Watch this video in HD on Vimeo

Inspired by my documentary photography project 'Starlings Above’; this short film entitled ‘Murmurations’ is my first attempt at shooting and editing 1080p HD video with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. As I mentioned in my previous blog post ‘Passing Conversations’, adjusting to capturing HD video on a digital SLR does take a bit of getting used too. For my first venture into video production I kept things as simple as possible. I chose a subject and location that I knew well (in this case, Blackpool beach and starlings) and stuck with a static camera on a tripod. All of the footage was shot during the past couple of weeks and was edited using iMovie 09.

I must say a huge thank you to Raikes Parade for allowing me to use a shortened edit of his wonderful track ‘On The Clock Face’ as the soundtrack to this short film.

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Tags: Blackpool,Flight,HD Video,North Pier,Starlings,Murmurations,Natural History

Taken at 03:11pm on Blackpool Promenade, Lancashire. UK. Thursday 17th December 2009.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon shooting on the wonderful camera that is the Canon 5D Mark II. Its an absolute pleasure to shoot all my new work with this camera. The superb Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens combined with the 21.1 Megapixel Canon 5D body results in amazing image quality. I must have read countless reviews about this camera over the past year and couldn’t wait to use this camera for myself.

One of the most technological advanced additions to the Canon 5D Mark II (and what made it revolutionary on its release) is the ability to shoot full frame HD video. Vincent Laforet’s ‘Reverie’ was the first 1080p short film to be photographed with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and successfully turned the independent film industry on its head over night. Reverie convinced photographers, film-makers and artists alike that this camera could transform their artistic practice forever (even with a small budget, time restraints and a touch of imagination).

There are a few practical considerations when switching between shooting still photography and shooting video. As a documentary photographer I rarely carry a tripod as they tend to be somewhat inconspicuous and cumbersome, but if you want to shoot professional looking video the use of a solid tripod or Steadicam is crucial. Then there’s the sound to consider. The camera has a built-in microphone, but if your in a location thats as windy as say, Blackpool beach, then an external microphone is a definite must to avoid any unwanted pops or clicks. I’ve been capturing HD footage in Blackpool on the Canon 5D Mark II over the past week and I’m beginning to get an idea about what it takes to produce video work. It’s still all work in progress, so for now I’ll just share this still photograph taken between shooting some HD video yesterday.

This photograph is entitled ‘Passing Conversations’ and depicts the moment when two ladies pass two men along the promenade; separate conversations momentarily intertwined in a split second. The location is full of signs synonymous with Blackpool’s character (one detail being the ‘We Sell Fags’ sign outside the Scotties Got It shop) that make for a really interesting background for the people in the photograph.

There are also two new blog posts (Visual Exhibition At Nutmeg House and Murmurations Signal The Beginning Of Winter) that I’ve (finally) managed to upload.

Technical Information
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
ISO: 250
Focal Length: 102mm
Shutter Speed: 1/250th sec
F-Stop: f/6.3

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Tags: Blackpool,Promenade

‘Illumination Restoration’ as featured in the forthcoming Visual exhibition at Nutmeg House in London.

This new in-house exhibition at Nutmeg House in London was selected from the Visual For Business collection by Arts & Business staff in the North West, the South West, the South East and the Midlands. Each region also put forward one ‘signature piece’ for staff vote across the country to be displayed behind the reception desk. The artwork with the most votes was Nigel Jackson’s piece ‘In the Presence of Absence’.

The exhibition features fine art, photography and contemporary craft by new, emerging and established British artists.

The exhibition was installed on the 3rd October 2009 (the preview night will be held on the 14th December) and will remain at Nutmeg House until 9th January 2010.

Please contact Visual For Business or call 0844 335 1305 if you would like more information

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Tags: Arts & Business,Buy Art,Exhibitions,Visual For Business