I’m looking in to the feasibility of running a XDCAM Master Class in Oklahoma City between May 28th and May 31st. I will be in the area anyway and though it would make an interesting venue for a workshop. I have a hotel in mind with a Rodeo Nightclub next door (they ride bulls in the nightclub) and as May is Tornadeee season we could go out and shoot some nice storm timelapses, lightning and maybe even a twister (if you don’t know, storm chasing is a speciality of mine). Oklahoma City is pretty central in the USA with a modern, well connected airport. Great scenery, hick towns and wild weather. Anyone interested? Email me if it appeals to you. alister at ingenioustv d o t c o m.
Hi all. Last week I was in Iceland running a couple of 3D workshops and master classes. They went really well and I think everyone that attended learnt lots and went away with enough knowledge to start experimenting for themselves. One of the biggest 3D stereoscopic issues is monitoring, both on location and in the edit suite. This will get easier when the new 3D consumer TV’s start hitting the stores, but at the moment any kind of decent 3D monitor is expensive. Transvideo for example now have a comprehensive range of very nice looking 3D location and studio monitors, but prices for these start at just under 6000 euros (I’m trying to get on for review) and are a little steep for me. In Iceland we used good old fashioned Anaglyph as the glasses are cheap and it can be shown on any existing colour display. It was hard to convince some of the attendees that if the clips we shot were show using polarised or active glasses then they would look so much better. So for the next workshop I’m going to have to workout some other way of showing the material, maybe I will have to bite the bullet and buy a dedicated 3D field monitor.
During some research into camera options for 3D I came across the Sony PMW-10MD. This is based on a Sony EX camera but with the optical block separated from the recorder and fitted with a C mount for the lens. A pair of these in a side by side configuration would be really neat and offer the same kind of image quality as the EX3 offers but without the need to use a beam splitter rig for narrow interaxials. Again I’m trying to track down a couple to evaluate. As well as 3D applications this would also make an excellent POV camera, however being a medical product it may prove a little on the pricey side. Maybe I’m just not realistic about how much this stuff costs? But even 3D budgets are being squeezed. Sky 3D’s uplift for 3D is something like 20%-30%, but as anyone that’s worked seriously with 3D will tell you it takes twice as long to shoot, takes twice as much gear and takes twice as long to edit. So trying to make budgets work for 3D is difficult.
Anyway back to Iceland… After the master classes I did a bit of exploring, it’s an amazing country with some quite spectacular scenery. The only problem was that the weekend I was there saw the heaviest snowfall of the winter and storm force winds. If any of you have watched my recent Aurora How-To video all the way to the end you will have seen the kinds of conditions I encountered. My new Vinten 5AS tripod worked brilliantly. It’s no feather weight at 7kg but when your shooting in strong wind that weight makes a big difference making the whole setup so much more stable than it would be on a lightweight tripod. The 5AS head proved to be a good match for my side-by-side EX1/EX3 3D camera rig providing just the right amount of drag and balance compensation.
As Spring approaches I’m starting to work out my plans for the Tornado season. Do I try to capture another Tornado in 3D with my new mirror rig, or do I concentrate on getting some really filmic footage with the PMW-350? If I had the time and budget I’d try to do both. Later in the year I want to shoot lightning with some very wide spaced cameras so that you will be able to see the structure of the lightning bolts in 3D. Oh and by the way, I will be running an extreme weather filming masterclass if you want an amazing adventure at the same time learning a range of video techniques.
PS. The big blue chip corporate stereoscopic project that I was DoP-3D on has been completed and delivered to the client. They are absolutely over the moon and discussing future 3D projects. There will be a launch at the BFi in London in April and after that I will be able to share some of the amazing footage that we shot over the past 4 months.
Want to join me on a real adventure and at the same time learn all about shooting with an XDCAM EX or PMW-350? Why not join me on one of my teaching adventures. These trips are so much more than a classroom lecture. You will get the chance to shoot in some incredible locations and see sights that few get to see, what a great way to learn about how to set up a camera or deal with location workflows and editing.
I currently have spaces on a 3D/XDCAM EX workshop in Iceland to be held on the 26th and 27th of February. Weather permitting we will shoot Geysers, glaciers, waterfalls and the Northern Lights. Price from £175 per day.
There will also be a 5 day expedition 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle to central Norway to shoot the Northern Lights in either late January or February. This is a real adventure staying 3 nights up in the mountains in small hiking cabins. Last year it was -36c. Facilities are basic, but the sense of adventure very real, while evenings are fun enjoying a drink (or 2) around a blazing log fire or under the stars and Aurora Borealis. There are currently 6 places remaining on this trip at £1000 per person, including accommodation, snow scooter hire and transport while in Norway . The date uncertainty is due to the trip being timed to coincide with a coronal hole on the sun to maximise the chances of a good Aurora.
I am also looking at running a PMW-350 and XDCAM EX storm chasing master class immediately after NAB in April. If you are visiting NAB why not stay a few extra days (16th to 22nd of April) trying to track down severe storms and tornadoes in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma while learning how to get the most from your XDCAM camera. 5 places max, cost approx £1000 per person including accommodation and transport while on the trip.
Send me an email for more information. alister – at – ingenioustv dot com
Sony are running a major event in London on the 25th and 26th of November. There will be sessions on all the latest cameras and formats from HDV all the way through to HDCAM SR. So a really good opportunity to get your hands on the latest products. There may also be further product launches. As Sony did not attend IBC this year they are running many smaller events across Europe with any new products being announced at these events as they become available. I’m also running a HDV and XDCAM EX masterclass at Calumet in London on Thursday with another at Jigsaw in Leeds on the 1st of December. For more details please click here.
I have a busy few weeks ahead. Starting on the 20th of October I will be presenting a short session on the use of XDCAM HD and it’s file based workflow as part of the Televisual Roadshow which will be touring the country at the end of October and beginning of November. If your in the area do drop in and say hello. I’ll be blogging regularly from the events with any news and gossip.
On the 21st of October I will be running an EXperience event at Temple Bar, Dublin for EuroTek. For a place at the event please contact EuroTek. If you are considering purchasing either HDV or XDCAM these free events are well worth attending.
I’m still trying the best way to run the Master Classes that any of the roadshow attendees have requested. These will be one or two day hands on events where we will go through the entire XDCAM EX or XDCAM HD workflow, from camera setup to editing and camera write back. If you would like to join one of my Master Classes please contact me: alister -at- ingenioustv dot com.
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