Thursday, 22nd July, 2010 · 9:30 am
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Premiere

Here’s a first for the blog. In fact, it’s a first for me – a video.

I’ve been interested in the video capabilities of the Canon 5D Mrk II since I got it over a year ago, but never got round to actually doing anything with it. Chiefly because I couldn’t see a way to fitting it into my wedding photography capture.

I still can’t.

But I can see a place for it in my corporate work. It’s still early days and I have a lot to learn.

An opportunity to expand my knowledge presented itself when I took some photographs for Dominick Cullinane of the recent Mallow Garden Festival. I decided to test the waters – literally.

This is what I produced.

8 Comments

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  • http://www.weddingdates.ie Ciara Crossan

    Well done on the first video! Shots are v good and the transitions are well timed.
    Re: weddings, perhaps not video itself (especially if there is a videographer) but alot of people like video montages of their photos, perhaps on youtube. We used Animoto to create one very easily. Might be worth checking out.
    Cheerio for now!
    Ciara

  • http://www.rogerverall.net Roger Overall

    Thanks Ciara.

    We’ve used Animoto for years as a free extra for our couples. Thing is, everybody knows about Animoto now. Time to find something else.

  • http://www.kevinmullinsphotography.co.uk Kevin Mullins

    Hi Roger – I’ve been doing a *lot* of research with regards to convergence technologies, specifically with the full frame Canon DSLRs. I’m looking to start introducing it into my wedding offerings next year, though there are of course all sorts of additional issues to consider. Your video is great and really shows off the technology well. If I may, you have done the same thing as I did when I looked into it, you shot most of the video as a still. Apart from the running water scenes, the rest could have been still images. Perhaps this was your intention – in which case it’s great. It took me time to realise (and remember), that its so much more than a still image now. (don’t take that as negativity of course – just an observation). Also, look at getting a Rode mic or a Zoom H4n for external sound recording.

    Re Animoto – I used it too. I don’t like it at all now. As you say, too many people using it plus there is no control over which parts of the image is sliced off. For my still montages, I simply use Windows Movie Maker (or iVideo on the Mac). Perfect for those Animoto replacements.

    Cheers

    Kev Mullins

  • http://www.rogerverall.net Roger Overall

    Hey Kev,

    Great to hear from you.

    The video came about by coincidence. I’d been commissioned to take photographs, but Dominick was keen for some video. Time and the weather conspired against us, so I was only able to shoot a limited amount of video. As this part of the job wasn’t paid, as I figured it would be a good test bed for me, I wasn’t too worried. When it came to piecing it all together, it seemed like a good idea to add in the stills.

    There’s lots wrong with the video, which is of its own a good thing. Plenty to improve on.

    Already Dominick has suggested that I come in at a much earlier stage next year and shoot a week-long documentary.

    Thanks for the tip about the audio. It’s one of the things I recognize as being not up to snuff. That said, the sound from the 5DII isn’t a car crash.

    I’m already planning my next video, for which I’m going to borrow some gear. A more video-friendly tripod head is one thing that will be important.

    I’m surprised at just how much I enjoyed the whole process and I’m seriously looking at how I can build this into my corporate services.

    For weddings, I’ll remain purely a stills photographer for the foreseeable future.

  • http://www.kevinmullinsphotography.co.uk Kevin Mullins

    Its such great technology that we have at our disposal now – its great (in my opinion) to see lots of stills photographers embracing it. There is a place for both mediums in my opinion, and without doubt still photography will be at the fore of my offering forever.

    The sound has improved with the latest firmware update (5D MkII) giving audio levels control – thats for sure. I was amazed though with the quality of the h4n for close up audio work. Its just stunning.

    You can see a couple of short movies shot by Ed Terakopian over at his blog (photo this, photo that) – which are great demonstrations of the technology.

    Enjoy ;-)

    Kev

  • http://www.JeffOliver.cp.ik Jeff Oliver

    Hi Roger,
    The way you’ve mixed stills & video is the way I see myself using it in wedding slideshows. Couples get a photographer because they want photos and a videographer because they want video, but to drop a small amount of video in with the stills can work really well. Can I ask what software you used for this?

    I’m doing a corporate shoot this weekend & like you have not charged for video, but am thinking about including some footage & gauge the reaction.

    Cheers

    Jeff

  • http://www.rogerverall.net Roger Overall

    Thanks for the link to Ed, Kevin.

  • http://www.rogerverall.net Roger Overall

    Hi Jeff,

    iMovie, would you believe it? The 2008 version as well.

    I’d be interested to hear how you get on this weekend.