Probably the most anticipated movie of the summer, The Dark Knight Rises, is sure not to disappoint. I have always been a long time fan of Christopher Nolan’s style of film-making and his practical approach to filming special effect scenes. In this in-depth 13 minute making of featurette Christopher Nolan and his crew talk about the scope of filming a movie this size, the scale of the locations and how important it is to them to try to film all of their special effects in camera decreasing the amount of CGI used in post. [more]
FilmRiot has been quietly working on a series of educational behind the scenes videos over the last few months, and I think this one is definitely worth a mention (avoid the random skydiving tangent at 6:00). Aimed at beginner and intermediate videographers, this short video will walk us through some techniques for lighting people as they move through multiple rooms. [more]
If you haven’t seen the movie Snow White and the Huntsman, then you’ll want to go see it after watching this video. Filmed with the Red Epic camera, the amount of detail that went into creating the Mirror Man is amazing. The guys over at The Mill Visual Effects Studio did many tests with liquid before deciding to use cloth instead. Cloth provided more control over making the sculpture appear seamlessly out of the mirror. [more]
When we as photographers jump into movie making using our newly video-enabled DSLRs, there is a lot of new info to learn and an entirely new vocabulary begins rearing its head. For me frame rates, shutter speeds, interlacing and how digital video all relates were a mystery, but thankfully the good ol’ folks over at the Videomaker blog have answered these questions for us already. Check out this short video that will certainly help any new video guy (or gal) understand frame rates and interlacing. Enjoy! [more]
Filmed on a Super 8 camera without audio or narration, this is a clip for the true Star Wars aficionado. Created by Jeff Broz, this series of clips affords us a rare glimpse into the making of an incredible blockbuster film that is adored the world over. There are a number of recognizable iconic scenes visible in their rough and unedited form. [more]
Two Kingston University students (in the UK), Luke Evans and Josh Lake, each swallowed 35mm film, allowed their bodies to ‘process it,’ and then collected and developed it both in a darkroom. They then scanned the film with an electron microscope to digitize the images. Despite the rather odd method of collection, I’m sure, the results are quite interesting…and I can’t say I’ve seen anything like it. [more]
Being referred to as a “fingerprint of the photographic process”, this video essay produced by Daylight Multimedia displays images of John Cyr‘s work, which are a series of stills of famous photographer’s developing trays. Each tray has it’s own unique look, and seem to provide a thoughtful display that makes one think about the iconic images possibly produced in them. [more]
Skater Kilian Martin sets new standards in the world of skateboarding. Mb! joined forces with Killian and filmmaker Brett Novak to create his newest video “Kilian Martin: Altered Route”. Aside from the fact that Killian does things with a skateboard that I have never seen anyone else do … ever, Brett captures each trick and angle perfectly. I especially love the way Brett juxtaposed the nostalgic clips from the water park back in it’s heyday to it’s current ghost-townly state. Enjoy!
A modern take on the little black dress, Emily Steel has found a way to make film a fashion statement. This dressed is adorned with film and backed with LED lights that give the effect. The idea was to create a wearable dress that fuses the idea of technology and art. The end result is intriguing to say the least. Check out the images and more details in the expanded post. [more]
In the days before computer modeling, testing, and digital everything else, NASA had to come up with some pretty clever solutions to test and record results for their multitude of space programs. Using long exposures and creative light setups, they were able to record the results of their testing on their most technologically advanced space suits. And the result? [more]
Ernst Haas is an Austrian photographer who began shooting color film in it’s infancy. The photographs posted here were taken in New York state during the late 1950′s and 1960′s. Check out Ernst’s website for a massive and downright impressive collection of film street photography and early Hollywood portraits. Enjoy! [more]
Team Nine brings the greens, greys and sometimes blues of Iceland to you in the beautifully composed Shutter Ísland. Filmed with a Canon 7D, using a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens, the film short shows both the capabilities of DSLR HD video and the team’s eye for composition — proving one lens is all you need. For a photo-based tour, consider viewing Iwan Bigler’s Flickr set of photo stills here. I am already looking forward to their next trip. Great job Team Nine! [more]
Here’s a fascinating video of 44-year old photographer Qalam Nabi. He is one of two street photographers left in the capital city of Kabul. The son of a street photographer himself, he started shooting at the age of eleven. Watch as he demonstrates how to use his instant camera. He does all of the developing inside the box, and repeats the process to turn the negative into a positive image. If you’d like to know how to build your own Afghan box camera [more]
Lauren Marsolier uses all kinds of elements in pictures to assemble and reconstruct non-existent but yet familiar landscapes. There is much to be said and to be appreciated of pure composition. Lauren’s photographs leave me with such a feeling of peace and calm through her balance of color, leading lines, geometry, texture and light. Simply put, these photos are truly art. Enjoy! [more]
Ten of Polaroid’s former employees have created a new and improved instant film for your Polaroid cameras. It is part of The Impossible Project. Back in 2008, they purchased one of the last Polaroid factories in an effort to keep the art form alive. Two years later, they released their first films into the world. PX Cool is the latest Impossible film, [more]
