Steady Cam Techniques and Gear for DLSR’s

This post was inspired by a question that was recently posed to my business partner and me.  We were asked about any new gear and/or techniques we employ for our video production while using our DSLR’s.  This prompted a furious search of the web for what is out there and coming soon.  Honestly, I didn’t find very much.  We would love to hear from our fellow Tech Monsters what gear they have been reading about and testing…off brands are ok too!

Alter Ego Studio – Las Vegas – Commercial Photography, Video Production and Photo Studio Rental

Vegas – The Red Headed Step Child

My Kinda of Town…Vegas is…

Professional photography (and any creative tech field for that matter), has always had a tenuous relationship at best with Las Vegas.  As with most things Vegas, Photography is looked at with a crooked eyebrow and a doubting that anyone is truly a professional.  Of course, there are many highly skilled professional photographers in many disciplines in Las Vegas.  The problem is that there are twice as many that are not qualified to retain the title of professional.  It has always concerned this writer that Las Vegas will never be able to gain the artistic respect it deserves because of those unscrupulous invidividuals that have purchased a camera just to meet girls and enjoy the party life that they think is the life of a professional photographer.  Those of us who are not only artists but run the company know all too well that the party life is often usurped by the life of an accountant, marketer, brand manager, public relations officer and human resources representative.  My question to those of my colleagues that are following is…Do you feel Vegas is respected as a creative leader in the photographic and related industries? and if not, Will we ever be?

 

 

Alter Ego Studio – Las Vegas – Commercial Photography, Video Production and Photo Studio Rental

Producing short indie films in studio

News articles abound about small film producers that are creqating films with dlsrs and small scale HD cameras totally in a studio like Alter Ego Studio.  We would love to know what projects are being produced out there…what type of gear is being used, and what applications beyond Final Cut pro are being utilized.  What is the bad and the good about the concept all the way to the can.  Let us know guys!

 

Alter Ego Studio – Las Vegas – Commercial Photography, Video Production and Photo Studio Rental

Shooting Video – Rigs, Production and the future.

The lines are getting just a bit more blurry for the stil photographer and budding video shooter.  More and more in the field we are seeing the 5D Mark II and D7000 being employed for on the fly video.  The savey shooter can actually double book a commercial job and produce wonderful results in both arenas.  Of course, the problem now is the deluge of rigs and accessories that are supposed to aid in video but don’t.  The single most mentioned problem we hear in the field is the issue of focussing.  We would love to know what tech our colleagues have seen just outside the bubble to address this issue…?

 

Alter Ego Studio – Las Vegas – Commercial Photography, Video Production and Photo Studio Rental

And speaking of what once was…

Remember when we all had to actually put film in our cameras? When we would spend time in the dark room?  When touching up photos meant something more than a few clicks of a mouse?  If you are like us, you made the switch to digital a decade ago.  I am pretty sure you can’t even buy film at Walmart or Target anymore, now only available through specialty retailers.

This article posted earlier today on USAToday.com shows there are still enough enthusiasts out there to keep the camera business alive.  Kodak says they still plan to make film as long as there is a viable market for it.  But as the article states, when these people’s cameras break down, they with replace them with digital.  It will be a sad day when they are all gone, photography will never be the same.

 

Alter Ego Studio – Las Vegas – Commercial Photography, Video Production and Photo Studio Rental

A reminder of what once was…

Life.com recently released several photographs of Marilyn Monroe while in showbiz training.  It’s a great reminder of how the ideal model has changed over the years and how some things never change.  As many photographers, we would put her at or near the top of the list of people we would most like to shoot.  This is our favorite shot of the bunch, aptly titled “Bosom to All the World”

 

Alter Ego Studio – Las Vegas – Commercial Photography, Video Production and Photo Studio Rental

Big Announcement

Check back on Tuesday June 1st 2011 for a big announcement!

 

Alter Ego Studio – Las Vegas – Commercial Photography, Video Production and Photo Studio Rental