find out more at http://www.smallhd.com

Interested in winning a production monitor?  Check out APA’s 2ND Annual  Short Video Contest for 2013 at www.tinyurl.com/apavideo.

First Cut Pro for Your Collaboration Needs

The prize for the Best Documentary category in the APA 2nd Annual Short Video Contest is a 1- year subscription to First Cut Pro’s “Power User” Account.

Valued at over $1400/year, the power user account gives you full access to First Cut’s professional video collaboration tool that saves you time and money during post-production and editing.  You’ll have nearly unlimited resources to share, collaborate and organize your post-production efforts with over 56 video viewing rooms, 7 concurrent projects, and up to 20 collaborators on each viewing room per month.  In addition, you will have full access to our excellent service/support and continual product updates.

First Cut Pro is a professional video collaboration software built to streamline the video post-production and editing process. This software focuses on three vital aspects of the feedback and approval process: collection of feedback, organization of video notes and integration into the current post-production environment.

They have integrated feature-set is host agnostic which utilizes the security and availability of major video hosting services. Leveraging that technology, they deliver content to video stakeholders in a web-based viewing environment enriched with tools to provide frame-specific feedback on the various cuts made during post-production.

Supporting a streamlined feedback collection, they have built and continue to improve upon, a project management interface. The interface is intended to clearly deliver video notes to project managers and editors for review. During the note-review process, users are able to identify important edits to be made based on the content of the notes generated by the viewing room and it’s viewers.

They have built the ability to export specified video notes into a number of formats. First Cut Pro currently supports the ability to export markers to .CSV files for a spreadsheet, .XML metadata files for Adobe Premier/After Effects and Apple’s Final Cut Pro (7 and 10), as well as a formatted .txt file for import into AVID Media Composer. Combined with the other features available in First Cut Pro, our marker export feature allows collaborators to easily provide actionable feedback directly to editors in the simplest way possible.

First Cut Pro creates a user-friendly environment that promotes collaboration during video post-production. The ability to simultaneously contribute allows for increased communication among team members, optimized time usage of all stakeholders decreasing total post-production cycle time, and reduced confusion during the feedback process.

Find out more at http://www.firstcutpro.com

Interested in winning a year of First Cut Pro?  Check out APA’s 2ND Annual  Short Video Contest for 2013 at www.tinyurl.com/apavideo.

Glidecam Smooth Hand-held Video Shots

The prizes for the “Best Motion” and “Best Overall” sponsored by Glidecam – HD-4000 and XR-4000 respectively in the APA 2nd Annual Short Video Contest.

Whether your running up and down stairs, circling the bride or traveling over rugged terrain, The Glidecam hand-held stabilizers are the ultimate production tools that deliver the highest production value to cost ratio of any products in their class.

Each HD-4000 Stabilizer and XR-4000 Stabilizer offset, foam cushioned, Handle Grip is attached to a free floating, three axis Gimbal.  This allows your hand to move up and down, and side-to-side, thereby isolating your hand’s unwanted motions from the camera.  This up and down movement alleviates the bouncing, pogo type action often associated with our competitor’s system because their handle cannot move up and down.  This design feature, coupled with the overall higher inertia of the HD and XR-Series systems, produces superior award winning stabilization when compared with our competition.

Glidecam XR-4000 stabilizer

Glidecam XR-4000 hand-held stabilizer

Glidecam is presenting the XR-4000 hand-held stabilizer a lightweight, hand-held camcorder stabilizing system designed for compact and full size cameras weighing from 4 to 10 pounds to the winner of Best Overall category.

Glidecam HD-4000 hand-held stabilizer

Glidecam HD-4000 hand-held stabilizer

The Glidecam HD-4000 is the prize for the Best Motion and is the number one selling Hand-Held Stabilizer in the world today and offers advanced features and a degree of sophistication never before seen in a line of Hand-Held Camera Stabilizers.

Interested in winning one of these hand-held stabilizer?  Check out APA’s 2ND Annual  Short Video Contest for 2013 at www.tinyurl.com/apavideo

CROSSING OVER FROM STILLS TO VIDEO

The prize for the Rockin’t It People’s Choice category in the APA 2^nd Annual Short Video Contest is the Redock Micro Crossover Kit.  With The Crossover Kit, once again Redrock Micro has put together just what a photographer shooting video needs.  As a professional photographer owning Lee White Photography, I have also shot video for over twenty years.  I have found few things beat well thought-out professional equipment.  Shooting video sometimes takes specialized equipment not usually in a photographer’s kit.  The Crossover Kit provides just such equipment.  I have used the various parts that make up this kit and found them indispensable at times.  This is a great starter kit for those getting into video.

The Crossover Kit starts with a choice of base plates, either the DSLR Baseplate, microRRS or lowBase which holds the 15mm support rods.  15mm rods are industry standard so you will be building a very adaptable set. The final piece of the kit is the microMatteBox which controls the glare and gives you two full-size rotating stages for most filtration plus fits virtually any size lens or camera.  For more information, I suggest you go to http://store.redrockmicro.com.

To find out how to submit to the APA 2^nd Annual Short Video Contest and to read the fine print, please go here: http://tinyurl.com/APAvideo. The contest is open to APA and all creative content creators.

Redrock Micro Crossover-Kit

Color Balance Important in Video

As an advertising and editorial photographer in Los Angeles, I usually shoot in RAW so while I always do a white balance before I start shooting.  It is basic best practices even if it is not really baked into the image file.  It is even more important when one shoots video which has a baked in color balance.  Unless you are shooting one of the 4:4:4 video cameras which records all of the color information in the image file you are interpolating down much of the color information to a small percentage of the original.  You cannot be far off in your exposure or color balance without downgrading your image in post corrections.

Yet, so often I have to remind photographers who are starting to shoot video that right after getting the exposure setting to white balance the camera.  I would say this is important all the time rather than relying on the presets even if you are shooting daylight or professional lights.  Very seldom do you really shoot in direct sunlight so there can be a bias in the diffusion material or fill reflectors.  Lights get old and change color plus any diffusion can again cause a color shift.

I always carry a 12 inch Lastolite  EzyBlance Calibration Card with me.  It folds down into a 7inch carry bag and flexes out to 12 inch with a neutral median grey side and neutral white reverse side.  The median grey side allows for both setting exposure and white balance.  This can be especially helpful to wedding shooters that have to contend with white gowns and black tuxedos under mixed light sources.

Lastolite EzBalance Calibration Card

Go to http://www.lastolite.com/ezybalance.php for more inforamtion.

Another handy device is the SyderCube.  For RAW shooters you can use it alone to find your color balance.  For video you can use it in tandem with the Lastolite  EzyBlance Calibration Card to further refine your color balance.  It has four areas for adjusting your color and exposure – white, median grey, black and black trap.  Again, small enough to easy carry with you. Simple shoot the SyderCube and use the white and median grey sides with the eyedroppers and the black slider in Final Cut Pro to show a slight difference in the black and black trap.  I’ll post a video using the SyderCube for corrections soon.

Datacolor SpyderCube

Go to http://spyder.datacolor.com/portfolio-view/spyder-cube/ for more information.