Clik here to view.
Flicker: Why On-Set Monitors Fail Us
While working as a young second camera assistant on a film TV series in the 1990s, I noticed the DP set the camera shutter to 144 degrees (1/60th of a second exposure). I asked him why. “I’ve been...
View ArticleHow to Record Good Audio Quickly and Easily
As there are more and more one-man band jobs being able to capture and record audio quick and easy is essential. What are the real world best practices, tips and trade secrets to capturing audio while...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Blackmagic Announces URSA Mini Pro and Accessories
In a youtube live streamed press conference Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty displayed a few new items. Yet, this was not just a show-and-tell style press conference. This time around Grant Petty took...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Polishing the Talking Head Interview
I’m constantly experimenting with common lighting setups and trying to make them better. There is no more common lighting setup than that of the talking head interview. Here are a couple of tricks I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Blackmagic Design URSA Studio Viewfinder Review
Red, Blue, or Green. Sometimes just monitoring in a primary color helps a cameraperson nail the shot. In the past year, Blackmagic has pushed consistently to developing their products for a live...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Shooting 2x Anamorphic On The Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K
One of the more interesting features found on the URSA Mini 4.6K and URSA Mini Pro, for me at least, is the 3K Anamorphic setting. This allows a director of photography to shoot 3072 x 2560 4:3...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Three Variations on Lighting a Single Shot Commercial
I love a challenge, as that’s when I get to do my best work. One of these spots was easy, one was moderately difficult, and one was hard. All turned out perfectly. Before I go any further, take a look...
View ArticleClik here to view.
ART OF THE SHOT: “Bad Santa 2” DP Theo Van de Sande
One of Theo Van de Sande most recent films was the second edition of the Bill Bob Thorton film “Bad Santa 2.” The forever crass sequel found it’s frame with Panasonic’s VarCam 35. In this edition of...
View ArticleGear You Shouldn’t Leave Home Without
We all love our cameras, lenses and big ticket items. But what about those miscellaneous things in your kit that you can’t live without. This webinar I’ll go through my top 10 miscellaneous gear that...
View ArticleClik here to view.
ART OF THE SHOT: 2nd Unit DP Jacques Haitkin “Kong Skull Island”
If you are a fan of the 1984 hit horror film “A Nightmare On Elm Street” then you have seen Jacques Haitkin’s work as a cinematographer. Now, Haitkin has stepped in as the 2nd Unit DP for the 2017...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cooke Anamorphic Lenses Bring Class and Character to a Clean Digital World
I remember the first time I worked in anamorphic. I’d landed a job as “A” camera operator on a feature film’s additional photography unit. Looking through the Panaflex viewfinder, I saw a very wide but...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Preview: the Mini XTC 9250-XL
Just in time for NAB, the 9250-XL is everything that a producer could want in a camera. The revolution has begun… Don Starnes directs and photographs movies and videos of all kinds and is based in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro Review
Is this the best camera made my Blackmagic Design? I think there might be a good case for it to be. One thing is for sure. Blackmagic Design is listening to their customers. Shooters asked for a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Guide to Shooting HDR TV: Day 1, “What is HDR TV?”
This is the first installment of a six-part HDR “survival guide.” Over the course of this series, I hope to impart enough wisdom to help you navigate your first HDR project successfully. Each day I’ll...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Guide to Shooting HDR TV: Day 2, “On Set with HDR”
This is the second installment of a six-part HDR “survival guide.” Over the course of this series, I hope to impart enough wisdom to help you navigate your first HDR project successfully. Each day I’ll...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Guide to Shooting HDR TV, Day 3: “Monitor Considerations”
This is the third installment of a six-part HDR “survival guide.” Over the course of this five-part series, I hope to impart enough wisdom to help you navigate your first HDR project successfully. Each...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Guide to Shooting HDR TV: Day 4, “Artistic Considerations”
This is the fourth installment of six-part HDR “survival guide.” Over the course of this series, I hope to impart enough wisdom to help you navigate your first HDR project successfully. Each day I’ll...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Guide to Shooting HDR TV: Day 5, “The Technical Side of HDR”
This is the fifth installment of a six-part HDR “survival guide.” Over the course of this series, I hope to impart enough wisdom to help you navigate your first HDR project successfully. Each day I’ll...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Guide to Shooting HDR TV: Day 6, “How the Audience Will See Your Work”
This is the sixth installment of a six-part HDR “survival guide.” Over the course of this series, I hope to impart enough wisdom to help you navigate your first HDR project successfully. Each day I’ll...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Panasonic DMW-XLR1 XLR interface for GH5 quality revealed by Curtis Judd
Back in January 2017, I first wrote about Panasonic’s new GH5 and its DMW-XLR1 XLR audio interface (link ahead). At that time, I covered the DMW-XLR1’s specs and features, many of which were still...
View Article