Hot video topic: Using new SLRs for HD video

I've had the pleasure of working with two very skilled director/cinematographers/producers from LA over the last 3 years. Teaming-up with our marketing team at Ergotron, and a local Twin city actor, we have produced some very fun product commercials (see left side of TesterGuy videos).

In our last film the guys from LA recommended they shoot the whole commercial on a new Canon 7D SLR. As many of you know, the new SLRs now have HD video capability and the Canon 1080p! The canon SLR's extremely sensitive capture system combined with some sophisticated lens action makes for some cinema-like footage. Check out our new Ergotron LX LCD Arm commercial which is completely shot on the Canon 7D SLR.

SLR videos are the rage, and for good reason (capability and affordability compared to high-end video camera), check out these great SLR video blogs/articles.
http://vimeo.com/6759220
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09090105canoneos7d.asp
http://photofocus.com/2009/10/19/learn-5d-mark-ii-canon-cinematography-with-philip-bloom-mini-review/ (mostly addresses Canon 5D MK II, but relevant for 7D)

Creative ramblings on Social Media

Photo at left is of Blackhills bison in S. Dakota. I enjoyed the trip as much as our kids!

As consumers, we still need to ask a question of social-media... is the content organic/authentic/accurate/what I need? Subtle yet persuasive distortions are difficult to detect in what is heralded as "your pure stream of truth". Many bloggers ran out of fresh meaningful content and also were influenced by monetize options. Tweets, although tiny and brief, sometimes lack integrity.

I've also noticed, people who have FB sites/groups and tweet now are web content creators and this neophyte audience is getting targeted by savvy marketing machines. The marketing snake oil says to the new web content makers "You can reach more customers if you do/use this" and the B to B or B to C.... or even niche or mass market categories often go unaddressed and misapplied.

Perhaps the prospect-pie isn't growing for some... but rather, the pie is shifting in how it finds information.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog on Social Media, the challenge is to not get bogged down while making use of the benefits.

A couple positives in this new trend: Many marketing groups that have embraced twitter, blogs and are active out in web-communities are reaching their audiences at a fraction of the cost of years past. The $8,000 4C ad for a 1 page ad, for one month, in a decent trade magazine is looking like yesterday's excesses. Inexpensive home-made youtube videos are becoming as influential as the big-coin professional video content.

Digital Slide Shows: Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ

In my generation, many remember the old slide-shows Mom and Dad and Uncle Harry projected on the wall. This manner of showing photos is alive and well in the digital world thanks to Nikon and other manufacturers of micro-projectors. What's unique in this example is that the micro-projecter is integrated into the digital camera.

See Popular Mechanics article

Sounds like a great addition for the family, but also it offers an improved workflow in some digital photography and design settings. If you have several people needing to review a set of images a micro-projector could be the answer... especially if a large display is not around.

A walk in nature increases one's memory

Have you read about the new study that shows a walk in nature can increase your short-term memory by 20%.

Here is the study (I haven't read it fully yet... but I saw it linked from a couple web sites and psych blogs). http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121570660/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Here is a psych blog introduction to the findings.

Personally, I find most any exposure to natural settings of trees, mountains, fields, heck... even a marsh area, can be invigorating for my mind, memory and general creative energy. So if your latest design/creative project is stagnant and your mind is slow....get outside!

Pic is from one of my family camping adventures into remote Northern MN. It was 19° F in the AM and rose to 70° F by noon... yes, our short-term memory was very sharp.

Creative fishing

First let me answer the question I've been getting from a few readers... "Its been a while since you posted a new blog.... are you going to publish more? Will you address more philosophical content? The answers are yes and yes. My excuse: Life gets so busy each spring as school comes to an end, soccer season begins, we take a couple camping trips and then add a few graduation celebrations, house remodeling projects... anyhow you know what I mean.

Recently, my son and I applied some think-outside-the-box creativity to a trout fishing challenge. We saw the fly fisherman with all the gear trying to catch some Brownies and Rainbows in a popular State park here in MN, one of our families favorite destinations. Fishing pressure had pushed the big trout down under a 15 to 20-foot mess of branches and roots in the river. Everyone could see them but nobody could catch them. The fish fed on the surface under the protection of the branches.

My son and I, risking the condemnation of the fly-fishing purists, put a bobber, weight, hook and worm on our line and then, from upstream, and using the current, guided our presentation between the branches, twigs and roots. After a couple snags and trial runs we pulled out several beautiful rainbows (we didn't get the big dogs though). Our very simple, child-like approach succeeded where sophisticated/specialized equipment and narrow application/experience failed.

Although far from a graphic designer, art director or photographer's routine, the principle is relevant. Step back, keep it simple and don't worry what others think leads to success in many complex scenarios.

Create your own stock images

One of the great benefits of today's digital cameras is their affordability. For only $110 one can purchase a very capable Nikon or Canon camera that has 8+megapixels, huge playback screens, custom white-balance, exposure controls, macro-lens options and other manual over-rides. This is the price and feature range of the old Pentax K-1000 in the late 80's... plus the ability to process one's own images right in their home/computer at no cost. With this accessibility most anyone can create great pics, especially the thrifty graphic designer. With a little trial and error one can learn to create great abstract images from common objects that work great in brochures and flyers.



The photos show the results of my macro lens (extreme close-up focal length) option of my 2 year old Canon A600. Above photo captures coffee in my cup. At left, a 1.5" tall figurine.

Apple's iMovie is amazing!

I've been a user of iMovie for years but now my kids are cranking things out too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx_8zZY41o0

The fact my kids can record video (via the iMac's built-in camera), add audio clips, make transitions, crop, edit and build a full video story shows the easy-access and power of this brilliant software. There are many neat PC apps out there... but Apple seems to consistently and creatively lead the way.... and with FREE software (when you buy an Apple).

One word of caution, use the old iMovie HD version (you can still download it from Apple), the 08 version that shipped this last year with the Apple OS has less features and is geared towards quick and less sophisticated productions (Google this topic for the details). iMovie 09's reviews are more promising. Interesting, the NY Time's Tech personal tech writer, David Pogue uses iMovie and produces his own video segments.