Every now and then we come across a behind the scenes video that falls somewhere between the scope of photo/video production and computer graphics/animation. As creative artists, we need to be able to pull from a library of visual inspiration regardless of its original context. Even though I’m not a gamer by any stretch of the imagination, I’ve always been fascinated by the commercials I see on television or the “movie” posters I see promoting the latest state of the art video games. Check out what Blizzard Entertainment created for the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm trailer; it’s pretty amazing what can be done not only graphically but also from an advertising point of view. Click the full post to see the final trailer for one of the most mocked popular video games of all time.
This video was released earlier this year but I really loved watching it so I figured you would too. It’s a pretty clever way to advertise a product like waterproof shoes and would have make for an excellent commercial concept for an advertising ad. Click the full post to view a BTS video about this crazy new sport called Liquid Mountaineering.
This video is already a year old but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth posting again. I was really impressed with the cinematography work and the amazing detail in the composition…and then I realized it was all completely fake! That’s right, Alex Roman doesn’t create that horrible Transformers CGI; his computer graphic designs are true works of art. Click the full post to see a breakdown on how this was designed as well as Alex’s latest creation which features more “organic” material. If you are young and want to retire early, learn how to create this ASAP!
One of the joys of running a site like Fstoppers as a full time photographer is learning all the little tricks that helps make a high traffic site run smoothly. We recently ran a poll to see how often our readers were visiting our site, and we were shocked to learn how many of you are staying updated through our RSS feed. We were also shocked by the amount of emails we received from readers who were having problems with their feed. Long story short, we updated the RSS feed a few times and 90% of our readers are subscribed to our initial feed which is bogging down our server, a few are subscribed to a feed that is not sending out every post, and if you recently found Fstoppers you are probably subscribed to the current feed we just launched 10 days ago. So in an effort to standardize everything and help relieve stress on our server we’d appreciate it if you could follow the Updated Fstoppers RSS Feed located on the top of the site. If you have to type in the link into your reader it is http://feeds.feedburner.com/fstoppersfeed
Camera and Video equipment is expensive! Whether you are just getting into digital media or are a seasoned professional, we are all looking for bargains and ways to justify dropping even more coin on photography gear. Everyday our email is full of readers asking about what gear we use/recommend and if there are any deals out there to be had. So we have created an Fstoppers Gear Guide that includes every piece of equipment we use for both photos and video separated into categories. You can also check out the latest Canon rebates (most end Jan 8) and Nikon rebates (expires Nov 20) through BHvideo.com which we find to have the best prices online. So check out the Fstoppers Gear Guide and if you want to get some new toys for Christmas, don’t miss out on these Holiday rebates through Nikon and Canon.
It’s really interesting working on a site like FS because you never really know who your readers are. If you just looked at our comments you might guess that we only have a couple hundred readers a day. If you check our analytics however, you will find that there are about 60,000 unique visitors to FS every month. So that got me wondering… Are these the same 60,000 people or are they totally new each month? Well, only YOU can help answer this question. How often do you visit Fstoppers?
It’s to easy to do things in post these days. If you can think it, someone can do it on a computer. To stand out, we are beginning to see a trend in TV commercials where directors do it “the old fashion way”. So far on Fstoppers we have posted BTSVs for Old Spice, Lexus, Nissan, and Levi’s commercials. Subaru didn’t want to be left out so they decided to film an animation in a single take using a perfectly timed car. Check out the finished product in the full post. Keep’em coming!
Well not exactly but we can still get kinda close. The Phantom camera costs a staggering $118,000 for the body alone which puts it out of the average Joe’s reach. The Canon T2i costs just $699 and it currently has a $400 rebate when you buy it with a Pro9000 printer (I love these “free printer” rebates they are doing). The T2i shoots 60fps but has great manual control. Once you shoot your super sharp 60fps you can use software called Twixtor to bring that framerate to Phantom levels. Twixtor costs about $300 and we have used it in a few of our FS originals. Very cool!
We usually don’t post good deals on the front page of FS but this is one of the best deals I have seen. Right now, if you buy a Nikon D7000 body (it literally just started shipping a couple days ago) and an Epson R1900 photo printer, you will get a $450 rebate, which is the full cost of the printer. Deals like this do pop up but never with a camera this new.
I just got a chance to play with the D7000 at the photo Expo in NYC and the ISO performance is up there with the D3 and it has more mega-pixels and it shoots 1080p video and you get all of that for just $1100. If you needed an excuse to buy this camera, you’re welcome. Details at BH here.
Last night I thought I was getting together with a few photographers that I know in NYC to play a friendly game of poker. We sent a few texts out and about 20 photographers showed up including a few big names like Zack Arias and Peter Hurley.
Tonight, Friday October 29th at 8:00pm we are meeting at Swift Hibernian Lounge at 34 East 4th Street. If you are considering not coming because you don’t know anyone or that you won’t fit in; don’t worry, this group of core photographers are some of the most welcoming people I’ve met in NYC. I will personally introduce you to every single person there. If you have questions or any trouble getting there you can contact me, Lee Morris, directly at 843.697.4282. You never know who might show up :)
Update: Peter Hurley claims he will come dressed in a full suit of armor and I am heading to the Expo to invite more.
Today, it is pretty common for a couple getting married to hire both a wedding photographer and videographer. When I meet a videographer for the first time I usually try to feel him or her out and figure out the best way that we can work together as team. In most cases we can both work to create great memories for our clients, but, if the videographer happens to step into my shot and ruin a picture, I have no choice but to begin to punch him in the face. If he attempts to fight back I am then forced to smash his video camera. This may be a little hard to understand so check out the video below for a great example.
This video might be on the fringe of what most photographers and videographers are faced with in their own field but I found it really interesting. The whole idea of modeling a modern Mickey Mouse with the classic animations we have grown up watching reminded me of how important it is to really study the details of your predecessors in order to copy or move past what they have already created. Sometimes I feel like a lot of photographers simply follow the lighting they see on a particular blog and expect to have the same results of well known photographers in their own projects. More often than not, what you wind up finding is your final image is no where near as good as the one you’ve tried to emulate. You really have to take the time to study your craft to make compelling art, and that’s exactly what the animators for the new Mickey video game did. Enjoy!
I wasn’t planning on doing a meetup this month but now, due to popular demand, we are going to have two. Tonight (Friday 22nd) we will be meeting at 79 North 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211. I know this is really last minute but I had 8 people today tell me they wanted it tonight. If you can’t make it, don’t freak; we also plan on doing another get together in Manhattan Friday night after the Expo. I’ll give you more info on that early next week. Call me if you can’t find us: 843.697.4282.
Some of you may not remember this but as a very young kid with HBO in the house, I remember always being amazed watching this intro. Now I think movies on HBO just start with the parental ratings and nothing more. So next time you are thinking of making a cool intro for your business in after effects, remember how much harder it actually could be! As always, click the full post to view the original trailer.
