Leo Ticheli
Forum Replies Created
-
Black Magic has excellent service via phone, email, and here at the Cow.
Their hardware is robust and no one has deeper software experience than Black Magic; now version 5.0; in fact, Grant Petty of Black Magic virtually invented this area of the business and that’s all they do.
I’ve used their cards quite successfully for many years; now using DeckLink Pro HD 4:4:4.
Best regards,
Leo -
Hi David,
Often I think that the real gift in our business is being able to sell the client on allowing us to do the best possible job for them. Not always as simple as it sounds.Occasionally we are approached with what I like to call the, “ransom note;” only instead of words torn from a magazine and pasted, the client asks for a combination of elements that don’t make a coherent whole. Even worse is the situation when the client or client’s client suddenly tries to hijack the project midway at checkbook-point and begins to make unwise directorial or cinematographic decrees.
Very often we get to work for truly gifted clients; great art directors, writers, people with unique vision who are a joy to collaborate with; sometimes the client has more passion than talent in the specifics of our business. It’s producing great work for the latter that can be a challenge and really pivotal to our careers. Resist too stridently, and we may get on the “do-not-hire-hard-to-work-with” list. Knuckle under and produce sub-standard or compromised work, and we may never get to show what we can do and be regarded as artless hacks.
The secret is making the client feel great about allowing us to do superior work; then everybody wins.
Good shooting!
Leo
Director/Cinematographer
Southeast USA -
There is a very good reason professional cinematographers and directors almost never use the in-shot zoom; the effect tends to draw immediate attention to itself and takes the viewer out of the story. Sometimes that’s just what is called for, but it’s extraordinarily rare.
When the zoom is used, it’s most often hidden in another camera move, or almost imperceptibly slow.
Typically, a scene looks better when the camera is repositioned at another location, distance to the subject, and angle of view. When we do wish to close on the subject, a dolly or SteadiCam is preferred; it looks more human, more natural and organic, as if the viewer were moving toward the subject.
Great directors and cinematographers probably are better at getting away with a zoom than less experienced shooters; mostly they have the good judgement to forgo it.
Good shooting!
Leo
Director/Cinematographer
Southeast USA -
Twelve years is a long time; I’d love to buy a lot of things today at 1993 prices!
I think the last SD lens I bought went for around 22K, and that was long before skyrocketing national deficits and a plummeting US dollar.
Try buying a cup of coffee in London, and you’ll be surprised that equipment prices are as low as they are.
Good shooting!
Leo
Director/Cinematographer
Southeast USA -
You can find quite a bit of information on the technical aspects of both VariCam and CineAlta.
The important thing to remember is that the picture quality of cameras is dependent on a lot more than simple numbers such as pixel count and lines of resolution.
Many agree that both VariCam and CineAlta make pictures of similar quality; some favor one over the other. The CineAlta is more expensive and has been favored for film out; only the VariCam can shoot at frame rates of 1 to 60 fps in one-frame increments and is favored for television commercials.
The variable frame-rate capability and picture quality of the VariCam make it a direct replacement of film, and, thus, my choice.
Good shooting!
Leo
Director/Cinematographer
Southeast USA -
You’re welcome, Jim.
I do love the spirit of helpfulness here at the Cow; I’m very proud to be one of the volunteers. Get my number from my web page and we’ll go over the camera.
Good shooting!
Leo
Director/Cinematographer
Southeast USA -
I believe you can do a lot more with the VariCam if you do not use the factory default settings, but arriving at a good setup for what you want is beyond the scope that can be practically provided by forum posts.
Call me on Tuesday and I’ll help you.
Leo
-
You’ve hit the nail squarely on the head; of course real men don’t zoom. We do pan and tilt, however.
Good shooting!
Leo
Director/Cinematographer
Southeast USA -
A lens hood helps prevent stray light from causing flares by striking your lens surface; other than that, it will not make your shots better.
Of course it might make you look more professional and cooler, and that might affect your confidence; it’s probably as effective as wearing one of those, “photographer’s vests,” but doesn’t have all those helpful pockets. Even more helpful would be increasing your skills in composition and lighting.
A lens hood also helps protect the lens surface and it’s lighter than a matte box, but probably doesn’t offer as much flare protection. Lens hoods are lighter and some have a provision for holding filters, though not as many as a matte box, and lens hoods may cause vignetting with wide angle shots.
Good shooting!
Leo
Director/Cinematographer
Southeast USA -
A “cheeper” alternative would be a flock of baby chickens.
A cheaper alternative would be standard construction material black plastic.
Best regards,
LeoDirector/Cinematographer
Southeast USA