Advertising Photography in the New Age

Family?

As an advertising photographer in Los Angles California, I am called upon to illustrate concepts in my advertising and editorial photography.  The first read should be clear and understandable while there might and hopefully are many other layers and some subtexts with the image.  So what is up with this image?

The first read is that of a women, probably a mother with two boys, probably her sons and brother to each other.  There is no one else in the image so we start with these conclusions.   Now we start to read into the image based on our own biases.

Where is the father?  Is he just outside of frame or hidden by the horizon? Or is this a modern single parent family?  What else is hidden by the sand?  What has caught the boy’s attention?  This brings up why is the view such that we cannot see what the boys are looking at?  Where are they…? at the beach…?in the desert…?  The clothing give so no clue so we are left wondering.

Some advertising and editorial images can be used just to capture the viewer’s attention and bring them into the story told by the text.  I would allow comments and would enjoy them except for the crazy spammers.

China the Revisit Totally Different

As a location photographer in 2001 I visted China, I finally I got a chance to return only to find many changes.  The people are still friendly but the pace at least in the cities has sped up.  Instead of bikes filling the streets, it is motorbikes filling the streets and sidewalks.  In China the electric bikes are cheap and you do not need a license.  Motorcycles that use gas and cars do require a driver’s licnese.  You can imagine the amazing traffic this creates.  Everyone just goes – pedestrians, bikes (yes, there still are a few), electric bikes, motorcycle, cars, bus and trucks weave about in a dance of bear misses with car horns setting the beat.

The Super Fast Hoodman Raw Steel 1000x Compact Flash Card

As an advertising photographer that is also into video I’m always looking for the best media I can get.  I want fast, sturdy cards that I can trust to record and keep my data safe.  This is especially true when I travel.  I’m going to be spending over three weeks in China shooting once in a lifetime projects.  I taking the Hoodman Raw Steel 1000x Compact Flash card and 300x SDHC cards.

Hoodman 300x SDHC

Hoodman Raw Steel 1000x compact flash card

Just remember to update your firmware to the latest version before trying to use these cards in your cameras.  You might find some side benefits like upgrading the Canon 7D firmware to the 2.3 version will allow you to finally control the audio levels manually.  It does not deal with the issue of connecting professional audio XLR cable which will need to be run through a Beachtek adapter but again there are many advantages in controlling the audio by doing it  that way

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.

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.

Dripbook for Your Promotional Platform

The prize for the Best Overall category in the APA 2nd Annual Short Video Contest is a life-time subscription to Dripbook .

Dripbook is a modern web-based promotional platform with a unique focus on incorporating HD video promotion along with still image promotion across Dripbook’s wide platform. Upload and promote HD video on the worldwide Dripbook index, on an HTML5 stand-alone website, on iPad, iPhone, and Android Apps, as well as exporting native video to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and more.

Create a stylish portfolio, no technical knowledge required. Display your portfolio on Dripbook’s index and on other websites. Automatically sync all your portfolios with Dripbook’s export tools. You can even create a mini-website on your Facebook Fan page. Dripbook has a custom iPad + iPhone App and a custom Android App, both free. Both Apps are designed to work even without a network connection – after you download your portfolios, feel confident in your ability to show your work regardless of your internet connection.  Personalize your marketing by making and sending private portfolios from your Dripbook account. Our system let you track who saw it and when. Plus, receive comments from each recipient.

Lots of professional eyes are searching Dripbook for what you can offer. Dripbook automatically indexes your portfolio in our online creative sourcebook, exposing your work to art buyers, editors, and art directors.  Accounts are for professionals only.

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

Interested in winning a promotional platform?  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

Pegasus the Versatile Slider Dolly

Pegasus-carbon-slider

The prize for the Best Commercial/Promotional category in the APA 2^nd Annual Short Video Contest is the Cinevate Elements Camera Slider Bundle.

The words I hear most often to describe the Pegasus dolly are versatility, creativity and fun.  We all know that moving the camera gives a feeling of presence and higher production value. As a kit, it has what you need for many shooting solutions for the independent filmmaker.

The Elements Bundle  is lightweight and easily handled by one person.  The Pegasus is easy to set up either as a slider dolly or a tabletop dolly.    The Pegasus dolly uses steel ball bearings that run smoothly along 15mm carbon rails making for a lightweight but sturdy slider.  The design allows the unit to be inverted on the rails for overhead shots that can add a unique moving viewpoint to many subjects.  Once you unhook the dolly from the track, it becomes a tabletop dolly that can perform both straight and curved dolly movements.

The kit includes an All Terrain foot system but can also be mounted using adapter plates using 1/4-20 and 3/8 (my favorite) threaded holes or 5/8 holes for  lighting stands.

For more information please go to www.Cinevate.com