JVC or SONY? I choose door number 3.

When it truly comes down to it, I really didn't get to use the SONY as much as I would like.  I felt like I was more familiar with the SONY, true. (though i might have been sick for the JVC tutorial day)  But, in my familiarity with the controls on the SONY, I am completely unfamiliar with the way one transfers the raw footage from the tapes into FCP. Therefor with the simplicities of these two cameras, I must choose the JVC with its ability to transfer files digitally, straight into a quicktime file and immediately usable in FCP.

The JVC seems to have an ease with the white balance button but who cares when it comes down to it, as long as it is somewhat easily accessible. I did not, however, like the fact that the focus and the zoom were on the same dial up front.  Maybe it was my brain deadness, but I found myself forgetting which side the toggle was on and screwing up shots, having to redo them, and ultimately wasting time. I guess I could learn to pay attention more the more familiar I get with these two cameras.

Bottom line, I think it will be better when we move onto the higher grade cameras and get a chance to venture out more with our abilities and options, considering there is not too much difference between the two pieces of equipment. As a whole, I liked the digital factor from the JVC but haven't thrown out the idea of tape at all if I can get a better picture out of it.

Roll Tide

What are my goals? Geez...... that's hard

I feel like one of my biggest goals always is networking.  Networking, in my opinion is the only real way to ever achieve anything, especially in this line of work.  I am excited about meeting and working with other people that share my passion for catching those "perfect shots" and the thrill you get, more importantly, when you show others your final work and it moves them in whatever way. I want to change the world somehow and with the way the world works visually and through media, I think that it becomes a great medium to reach people.

I certainly have a dream to have my own travel show and have enough theatre and "in front of the camera" experience to be able to get in front of the rest of the world like that and show people things they couldn't even imagine.  I think THAT is my goal more than anything else.  I want to show the world all these amazing things that they didn't know even existed. But, how am I going to do that? I need a camera. I need people that I can trust and that I have worked with.  I need a knowledge of what goes on behind the camera in order to help not only the shooting process and having all the right coverage, but also post production.

This class for me is also an experimental stage to see how I can achieve certain shots. Like anything else it becomes trial and error a lot but I feel like I have a good eye for framing at least and want to perfect it with lighting, angle, and simply learning crazy shots that I've never thought of before. I have a love for reflective shots, (mirrors, water, windows, sunglasses, etc.) and want to prefect that skill.

More importantly than anything else, I want to use this as a time to get my hands on as many different types of cameras, that might or might not do different things, as I can so as to gain a knowledge for the equipment I will end up investing in. I am a control freak and would not only want to own my own cameras for my show, even if I wasn't operating it, but I also want to know the ins and outs of how to work it.

Bottom line, I will have a travel show, and this is an amazing stepping stone and opportunity to learn things that will be extremely important for me to know in the near future.

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." -Thomas Paine

CONTRAST

This first few picture starts with my love for contrast.  In this still (above), there are several things that seem to assign depth to the picture. The camera is focused on three things as well as the light only hitting three things relatively. The first is chair back in front of him, then daniel Craig's face, then the shelf behind. 

This picture (left) could almost be placed in my framing category that you'll hear of next but I chose it for contrast because of the light in the center of the room surrounded by darkness.  

This picture (right) is great to me because it shows two completely different feelings in several ways. First of all there are his feelings and that can be shown through the acting skills as well as the way the light is soft on him.  I chose this for contrast because he, in a non forceful but persistent way is enjoying this or trying to and she, sadly is not.  Hints her face and body language.  The LIGHT IS MY FAVORITE PART!!!! with the softness on him and hard sharp light on her face make an argument for obvious disagreement.

LOCATION AND FRAMING

I have a love for great and overpowering, awing locations.

Another notable things about these pictures is their use of framing, achieving grasping as much as one can or might in only one shot.

Silhouettes

Backlighting, in my opinion, is the strongest type of lighting you can use. It creates a overpowering feeling that almost dehumanizes what ever is being framed, making it almost god like.  

PERSPECTIVE

Last but not least, camera tricks, or camera placement rather, can make things: big and small, bright and dim,  cold and hot, near and far. Things can look, feel, and simply be completely different just because of the camera placement.  

10 Favorite Quotes (plus 2 cause I couldn't decide)

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." -Thomas Paine

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought" 
-Buddha

"So let us go forward, quietly, each on his own path, forever making for the light." 
-Vincent Van Gogh

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." -Albert Einstein

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." -Philip K. Dick

"When the people fear the Government you have tyranny, but when the government fears the people, you have liberty." 
-Thomas Jefferson

"Common sense is not so common." 
-Voltair

"I'm growing older but not up. . . I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead."
-Jimmy Buffett

"You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with great care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And NEVER mix up your right foot with your left."
-Dr. Seuss

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep." 
-Dale Carnegie

"I choose. . . BOTH!" 
-Towelie