ND Filters to Control Exposure for Video December 31st, 2009
On this last day of 2009, I’ve been experimenting with neutral density (ND) filters for my Canon lenses. A neutral density filter reduces the brightness of the light reaching the sensor. There are a number of parameters that effect the brightness of light reaching the sensor including ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. When set to automatic mode, the camera’s brain adjusts these parameters to produce an optimal image.
Boiling Clouds Timelapse December 29th, 2009
Today the sky cleared off for the first time since getting an intervalometer for my Canon 5D Mark II. Since my first attempt at shooting clouds worked out fairly well, I decided to give it another try. At first I was worried the clouds would be gone by the time I had things ready to go. However, there were a few lingering clouds, so I pointed the camera toward the Northeast horizon and let the camera run for 90 minutes. Read the rest of this entry »
Timelapse with a Canon 5D Mark II December 26th, 2009
I’ve always been interested in timelapse photography, and have experimented with video cameras in the past. Lately I’ve seen a lot of relevant traffic on twitter that has renewed my interest in timelapse photography, along with some really great websites such as timescapes.org. Many of the timelapse movies that have impressed me were shot with DSLR cameras such as the Canon 5D Mark II. As an owner of this fine camera, I thought it would be fun to start making timelapse movies of my own.
Photowalk #43 December 25th, 2009
A day after the first good snow of the season, I went looking for animal tracks. Temperatures were already warming up above freezing, so the snow was starting to melt. That’s quite common in Northeast Indiana. Periodic snowfall is typical here in the winter, but often doesn’t last long. Still the snow was in decent shape, and as expected I encountered a number of interesting animal tracks.
Photowalk #42 December 19th, 2009
Winter has returned to the Midwest and I’m thrilled. Those who know me personally probably guessed I was out shooting photos in this first snowfall of the season. I love winter. In fact the thing I like least about NE Indiana is that it isn’t winter enough. One might assume we frequently get veiled in beautiful white snow, but the reality is snow is not guaranteed here. Yes storms happen every season, but for the most part the snow doesn’t last long, and instead we are treated to rain and mud.
VFX Work for Rothon December 16th, 2009
One of the great things about the Internet age is having the ability to network with other like minded individuals throughout the world. Through the visual effects (VFX) training website fxphd.com, I’ve made many new friends interested in filmmaking and VFX. One such individual is Brannon Shiflett who is currently working on a short film titled Rothon with the production company Take 29 Productions. Recently Brannon asked via twitter if anyone would be interested in helping with a few VFX shots. Knowing that Brannon and company are serious filmmakers, I thought it might be fun to give a try.
Photowalk #41 December 15th, 2009
This is the second half of my photowalk at the Kruse Museum complex in Auburn, Indiana. In a previous post, I showed pictures from the Automotive and Carriage Museum. In this post, we explore the World War II Victory Museum. For world war history enthusiasts, this museum is a must see. The exhibits contain an impressive display of German and Allied hardware. I have seen many of these war machines on television and in the movies. However to see them up close is an amazing experience.
Zone Project Shot with a Canon 5D Mark II December 11th, 2009
I just finished a project that involved creating 20 one minute video clips. This project, titled Zone Manufacturing by the creators, is to be an educational role playing game designed to teach students how a modern manufacturing facility operates. As the game progresses, players are encouraged to view short videos that reflect the current state of the factory. Unfortunately at the time of this blog post, there is no public website available so I am unable to share a link. Below is one of the assembly videos created for the Zone Manufacturing project. Read the rest of this entry »
Photowalk #40 December 8th, 2009
Recently I visited the Kruse Automotive and Carriage Museum in Auburn, Indiana. Located a few miles south of the small town of Auburn, the massive Kruse complex spans both sides of Interstate 69. This location has been made famous by the Kruse car auctions that take place here on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends each year. I’ve seen the massive crowds that attend these car auctions as I’ve driven north on I69, but I have never stopped to explore. Recently I passed through Auburn and thought to myself, what a great place for a photowalk.
Canon 5D Mark II Video Aliasing. December 5th, 2009
We were warned by many including Stu Maschwitz, as detailed in his latest blog post, that the Canon HDSLRs, such as the 5D Mark II, were not creating video properly. Video on these cameras is an after thought. Their primary function is to shoot still images, and they do a great job at that. However there is a big mistake happening when these cameras create video, and the end result is the interference pattern shown in tan sport jacket below.