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Panasonic GH2

Filed under Panasonic GH2 by on February 2, 2012 at 10:12 am {no comments}

I’ve been shooting with the GH2 for just over 3 months now. It is a solid DSLR camera that is suitable for projects ranging from video blogs to documentary films to features. In this post, which I will update regularly, I share my discoveries, techniques and mistakes with the goal to help current and potential GH2 owners as much as I can.

Let’s start at the beginning.

Which GH2 to Purchase?

There are three main configurations:

  • Body only ($900)
  • Body plus the 14-42mm lens (about $900 – yes the same price as the body only – bizarre)
  • Body plus the 14-140mm lens. (about $1200)

I recommend door #3. The 14-140mm was the only lens I took on my trip to India. I prefer to become familiar with one lens before I move on to others. I was trying to keep my budget down, so I considered buying the 14-40mm package. Glad I didn’t! I guarantee that you will appreciate the extra focal length and the weight difference is negligible. When you use the Extra Tele Video Mode you will be even happier – more on this later.

For a zoom the 140mm is quite a fast lens. It is also nice and quiet. If you are shooting audio, you won’t hear this lens. At least I didn’t. Also, when you consider the cost of the lens and the body separately this is also the best deal by far cost wise. The 14-140 lens is $650 all by itself. Perhaps Panasonic is realizing this, because I noticed that B&H hasn’t had the 14-140mm package in stock for weeks. It is currently available on Amazon though, but if you are considering buying the camera with the long zoom you might want to move quickly.

If You Only Buy One Accessory – Buy This

The GH2 is known for its stellar video, but you need to use the correct settings. Ideally you want to keep the shutter speed at twice the frame rate. So if you are shooting at 1080 24P you would shoot at a shutter rate of 50 (the closest to 48 available). Because of this you will depend on the aperture to control the lighting – there is no built in neutral density filter.

Without an ND filter, in bright settings you end up with small apertures and lose the rich depth of field that the GH2 can achieve. That is, unless you have a fader filter. A neutral density fader filter is a variable filter mounted on a ring. You can manually rotate the ring to achieve the desired ND. It’s very quick and easy to do on the fly. Much better than fooling around with individual filters – what a nightmare. I bought Light Craft’s 62mm filter for $120 but found it here for only $86.00. It’s well worth the cost.

Focusing with the GH2

There are three focus modes:

  • Manual Focus – just like it sounds
  • Auto-Focus Continuous – the camera continually focuses – good for moving subjects. Can display some ‘hunting’ when there is inadequate lighting. This mode uses the battery up a little more quickly.
  • Auto-Focus Single – Press the shutter release button to focus

Because the GH2 uses a smaller micro 4/3rds sensor it focuses more quickly and with greater ease than a camera like the Canon 5D. But it still needs more care and attention paid to it than a handicam. Remember, that a DLSR is capable of a beautiful depth-of-field but that can also be a double edged sword.

For example I recorded a close-up of an interview subject in bright sunlight. There was a beautiful separation between him and the background. But when I looked at the footage later his neck was in perfect focus, but his nose was slightly out of focus. That’s how sensitive this camera can be. The reason this happened is because MF assist was turned off. Use this feature. It zooms into the image and allows you to check the focus with precision.

It’s also possible to use the Auto-Focus Single mode to good effect. This is best in a wider shot though. I found that it’s not always reliable with a very shallow depth of field.

More to follow on Friday.

 

 

Stereopsis

Filed under 3D, 3d Camcorders, Stereopsis by on February 1, 2012 at 10:31 am {no comments}

Stereopsis refers to our binocular vision. It has a slightly unusual history to its discovery. Around 300 BC, the Greek philosopher Euclid proposed several very foreword thinking notions about how we perceived 3D. However there wasn’t a clear recognition of stereopsis until Charles Wheatstone developed his stereoscope in 1838. Usually inventions take advantages of new findings, but in this case, it was the invention that helped make the discovery! To be fair though, Chuck had a pretty good understanding as to what he was doing – but the word ‘stereopsis’ did not come into general usage until after he released his stereoscope.

The Stereoscope

The Stereoscope

The stereoscope was a funny looking box-like contraption. It displayed two images each with slight differences in their horizontal positions. Because the images were different from one another, the viewer’s brain unified and processed them as a single image, giving the illusion of three dimensions. A 1970 MIT study proposed that stereopsis is an inherited ability and that some of us are “stereo blind”.  Perhaps this is why some people hate 3D movies and others get headaches from them.

On the other there are also indications that stereopsis is a learned trait. I use the example in my book Shoot 3D Movies Like a Pro of early movie goers who ducked beneath their seat to avoid the oncoming train they saw while viewing a movie theater. In that case, you might say their stereopis was overactive. They hadn’t learned to relax their eyesight and enjoy a two dimensional movie. In the same way, the first movies could not cut from one shot to another too rapidly or people would become confused, disoriented and even dizzy. Does this sound familiar?

Today, 3D editors are careful to lower the rate at which 3D movies are edited so that viewers do not become disoriented. But as 3D continues to evolve we will also evolve along with it. Of course, it takes many many years for us to evolve physically, but we can learn new traits and skills quickly due to our neuroplasticity. This is a fascinating topic in itself and also a complex subject that I’m not qualified to speak about. However, with the help of neuroplasticity and some hard work, I hope to learn and write a posting on the relationship between neuroplasticity and our video-oriented culture in a forthcoming blog post. :)

Wheatstone Discovers Stereopsis

Wheatstone Discovers Stereopsis

Camera Phobia Is Not Camera Shyness

Filed under camera phobia, Uncategorized by on January 30, 2012 at 9:52 am {no comments}

People who are camera phobic don’t have it easy these days. Nearly everyone has a camera on their phone. It may seem like every semi-memorable (and not so memorable) moment is uploaded to Facebook or Twitter as a photo or video. But there is a huge difference between disliking having one’s photo taken (being camera shy) and being truly phobic.

I’ve met numerous people who don’t enjoy having photos or videos taken of them. However, if they need to have their photo taken or if they are offered the opportunity to advance their careers by appearing in a TV interview, they can learn the skills they need to perform well. Those with camera phobia are not able to get past their fears and it makes life difficult for them. “I hate cameras!” The person might say. Or “I have the perfect face…for radio.” Meanwhile, what they experience is far more than a mere preference. Their hearts are pounding in their chests and they would do nearly anything to escape the situation.

Phobias often run in families. If you are someone who is camera phobic it may be worth mentioning to your family if you haven’t already. You may find that a parent also has a phobia. It may not be camera phobia (the tendency for phobias are shared but the specifics are often different) but they may be able to offer some helpful advice. Informing your spouse or significant other is important so that they can support you (and stop pressuring you to be in every photo!) Remember that if you pretend to be camera shy when actually you are having a phobic, anxiety reaction, people will not understand your struggle. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 6 million people in the United States have specific phobias of various forms, so you aren’t alone and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

Treatment for Camera Phobia vs Camera Shyness is Different

One technique that has been used successfully with phobias is called “flooding”. The treatment is challenging but it can be effective. The person is exposed to the fearful situation until the fear passes. In a classic example, a person with a fear of snakes first spends time in a room with a snake at far distance and ultimately touches and finally holds it. When they see that nothing bad happens to them even though they are immersed in their most feared situation, the fear response is short circuited.

A more gentle form of therapy with a similar goal is desensitization. In this technique the individual works with the therapist to develop a hiearchy of fearful situations and is introduced to them much more gradually. In this therapy the focus is on learning to relax the fear response and stair stepping up to each level.

Camera Shy No More

Camera Shy No More

Similar forms of therapy can be done with camera phobia. The “Befriend the Lens” technique that I teach for camera shyness in my book Naked Lens is based on desensitization. “Befriending the Lens” can be very effective for someone who is camera shy and wants to learn to enjoy being on camera. However if you are camera phobic, it may be too much to go it alone. Flooding and desensitization are best done with a trained therapist. The same goes for hypnosis which can also be an effective treatment for phobias.

Finally, remember that whether you are camera shy or camera phobic there are numerous ways you can overcome your fears. It might seem that the easiest solution is to avoid cameras. However, cameras will continue to become a bigger and bigger part of everyday life whether you enjoy them or not. From on-camera job interviews, to video conferences and chats to online videos that promote your company or your life’s work there are many reasons and opportunities to step forth and face the lens with comfort and ease. Millions of people have overcome their phobias and it is possible for you to do so as well.

 

Sadie Benning

Filed under PixelVision, Sadie Benning by on January 28, 2012 at 9:24 pm {no comments}

Sadie Benning is a video maker who was one of the earliest video bloggers/video diary keepers. She was one of the vanguards who used the camera as both confidant and confessional. One of the many things I respect about Benning and her work is her honesty and authenticity. She is immediately able to achieve disarming intimacy with her camera and courageously explores her lesbian sexuality in front of her lens.

Benning is famous for using the Fisher-Price PixelVision camera in her work. The PixelVision was a durable toy camera that made innovative use of audio cassettes to record video. Grainy black and white images are recorded on these (at the time) widely available and inexpensive cassettes.  As the story goes, Sadie’s father (an experimental filmmaker himself) gave her the PixelVision as a gift. Sadie was initially pissed off having hoped to receive a “real camcorder” not a dumb toy that shot black-and-white video. She started to use it anyway.

PixelVison Camera

The PixelVision is now a collector's item.

In the end she liked the “lack of judgment” that the camera had. Instead of writing a diary in front of a mirror as other teenage girls might do, Sadie used her camera as a kind of (video) “diary mirror”. One of her pieces called If Every Girl Had a Diary is a beautiful video self-exploration that features ultra close-ups of her body. The work delves into issues of sexual identity, self-representation, body image and stereotype.

Benning made use of the Pixelvision’s portability  to shoot herself in close-up, often in her bedroom. The grittiness of the PixelVision format only adds to the engagement and sense of truth. Even though this was years before YouTube arrived, she made her work public through various venues such as film festivals and became one of the youngest artists to be exhibited at the Whitney Museum.

In the late 1990s Sadie joined the band Le Tigre and stayed with them through 2001. Today, she continues to create videos that are shown as installations at galleries around the world. Sadie Benning has many fans and has had an influence on countless young filmmakers and video bloggers, but she is not without critics. If you’ve never checked out her work, you can make up her own mind by clicking the links below.

Sadie Benning

Sadie Benning

Selections of Sadie Benning’s Works

If Every Girl Had a Diary

http://www.vdb.org/node/1935

A Place Called Lovely

http://www.vdb.org/titles/place-called-lovely

It Wasn’t Love

http://www.vdb.org/titles/it-wasnt-love

Sadie in an early Le Tigre performance in Chicago

YouTube Upload Formats

Filed under YouTube by on January 27, 2012 at 7:04 pm {no comments}

YouTube supports a wide variety of upload formats. Most people upload their video without giving the format a moment’s thought. But since you are visiting this page perhaps you:

A. Want to make absolutely certain your upload format will work so you don’t waste you time or

B. You tried to upload video and it failed.

C. Maybe you are just the curious type.

In any case, here are the common video formats that YouTube accepts:

  • Windows Standard Video Format: AVI – A very common output format – most often the video codec is MJPEG with PCM audio (the codec is the digital ‘wrapper’ that compresses the video when it’s saved and decompresses the video signal when it’s viewed – hence the word ‘codec’)
  • MPEG Program Stream Formats such as: MPEGPS – Usually MPEG2 video codec with MP2 audio
  • MPEG/Quicktime formats such as: MPEG4, 3GPP and MOV files – This includes h264, mpeg4 video codecs, and AAC audio codec (these are all common options with the prior 3 formats)
  • Windows Media Formats such as: WMV
  • Flash based formats such as: FLV – Adobe-FLV1 video codec, MP3 audio - Note that audio and video must be sent together. YouTube will not accept an audio only upload
  • Open Video Formats such as: WebM files  - Vp8 video codec and Vorbis Audio codecs

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind:

  • Upload the video at its native frame rate (i.e. whatever it was recorded in – for example keep 30fps as 30fps if that’s how it was recorded. Don’t switch it to 24fps.)
  • Upload your videos in their original resolution.
  • If you are able – output your footage as “de-interlaced”. If this is too technical or you aren’t sure how to do this, don’t worry about it. YouTube will automatically de-interlace your footage – the processing might just take slightly longer.

YouTube DOES NOT ACCEPT:

  • Software Project files: For example raw Premiere, Final Cut Pro or iMovie files. Export your video to one of the upload formats above.
  • MSWMM: This is a Microsoft Windows Movie Maker file. Convert it to a .WMV file before you upload.
  • WLMP: This is a Windows Live Movie Maker File. As above, convert this to a .WMV file first.
  • Files upload directly from a DVD: ( for example, .IFO, .WOB, etc.). Use a program such as the freely available MPEG Streamclip to convert your video to one of the above formats.
  • Audio formats such as: MP3, WAV and others. Combine your audio with a still photo or video image and output as a video file, not audio.
  • Image files such as: JPG, PNG or PSD files. Output these files as video slideshows before uploading. , etc.) and Image files (JPG, PNG, etc.): Convert these files to video slideshows.

I hope you found this helpful. If you have any trouble feel free to email me here and I’ll do my best to help you out.

How do 3d glasses work?

Filed under 3D, 3d Camcorders by on January 25, 2012 at 9:55 am {no comments}

3D glasses work by allowing our eyes to see what is known as an “anaglyph”. The anaglyph is an old technology, but it is still used online to view 3D photos and movies. Many 3D camcorders feature external software that converts new 3D video formats to anaglyph. An anaglyph can be viewed by anyone with any type of equipment—for example a flat-panel 2D television or video monitor—as long as the viewer has a pair of red and cyan (or other appropriate color) pair of glasses.

What is a 3D Anaglyph?

An anaglyph combines two specially separated images to create the illusion of 3D. The two images in an anaglyph slightly overlap one another in two

Use red and blue glasses to view this image

contrasting colors (usually red and cyan). In daily life two different perspectives are delivered to our brain via our right and left eyes. Our visual cortex interpolates the information into our 3D experience of the world.

With a 3D anaglyph (it can be a movie or a photo) The two different perspectives occur in the same frame using two separate colors (most often red and cyan). The goofy-looking glasses allow each of our eyes to see either the red or the cyan frames separately by blocking one color or the other. Our brain is ‘tricked’ into perceiving a three dimensional image where there is none. But fashionistas take note, you aren’t limited to red and cyan. There are also green and magenta or amber and blue pairings to suit your mood. Practically speaking, these alternatives have nothing to do with fashion. Instead, they deliver a sharper image with less color washout.

One final advantage is that colored glasses are cheap! If you don’t already own a pair (they are often included for free with a new 3D camcorder), I recommend purchasing them. You can find inexpensive sources (some for as little as one penny) by clicking here.

Cost saving tip: Cheap paper glasses tend to be better than the more expensive plastic pairs. This is because paper glasses use a gel medium that has a purer color than the molded plastic. Try both if you’d like; neither will break the bank. The one advantage to the plastic versions is that they can be more comfortable. Free 3D glasses can be obtained in their polarized variety if you ‘forget’ to return yours at the theater. I’m not aware of any sources for free anaglyph glasses. 

Why are some glasses red & blue and some are dark?

3D glasses are tools that divide light. They collect light coming from one source and split that light so that it travels to your left and right eyes. As mentioned above, red and blue glasses take footage recorded as an anaglyph and divide it into its component parts (red for one eye, blue for the other). Your brain does the rest, creating the illusion of depth from the two differently colored images. Yet color is just one aspect of light.

When light is reflected off certain surfaces or filtered by specialized equipment it becomes polarized. Rather than vibrating equally, the light from polarized 3d images vibrates in one primary direction. Polarized glasses permit only one specific angle of light to enter through each lens. This conveys different perspectives to each eye.

If you still have trouble understanding the concept of polarization, envision a polarized lens filter on an SLR camera or even the polarized lenses of your sunglasses. Now picture a shallow goldfish-filled pond in a sunny park. Without a polarized lens or polarized sunglasses, there is glare off the pond and it’s difficult to see the fish swimming beneath (or they appear dull and blurry). Your polarized lenses allow you to cut through the glare and easily see the fish beneath the water. The polarization of the lenses cancels out the angle of light that reflects off the pond.

Remember though, polarized 3D glasses may look like sunglasses but they are not! I received an email asking about 3D sunglasses. You will harm your eyes if you wear regular 3D glasses in the sun – they do not filter out UV light.

To learn more about 3D video, check out my new book Shoot 3D Like a Pro: 3D Camcorder Tips, Tricks and Secrets

 

Best Video Editing Software for Mac

Filed under Editing, Final Cut Pro by on January 18, 2012 at 2:43 pm {no comments}

If you asked me what the best video editing software for Mac was prior to the new Final Cut 10 it would have been an easy answer. Final Cut Pro, of course.

But now Apple has really messed up. Or have they? Below is my Final Cut Pro Review.

If you are an iMovie user looking to upgrade to a robust new  software, you will be very happy with the new Final Cut 10 (at only $299 – around $700 less than prior versions). The new edit software packs in tons more features than iMovie and features an interface that will be somewhat familiar to iMovie users.

Final Cut Express users may have heard that FCE has been discontinued permanently. Final Cut Pro X is now the only Apple editing software available aside from iMovie. Most Final Cut Express users I’ve spoken with have been pretty Final Cut Pro Xhappy with X for video editing.

However, if you are a Final Cut Pro user considering an upgrade you should consider your options very carefully before taking the plunge. Final Cut Pro X is NOT backward compatible with projects created in former version of FCP 7. This is not the tool to purchase if you are already in the middle of a project. Stick with what you have. Luckily, Apple makes that easy to do with their Final Cut Pro 30 day trial version. Having now tried the software myself it is definitely lacking in critical features usually found in pro editing software. Here is a compilation of my own findings and observations from colleagues both on and offline:

  • The Reconnect Media function is gone because there is no built in directory function to determine when media is offline. You will only receive a red screen with an exclamation point. FC X functions much more like iMovie and expects that the files exist internally. (Note that once the correct drive is reconnected FC X will automatically reconnect the media)
  • As mentioned, prior versions of projects cannot be opened.
  • No support for layered Photoshop files.
  • The color correction tool has been dumbed down from the prior version.
  • The multicam tool is gone. (Note: Apple has acknowledged this and states it will be restored via a Final Cut Pro X update)
  • Not possible to reorganize the project media. “Events” are used in a similar way to iMovie but this works better for home movies not a professional production. (Note that by learning to tag footage by keywords it IS possible to reorganize project media. But it’s a new way of working and thinking about footage.)
  • OMF and XML export are gone. It’s not possible to send projects to Apple’s own software (for example to Motion). (Note: You can use third party apps such as Automatic Duck to achieve this)
  • Not able to customize Quicktime movie export settings. (You must buy Compressor as an add-on for $50 to achieve this. Compressor is no longer bundled with Final Cut Pro X)
  • Not able to assign audio tracks. Trackless editing is faster at first but if you are sending files out for professional mixing the tracks must be assigned so the audio engineers can work with them (for example one track is narration, one sound fx, one music, etc.)
  • There is no capture from tape function or edit to tape (with the exception of Firewire). (For most this won’t be an issue since tape is a dead format)
  • Despite the overhaul there is still no final cut for windows but this is not overly surprising. Final cut pro for Windows is unlikely to ever be produced unless Apple undergoes a drastic strategy change.
  • Remember that there are numerous Final Cut plugins that either exist currently or will be released shortly that fill the pro video editing shortcomings remaining.

Download Final Cut Pro X and try it. Choose a 30 day window of opportunity when you are not getting married/moving/having a baby/planning an uprising, etc.. Put FC X through its paces. You only get one trial, use it wisely.

If you are still considering your options, I leave you with the following:

Final Cut Pro vs iMovie

If you are serious about moviemaking you will not be disappointed with FCX. iMovie is an easy video editing software to use, but pay out a couple hundred more bucks and you are bound to be happy with the extra features of FCX.

Final cut pro vs Adobe Premiere 5.5 (around $599)

Premiere has become a reliable piece of professional editing software over the past five years. But its interface is quite different from Final Cut, so you will still face a learning curve. That said, it may be a viable Final Cut Pro alternative for some. Ironically Premiere can import old Final Cut Pro projects. Also, if you are a frequent After Effects user, Premiere offers a better, more streamlined interface. Adobe Premiere also offers a trial which you can download here.

Final Cut pro vs. Avid (around $999)

Avid credits itself with creating the desktop digital editing marketplace having been founded back in the late 1980s. It is still used by the majority of feature film and many TV editors but it lost market share to the less expensive and easier to use FCP. With the new FCX leading to disgruntled users, Avid is extending a financial olive branch, dropping their price from over $2K to $999 (the old price of Final Cut Pro) in the hopes of gaining market share from competing editing softwares. Avid has its own language which is quite different from Premiere or Final Cut Pro. However it is a powerful piece of software and while I’m not personally adept at using it, I have sat with editors in awe at the ease with which they can quickly perform complex editing functions with the adept tapping of a few keys. Luckily, Avid also offers a 30 day free trial.

In the end, the best video editing software is the one that allows you to get the job done creatively in the shortest amount of time. Top video editing programs such as Avid, Premiere and Final Cut Pro have remained on top because of the feature sets they offer. Apple has absolutely done damage to their pro reputaion in this regard, but if they act quickly to communicate and provide users with meaningful updates Final Cut X may just be able to hang onto its top spot. It is by far the cheapest editing software in its class and in that regard it now holds a unique position (especially considering the many final cut pro plug ins available). If it’s true (as some say) that Apple is moving away from pro users to a wider consumer niche, other companies will move in to fill the gap for high end users and the every day consumer will reap the benefits of cheap, feature filled editing software.

 

 

 

What’s the Big Deal about Stereoscopic 3D Video?

Filed under 3D, 3d Camcorders by on October 2, 2011 at 7:04 pm {no comments}

What’s the Big Deal about 3D Video?

Now is the perfect time to dive into the world of 3D-video recording. The technology is still new, but not so new that there is a lack of camcorder models to choose from. Yet 3D camcorders can appear confusing at first. There are already numerous 2D camera shapes, sizes, and shooting formats to consider. Add 3D to the mix and there are even more options. Not only that, but unfamiliar terms such as parallax, convergence, and full 3D also get thrown around.

Luckily, most consumer-level 3D camcorders are simple to use, at least technically speaking. Turn on your new camera, set it to auto, and off you go. But many people are initially dissatisfied with their stereoscopic videos (that’s 3D folks). This is most often because they don’t know the differences between 2D and 3D shooting. Yet 3D recording is quick to grasp once you key in to a few important concepts. What’s more, you’ll find that the payoff is worth the time spent learning.

3D technology opens up a whole new way to record the world around you. The added depth makes your videos a step closer to actually being there. And who doesn’t want greater realism in the moments they capture from their lives and the lives of their loved ones? Just as important, consider this: stereoscopic 3d videos can easily be converted to regular 2D videos, but as you’ll learn, it’s much more difficult to convert 2D to 3D.

Each day that you shoot outdated 2D movies, also known as flatties, is a lost opportunity to capture your memories with the full depth and wow factor that 3D offers. However, there is a vast difference between haphazardly shooting 3D video (which may not look particularly three-dimensional) and shooting full-on, eye-popping, wow-your-friends-and-family 3D video.

Since the birth of visual media, we have demanded increased realism. Consider black-and-white photos, for example. These frozen moments in time stirred and captivated us, but we wanted to see some movement. Movies arrived and amazed us with their motion, but we wanted to hear what was going on. Along came sound, and indeed, talking movies were pretty cool; but hey, what about some color? Color served up a rainbow feast, but life is best lived large. What about wide-screen? Surround sound? High-definition? And so on, as we continuously move toward better and better technologies. Better meaning technology that more closely matches our experiences in everyday life, because the truth is that’s what we seek.

We experience the world around us in full depth and color—in three dimensions. 3D brings us one step closer to content that more closely matches our real-world experience. Recent technical advances have overcome the issues that kept movie theaters from embracing 3D in the past, such as installation cost and viewer fatigue. But arguably the greatest advance occurred when 3D camcorders began to make it into your hands—the hands of the home user. It only took about one hundred years, but 3D is finally affordable and accessible to just about anyone. This is an exciting development because 3D offers an entirely new way of shooting video.

As you likely know, 3D is not a recent discovery. The little camcorder that you currently hold (or will soon hold if you haven’t yet bought one) has a long and interesting story behind it. And in fact, 3D has been labeled a fad at numerous points throughout its tumultuous history. Some still say it’s a fad. More on this shortly. But for now, if you consider the evolution of this fascinating technology, you’ll begin to understand why this time things are different.

The Early Days of 3D

Euclid, a Greek mathematician, is famously (or infamously, for those who struggled with mathematics in school) known as the father of geometry. He also wrote a book called “Optics” that explained the geometry of eyesight. Today, we know that light bounces off objects and enters our eyes. However, at the time, beams of light were thought to emanate from our eyes, revealing the world around us. In other words, Euclid believed that our eyes functioned somewhat like flashlights.

Euclid with Students

Euclid with Students

Unless your eyesight is of the superhero X-ray vision variety, you can see how poor Euclid was a little bit off in this regard. But given the limited scientific knowledge of his era, he was way ahead of his time in understanding the way vision works. Being a specialist in the geometry of eyesight, he realized that having two eyes allowed humans to perceive depth.

Leap ahead over two thousand years into the 1800s. Sir Charles Wheatstone made use of Euclid’s knowledge to invent the stereoscope. Stereoscopes allowed people to view two separate photos through different eyepieces to create an impressive 3D effect. People were equal parts intrigued and astounded, but as you might have guessed, they wanted to see moving pictures. Not long afterward, William Friese-Greene patented a rather unwieldy device called the stereoscope headset. The technology, invented by Frederick Varley, used two side-by-side screens and a cumbersome viewing device to create rudimentary 3D movies.

Ultimately, Hollywood noticed these exciting new advances. In 1922, 3D reached U.S. shores when The Power of Love was released commercially in Los Angeles. However, the film was not destined for greatness despite its bold filmmaker’s lofty aspirations. 3D technology had advanced somewhat, but was still extremely expensive and cumbersome. Although the film caused a brief stir, it quickly faded from view. It was not entirely forgotten, however. Various 3D experiments were made throughout the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s. Then, in the 1950s, 3D finally began to make its mark on entertainment history. Technical advances aside, there were several reasons why the 1950s were the perfect time for 3D stereoscopic video to explode in popularity.

This is an excerpt from my new book 3D Video Camera Coolness. Available on Kindle and other ebook formats Paperback to follow soon!

Best hd camcorder under 200

Filed under Best hd camcorder under 200, Uncategorized by on August 6, 2011 at 8:47 am {no comments}

There are plenty of cheap HD camcorders under $200. With most you get exactly what you pay for. Let’s get real, you won’t get $2K worth of quality for $200. But if you shop wisely, there are a select few camcorders where you can get *more* than what you pay for. In the end, the best camcorder for the money is the one that gives you all the options you need for the lowest cost.

Below are the top 5 best camcorders under 200 bucks. They are all 1080p HD cams. 720p HD models (1280 x 720) weren’t included (it is a lower quality, outmoded format).

(in $ order)

  1. Aiptek A-HD Pro 1080P High Definition Camcorder - Best choice for BUDGET users MSRP approx $100
    The A-HD Pro sports a 3x optical zoom (unusual for the price point), LED lights for illumination, removable SD card memory and a handy 2.4″ swivel LCD screen. It shoots at 1080p but offers the lowest resolution of the cameras reviewed here (1440 x 1080p instead of 1920 x 1080p). Purchase this camera if $ is your main factor. The video quality and feature set are quite decent for the low price but the camera body is flimsy. Be gentle with this one.
  2. Kodak PlaySport Zx3 Waterproof Pocket Video Camera Best choice for ACTIVE users MSRP approx $130
    The PlaySport is a pocketcam style camcorder that features a 4x digital zoom , 1080p (1920 x 1080) video and is extremely light weight. The camcorder is waterproof to ten feet, has good image stabilization and unlike the Aiptek, has a solid build. Purchase this camera if you are an active user who will be shooting outdoors or in unpredictable situations. A great camcorder if you have kids who like to share your toys!
  3. Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Best choice for VIDEO BLOGGERS
    MSRP approx $130 depending on color -
    The MHS-PM5 is Sony’s version of the pocketcam with a twist. The camcorder lens swivels 270 degrees and an add-on is available that lets you capture panararamic 360 degree video. The camcorder is 1080p (1920 x 1080)  and includes a nice face detection function, Sony’s SteadyShot, a built-in USB arm and a 2.4″ LCD. Purchase this camera if you plan on doing a lot of video blogging and will speak directly to your camcorder. (Note: the camcorders in this list are excellent models for everyday use. If your primary focus is video blogging, read this review instead.)
  4. Sanyo VPC-CG20 HD Camcorder & 10 MP Camera Best choice for VIDEO/PHOTO users MRSP approx $155
    This is a pistol grip style camcorder with a generous 2.7″ flip screen LCD. The camcorder shoots 1080i (1920×1080) and features a 5x optical zoom with a wider angle lens (38mm) than most in its class. It also has a digital image stabilizer for video and still photography. For photography enthusiasts, the VPC-CG20 shoots 10mp still photos including high sensitivity photos at ISO 1600 for very low light conditions. This is the best camcorder under 200 if you want lens versatility and the ability to take gorgeous high rez still photos.
  5. JVC GZ-HM300 HD Camcorder Best choice for VIDEO BUFFS MSRP approx $199
    You get a lot of lens for your money with the HM300. The camcorder features a Minolta lens with super low-light sensitivity and a built-in 20X optical zoom (200x digital). The camcorder records full 1080p HD (1920×1080) with a bit rate of 24Mbps. It also includes some handy features not often included in its price range such as time-lapse recording, auto record motion detection and manual controls for focus and white balance.

Note: The Flip cameras remain popular and people sometimes ask why they weren’t included. They are mid range cameras (1280 x 720p) that had cool designs but were somewhat overhyped. They were discontinued by Cisco in spring 2011.

 

What is a flip camera?

Filed under Flip Video by on August 2, 2011 at 10:12 pm {no comments}

A ‘Flip’ camera is the brand name of a pocket size camcorder that was introduced by a company called Pure Digital Technologies in 2007. The flip video camera became popular not only as a tool for YouTube videos, but with everyday folks who wanted a tiny camcorder that was easy to throw into their backpacks or purses. In fact, the camcorder was so popular that the words Flip Cam are still used to refer to any of a variety of handheld video cameras  - especially with those that have a vertical orientation. Flip a video is still occasionally used to refer to shooting video on a handheld cam. Unfortunately, the actual Flip Camera was discontinued in April 2011. More on that below.The Flip Camera's Innovative Design

In 2009 Cisco bought the Flip brand from Pure Digital for nearly $600 mil. Soon after, other models were released such as the Flip Video Mino and the Flip MinoHD. However, after just two years Cisco decided to discontinue the line because of competition from cellular telephones with built in cameras.

This seems short sighted on the part of Cisco. The Flip is/was one of the strongest camcorder releases ever launched and an extremely strong seller on Amazon.com. Nevertheless, as of this writing it is still possible to purchase new Flips as you can see by the numerous models available such as the MinoHD sold at Amazon.com.

But don’t buy a discontinued Flip just for its name (unless you think it might become a collector’s item – anything is possible). Mining for future Ebay riches aside, there are plenty of cameras that are simliar to the Flip, not to mention better. For example:

  • The Kodak Zi8 has been a strong seller. It is a 1080p HD camcorder (with higher resolution than the MinoHD which is only 720p) and has an external microphone jack on top of that.
  • The Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5 has been a strong seller and even comes in a 3D version. It is a well made camera with a nice touch screen display.
  • Toshiba makes the Camileo which shoots in 1080p. The BW10 model includes a waterproof case good up to six and a half feet. No chance it will make it for a scuba dive, but you can have fun shooting some summer splash videos at the pool or on the beach.
So what is a Flip Camera? To put it bluntly, a flipping huge opportunity lost for Cisco. Luckily there are plenty of other video cameras out there to fill the gap.

 

Video Seo

Filed under SEO by on July 22, 2011 at 10:39 pm {no comments}

Video and SEO is often overlooked, but that is a big mistake. If you have never heard the acronym ‘SEO’ before, it stands for ‘Search Engine Optimization’. It usually refers to the various methods webmasters use to optimize their website for searching. The better optimized a website, the more traffic it receives. The same approach can be applied to your video blogs.

You want as many people to see your videos as possible, right? Then read on.

In the early days of video online there was very little searchabilty. The only way that a video was categorized was through its title and perhaps a few keywords. Today, video can include a text layer of information added through the caption function that is available on websites such as YouTube. Captions are not only for deaf people. In fact, they provide a way for web browsers to see your videos as textual entities. This is a good thing. Search engines such as Google, send out what are known as ‘spiders’ to crawl content on the web. The content they find ends up as search results when people search for words that match. However the only content that can be crawled reliably, is text content.

By putting captions into your videos you optimize them so that you will receive the maximum viewers possible. However, there are some ways to achieve this that are easier than others. Video SEO Optimization

To display subtitles/captions, your video must have a caption file in the form of either a .sub or .srt file. ‘.sub’ stands for ‘subtitle’. ‘.srt’ stands for ‘subrip title’. They are nearly identical in the way in which they function. The files use video timecode combined with text to display the captions in sync with your video. If you aren’t familiar with timecode, it is the data that is measured in hours, minutes, seconds and frames that runs beneath the surface of every video. As you might guess, it can be a pain to match up the timecode of each shot with the captions you want to enter.

That is where a nifty (and free) application called CaptionTube enters the picture. Caption tube offers functionality and ease of use that YouTube’s caption editor does not. It includes a timeline and easy to understand interface that makes adding captions a breeze. The file is exported as an .srt or .sub file and uploaded to YouTube. YouTube reads the timecode along with the captions – and voila – you have captions easily read by web browsers.

You have taken a giant leap toward giving your video blog some SEO benefits. Do not underestimate this. Ninety percent of videos remain either uncaptioned, or poorly captioned by YouTube’s automatic captioning function.

 

 

How to Make a Video on a Mac

Filed under how to make a video on a mac by on July 11, 2011 at 9:46 pm {no comments}

Making a video on a Mac is easy. In fact, Macintosh was the first platform to make video editing straightforward, although Windows has since caught up to a large extent. Still, iMovie is arguably the best free video editing software available because of the frequent updates that are implemented.

Here are the steps you will need to follow to make videos:

  • A digital video camera (you already knew this though, right?:)) It can be a point and shoot camera with a video function, your cellphone, built in laptop camera or a camcorder. As long as it shoots video in digital form, it will work. You will know it’s digital because it will have a USB or FireWConecire port where you will be able to connect your Mac to your camcorder. If you have a very old camcorder that shoots onto analog tape, you can still make a video, but it’s beyond the focus of this article.
  • Connecting cable. You need this to transfer the footage from your video camera to your computer (see the prior bullet). It will most likely be a USB cable.
  • Editing software. Macs come with iMovie built-in by default. Not sure if you have it? Click on the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner of your screen. Type in “iMovie” It may take a few seconds or even a few minutes on a slower system. You should see an Icon that says “Imovie” in the list under the Applications category. When you see the icon, double click on it to open the program. If you do not see the icon, you will need to purchase it.

Within iMovie, there are five main areas you should be familiar with. The screen capture below displays each.

  • The Project Window is where you’ll do most of your video editing.
  • The Preview Window functions as a monitor where you can view you material in larger form.
  • The ‘Event Window is where your original clips from your camcorder live.
  • And that brings us to the last window, which is of course the Event Library. Think of this as the Finder where you can locate your video clips.
IMovie Explanation Screen

Great. Now you have loaded IMovie and presumably you have some awesome footage to edit. First we need to transfer video from your camcorder into IMovie. Here’s what to do:

  1. Turn your camera off (if it is on) and connect it to your computer either using a USB cable or a Firewire Cable.
  2. Open Imovie if it is not already open. Note that these instructions were written with Imovie 2011 in mind. However, I also tried these with IMovie 2008 and there were no major differences.
  3. Choose IMovie, Preferences and make sure that there is a check under “Show Advanced Tools”. We won’t be using them for this exercise, but it’s a good idea to have this turned on by default as you will likely want to use these functions in the future.
  4. Choose file, new project. Several options will present themselves. There are various project themes as well as movie trailers. For now, choose “no theme”. It is simple to work with a theme if you decide to try that later.
  5. Select ‘widescreen’ if you shot your video in HD. If you aren’t sure, ask this question. Is your video wider like a movie screen or more square in shape like an old TV screen. Most videos will be widescreen. If you still aren’t certain, choose that. Then choose 30fps if you are in North America or 25fps if you are in Europe. If you are in neither Europe nor the United States, find out what system is in common use where you live.
  6. Come up with a memorable name for your project and type it into the Project Name box.
  7. Turn on your camcorder.
  8. An ‘Import’ window may pop up immediately. If it does not, click on the camera icon located on the right hand side in the middle of the screen.
  9. In order to select the videos that you import, move the slider on the lower left hand side down to manual and click to place a check beneath each video clip you wish to import.
  10. Choose a location to save to where you will have enough disk space (you may need an external drive), choose ‘Create a New Event’ and select a name for your project.
  11. Finally choose either Optimize Video ‘Large’ or Full Size. Optimize video will reduce the file size and quality of your video. It is best to choose this option if you only plan on displaying your video on the web such as YouTube. If you want to screen your video on your high definition television, you will want to choose full original size. Original size will take up more disk space. Make sure you plan accordingly.
  12. Click ‘import’ and be patient while your video loads. Depending on how much content there is, it may take several minutes. A timer at the bottom of the screen allows you to monitor the progress.

Once your clip is imported it will appear in the Event Window. Each clip you want to include in our project needs to be dragged up to the Project Window. You can either click and drag to select a portion of the clip you wish to choose or option click to select the entire clip.

Once you have your clips up in the project window, you can click and drag them so they are in a new order. The order that they are in is the same order that they will be present in for your final film

If there are portions of each clip you would like to remove, you can continue to do so in the Project window. Click and drag to select the portion you wish to remove, then press delete

Add transitions:

Click on the transition icon (see the graphic). There are many transitions to choose from. Drag the one you would like and place it between the two shots you would like it to occur between Test it out by moving your cursor back and forth over the video.

Add music and sound effects:

Click on the music notation symbol to add music. Select a track. It can be a track that you created in garage band.

Add titles:

Click on the ‘T’ icon. Choose your title style. Enter title text. Drag it to you Project window and place it where you would like your titles to appear.

Add Maps & Icons:

These are a new addition to Imovie. The maps are great for travel videos or educational projects. As above, drag them into your project window and choose the one that works best for you.

Once you are finished, export your movie for the world to see! Click “Share” and then “Export Movie”. Choose a file name and a location to save your movie too. If you have been following along with these instructions, the default size of 960×540 will work on a wide range of devices. Try that out for now. Click ‘Export’.

Locate the file in the folder you specified. Your movie is ready to be screened or uploaded to YouTube. You have learned to make a video on a Mac. Congratulations!

Below is a YouTube demonstration. The video compression is kind of crappy – sorry if this causes anyone trouble. I will re-do it if enough people (one person is enough) complain.:)

 

 

Panoramic Video Blogging

Filed under Panoramic camera, Uncategorized by on June 3, 2011 at 9:39 am {no comments}

Video blogging is 100% about perspective. That could mean your perspective as a human living on this crazy planet. It could also be your shooting perspective – where you point the camera, for how long, at what moment, etc. But there are limits to the frame. The frame being the amount of image your camera can capture. Whatever your viewer sees is just a small window into what was actually happening all around you at that time. Sometimes that’s a good thing.:) Other times it’s not.

An NYC start-up called Kogeto is taking pre-orders through kickstarter for a cool new add-on that will turn your iPhone camera into a panoramic camera device that captures life in 360 degress. They call it ‘Dot’. This hyper-lens attachment snaps onto the camera (note that it won’t fit if you have a case – you’ll need to remove that) then get ready for an entirely different way of filming. There is no ‘framing’ involved. Everything around you will be captured in panaramic video. As the founders put it – because we’re lazy this allows you to ‘put down the camera and enjoy the party’. They also give examples of showing grandma the neighborhood you live in, shooting concerts and parties but in my opinion that’s just the beginning of cool video blogging opportunities this cool little panoramic device represents. The video can be uploaded to Facebook or Twitter and Kogeto provides special software that unfolds the panorama into an easily vieable format.

Check out the photo on your iPhone and you can shift perspectives by dragging your finger around the screen. Founder Jeff Glasse believes this new shooting format will revolutionize video blogging and I would tend to agree. Visit Kickstarter to pre-order and help these guys in their various cool camera endeavors. $98 will get you the Dot when it releases this summer and an invitations to their launch party in June in NYC. There is no other product like this out there so this is a steal imho.

Video Blogging Tips

Filed under Uncategorized, Video Blogging, Video Journaling, vlogging by on May 30, 2011 at 5:16 pm {no comments}

Video blogging is not difficult but keeping a few video tips in mind will help make you the best video blogger you can be! First, what type of video blog do you plan on keeping? A video blog might mean you speaking directly to your camera about a topic of you are passionate about. Or a video blog might just as easily be the ongoing saga of your whacky family life. There is no one single definition as to what a video blog is, so don’t get too caught up in that. Ask yourself these questions:

  • What do you want to communicate?
  • What do you want to help people discover?
  • Why is video the best way to do it?
  • Choose something that you feel passionate about.

If you don’t (yet) have a clear idea as to what you want to video blog about, don’t sweat it. Start with an introduction – who you are and what makes you tick – and see how that feels. It goes without saying that you’ll need a video camera to video blog but if you don’t have a fancy or expensive one don’t let that stop you. Use your pocket digital camera, your cellphone or your laptop.

  • Eye contact with your viewer is key. The only way to make eye contact is by looking directly into the camera lens. Experiment with this. You don’t have to *constantly* look in the lens. See what feels natural then play back the recording and see how it looks.
  • Don’t forget about audio. Bad audio can ruin any video. Pick a quiet location and sit as close to the camera mic as possible. For better quality, consider purchasing a camera that has an external mic input. Some of them are quite reasonable (and most laptops already include this).
  • Make sure you have adequate lighting and that the light is not coming from behind you. The lighting source could be a window or a lamp. Natural light tends to look the best with the least amount of effort.
  • Remember framing. Framing includes everything that is not you. Choose a background that looks pleasing to you and that expresses something of what you want to convey through your video. You can also make a green screen quite inexpensively.
  • If you are not going to edit your video afterward, try and keep your video relatively short – under five minutes. Editing is often helpful though to cut out awkward pauses and mistakes you might make here and there. Try imovie on the mac or windows media maker on the PC.

People sometimes get nervous about video blogging, but it’s easy once you start. The best way to learn is by doing so quit reading and researching and start doing!

Best camera for vlogging

Filed under Best camera for vlogging, Camcorders, Uncategorized, Video Blogging, vlogging by on March 6, 2011 at 3:39 pm {no comments}

The best camera for vlogging may be the one that you already own. Before you run out and purchase a new piece of equipment, look in your own pocket. Do you own an iPhone 4? This phone has two cameras, one that is custom made for video blogging and conferencing, built right in. Ditto with the new iPad (ignore the controversy about the new iPad camera quality – it is just fine for posting your vlog online). Or maybe you have a still camera that has a video feature? A laptop with a camera? (an especially good option for a sit-down vlog).

The important thing with vlogging, is to begin shooting. The best vlogs are created through practice. Most of the best vloggers didn’t just wake up one day and upchuck greatness onto YouTube. So if you do already have a vlog camera, dive right in.

Just shoot. The very  act of shooting itself will help you define the features that are most important to you in a camera.

Still want a brand new camera? Okay, I hear you. Once you are ready to purchase a camera, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Buy a camera that allows you to view yourself while you shoot. Popular cameras such as the Kodak zi8, Playtouch, Playfull and most of the Sony Bloggie line – while being good cameras otherwise – do not allow you to see yourself while shooting. Depending on the style of vlog you are planning this can be a huge issue. But there are notable exceptions. The best cameras for vlogging are below:

  • RCA EZ-1000 & RCA Small Wonder EZ205. These cameras are both a bit low-end and they have tiny flip screens. Only recommended if you are really tight on cash.
  • Toshiba Camileo S30. Better made than the RCA EZ-1000, this camera is reportedly not easy to use for the left-handed and doesn’t have the best image quality but nor does it have the worst. Not a bad camera all around, but a bit over priced perhaps because of the Toshiba brand name. Lefties beware.
  • Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5. This is an interesting, well made and compact camera. Rather than offering a flip screen, the lens itself swivels. The bloggie is easy to use and delivers top notch HD video. Picture Motion Browser software is PC only. Otherwise works on the Mac.
  • Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5. The newest addition to the Bloggie line is now available for purchase. Sony is listening to their audience! Most everyone who vlogs frequently NEEDS a flip screen. With this camera Sony is finally delivering. Windows and Mac friendly.
  • Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2. The Xacti line has long been the model of choice for vloggers. They are expensive – more in the range of a full featured camcorder (around $500) but you can find older models for less. Great image quality and solid feature set. The Xacti offers one key option that the Bloggie models don’t. This is one of the best digital video cameras from an audio standpoint because you can plug-in an external mic. This is huge if you want the highest quality sound possible. It depends on where you are at in your blog video production process. If you are just beginning you may not want to spend the extra cash just yet. Motion Director software is Windows only. Luckily the Xacti works well with iMovie.
  • Samsung HMX-Q10 HD. This fun new 1080p video camera features a nice 3 inch view screen, optical image stabilizer and around a $200 price tag. The ultra cool element is its flippable design that lets you operate the camera with either hand. If you are left handed you will definitely want to check it out. But the Q10 isn’t only for lefties. A flippable ‘corder is a totally cool and helpful design from a video blogging standpoint. If you vlog handheld you know that your arm gets tired. With this camcorder you can easily switch to the other hand and take a break.

New camcorders are released nearly every month. There is no Samsung camera I’m aware of that fits the bill, but watch for something from them soon. (see the HMX-Q10 above). If you don’t find one that fits your needs right now, buy the cheapest one that seems the closest and wait half a year. Something new and better is sure to come along soon. Also note that if you are specifically seeking the best camera for YouTube videos, all of the above will work. YouTube is the most flexible online video service to be found – it can handle anything.

Video Diary Software

Filed under video diary, video diary software, Video Journaling by on March 2, 2011 at 9:19 pm {no comments}

It is not absolutely necessary to purchase video diary software, but 0n the other hand these tools can be very helpful in terms of organization. If you’ve kept a video diary for awhile you know that organizing all those videos of varying lengths can be a bit of a challenge. I talk about this in my book (and provide a system – you can learn more below) but sometimes it’s easier to let software take over. Below are two options, one for Mac and one for Windows.

Video Diary Software for Mac

For example, Video Mémoires is a Mac based video diary system created by a company called ‘Coding Robots’ that includes a very simple, easy to use interface interface and the ability to quickly catalog your videos by date (using the handy calendar on the right side of the screen).

The software features one-button recording and it worked for me as advertised. Within minutes the software was installed, I clicked ‘record’ and with no fuss, my camera was recording and I was making a quick video diary entry. Type in a name for your entry and it is automatically saved and linked to that date. In order to look back at a video, click on the calendar date and all the video diaries recorded on that day appear as icons. (See the screen capture below)

Video Diary Software: 'Video Memoire'

If you have a Mac, try out this software. There is a free trial so you have absolutely nothing to lose! If you decide to purchase the software is a quite reasonable $24.95.

Video Diary Software for Windows (and Mac)

The Video Diary by Corner-A offers nearly identical features as Video Memoire. The interface is a bit lacking in style on the PC version (screen capture below). However, the Mac version of The Video Diary is well designed and pleasing to look at. The Mac version also offers some additional features such as the ability to export video diary files and change the library location.

The retail price of The Video Diary Software is $20.00 although occasional promos are available elsewhere as low as $15.00. The promo I found was at www.mupromo.com.

P.S. Check out “Naked Lens: Video Blogging & Video Journaling to Reclaim the YOU in YouTube” for many great video diary tips, exercises and suggestions. You can read the first sections for free on Amazon.com or by exploring the main page of this website.

“This book can inspire even the most nontechnical readers to grab a video camera and begin the  8 week workshop that can change their lives.” Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox, Authors of “Visual Journaling: Going Deeper Than Words”

“Original, informative and Brilliant!” Tristine Rainer, Author of “The New Diary”

 

 

Journaling Ideas

Filed under Journaling ideas, Uncategorized by on February 21, 2011 at 8:02 pm {no comments}

Have you ever become stuck in front of your video camera and had absolutely nothing to say? Just about everyone has sat in front of their camcorder at some point and not had a single journaling (or vlogging) idea occur to them. Guess what? There is always something to say! Sometimes these instances of putty mind may arise out of nervousness. Take a few deep breaths and see if that is why your mind has gone to mush. Oxygen is pretty important to our brain cells so this can sometimes be the only help that is needed.

But sometimes you may need a little bit more of a push.Here are some quick journaling topics to get your creative zest flowing:

  • I have always wanted to….. Start off with this phrase and fill in the blank. Keep stating “I’ve always wanted to…” and fill in the blank until you can’t possibly think of another unfulfilled want. If you’d like to expand this consider “I’ve always wanted to <BLANK> but I haven’t because <BLANK>.
  • Empty your pockets, purse or wallet. Tell the story behind each object. I bet there are objects with stories you had completely forgotten about.
  • Start by singing or humming your favorite song. When that starts to get old transition into singing about some of the reasons you love that song. Maybe it makes you feel a certain emotion, you love the group, a memory of the first time you heard it, or whatever else comes to mind.
  • If tomorrow you won the lottery, would you change your life? Give your interview to the local news.
  • In ten years I would like to have….and then state at least five major life goals.
  • The most bizarre experience I have had in my life was when…
  • My favorite place in the world is….
  • My very first childhood memory was….don’t forget to add the five senses – what did you smell, see, touch?
  • If I could change one thing in the world it would be…
  • Find a gadget or home appliance and explain it as if doing so to someone from another planet. What is it for and how does it work?
  • What was your worst dating experience ever? What was your best dating experience ever? Why?
  • Do you remember any of your dreams from the night prior?
  • What does the word ‘courage’ mean to you?
  • I believe/don’t believe in God (or a higher power) because…

Alright those should be enough to get you going. As you read through the list above you may find yourself thinking of others (there are millions if not billions)! Add them to your own list of journaling ideas and of course feel free to share them here.

Art Journal Ideas

Filed under Art Journaling, Video Journaling by on February 17, 2011 at 10:10 am {no comments}

I was speaking with my friend Sandy about her art journal the other day. For Sandy, art journaling provides an opportunity to keep track of what’s going on in her life using a multi-layered approach. It can be writing, doodles, pasted in photos, old tickets, or on one page she showed me, her handprint – it’s really quite beautiful. I thought initially that it would be challenging to keep this kind of art journal on video or maybe an art journal blog. But when I considered it further and I realized I was wrong.

Many experimental video blogs are close to being ‘art journals’ without actually calling themselves that. One of my favorite video bloggers is Jay Dedman and his work immediately comes to mind. Of course even calling something an art journal is subjective. If you decide you are keeping an art journal – than I’m certainly not going to argue – no matter what form it takes! And further, you shouldn’t let anyone tell you that it ain’t.

Here are some thoughts on ways to push video further – to make it more like an art journal in the way it’s traditionally understood. I welcome your suggestions, contributions and feedback.

  • Shoot often and without censoring. Take snippets. An image, a passing thought. Art journals often have elements of collage. Think of this as being your video collage. As soon as a I did that I had an ‘aha’ moment. This doesn’t need to be linear.

Include different mediums.

  • Shoot your computer screen. Are you surfing the web? Sending an email?
  • Video record your written diary entry (if you keep one).
  • Shoot a painting (either yours or one you like).
  • Tape yourself dictating a poem.
  • Include textures that resonate with you while roaming in or outside your home.
  • Don’t forget about the sounds your hear.

Art Journaling - Photo by Jon Sullivan

By the end of a day (or a couple of days) you should have a bunch of great material. This is where it gets easy to get stuck in a linear mode of thinking. After all, if you edit it – you have to put it in a timeline – one piece of footage after another. Which goes first? How do you layer? Here is a suggestion:

Show your videos all at once.

For example something like this.

There’s only one problem with the above page. I don’t know precisely how they did it. I’m still experimenting, but my embeds haven’t worked out as well as theirs. Maybe you won’t have this problem, but if you do there is also Flowplayer which offers a free version. It allows multiple videos on the same page.

Some people might say – this is a lot of work! It is work, but keeping an art journal is more work than just writing (or typing) a regular journal or keeping a simple video blog. Is it worth it? Only you can answer that. I encourage you to give it a try and see if the benefits outweigh the time expended. Let me know how your video art journal goes! I will be posting mine here soon.

Portable Green Screen

Filed under Uncategorized by on February 11, 2011 at 12:50 pm {no comments}

There are numerous ways you can make a portable green screen. Most of the methods I’ve seen involve using PVC pipe and green screen fabric. There is nothing wrong with this method (and it is probably the best for outdoor use) but I wanted to show you another option. Of course you could just buy a green screen from B&H, but would that be any fun? Nah. Plus it would be more expensive.

The green screen I made was originally intended to only be used in my home office. But I wanted to create something that could be stowed away when not in use. Because of this I ended up with something quite portable. My method was simple. Take two six foot long one inch by two inch lengths of wood with the green screen fabric staple gunned between it (I bought them ready cut at Home Depot). One two by four hangs the fabric, the other provides the weight to pull it taut. That’s it. I made another blog entry where I describe the method in greater detail. What I want to cover in this blog entry is the portability. I’ll also be adding a video that shows you the rig in person for those who find the text explanation confusing.

The greenscreen I made works well in my space because my ceilings are very low. However it can be modified for virtually any ceiling height. For a taller ceiling, the fabric needs to be extended (and you may need a ladder to install the hooks – careful up there!). Because it is relatively short though, it works well as a portable green screen. All you need is two small light stands (any variety, any cost level) and two strong clamps. I recommend C-Clamps so they don’t fall off unexpectedly but you can use almost any clamp to make this work.

Place the two light stands equidistant apart, clip the green screen between them. The two by four at the bottom will keep the fabric taut, but if it still has some wrinkles you can add some extra weight. If you have already wrinkled the fabric prior to the shoot I recommend ironing the fabric beforehand. If you roll it up subsequently it should become wrinkled through regular use. Video below:

Night Vision Camcorder = Late Night Video Blogging

Filed under Night Vision Camcorder by on February 6, 2011 at 3:13 pm {no comments}

The other night I was playing with an old Sony HDV camera that I own. I had completely forgotten that it is a so called ‘night vision camcorder’ – in other words it can see in the dark. The way this actually works is that the camcorder  has a small infrared light that is beamed at the subject – in this case me.

Because of the limits of this infrared flashlight as it were, you can’t get too far away from the light source. This is perfect if you are using it to video blog or video journal but something to keep in mind if you want to record something at night that occurs at a distance from the camera itself. These aren’t military grade passive infrared units! That is a whole different system. Military units (and high-end night vision goggles) use a photocathode tube that amplifies available light up to 50,000 times. They don’t need to beam infrared light, they magnify the light that is already there.

My night vision camera only works in monochrome mode so it’s kind of eerie looking (ever see the Blair Witch Project?). There is also a Super NightShot mode that adds a bit of color but slows the frame rate down to a ridiculous degree. Maybe it would be good for a special effect but it didn’t work for me.

But the night shot was cool. Here I was sitting in pitch darkness making a video entry and then when I played it back, I could see myself perfectly clearly (though with the above-mentioned Halloween factor). Hey, if you are at all camera shy I can’t think of a more comforting way to work!:)

Why would you want to shoot your video blog or video journal with night vision?

First, let me be clear. I’m not suggesting that you rush out and buy a night vision capable camera. Unless you already own one or plan some other use for a night vision camera it’s likely not worth it. For most people the novelty of making a video entry in the dark will remain that – a novelty. But if you are feeling a bit stuck in your video blogging process and are looking for something to dislodge creativity, making a Midnight entry under the covers might do the trick.

Did you ever stay up late with a flashlight and a book under the covers when you were a kid? It has that cool, secret fun feeling to it. Or if you are someone who gets nervous when you sit in front of a video camera (and you already have a night vision model) give this a try. It just might be the breakthrough that you seek.

Video soon! In the meantime have fun and feel free to post yours.

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