Antonio Pendone - Mixed Media Artist

Antonio has been a long time friend ever since we worked together at Bold Magazine. We collaborated on multiple articles for years. I learned of his artwork at this time and photographed his work in the past. Since taking up videography, I asked if I could make a small piece about his passion for art. Antonio is a mixed media artist with a wide variety of expressive work. I only had a chance to capture some of these mediums but regardless, it was amazing to see.

This video would be the first time I use Nikon’s new ProRes RAW feature. I rushed into Nikon so I can have the camera upgraded before the shoot. They would get it done in a couple of hours but send me home with someone else’s camera. I know this could happen to anyone but, it's just my luck that I would have to go back to across the city to exchange the camera. It was worth the effort because along with the increased file sizes, the amount of information you get from this new file format is unbelievable.

The interview portion was a tough scene where there is a bright window behind Antonio. I was able to bring it back a bit so it wasn't completely white. I was also able to save Antonio from being a silhouette with lighting. When working with a typical video file it is very limiting. Typically, you are forced to make your compromises in camera. I still strive to get my exposure correct in the camera. Even with a histogram/waveform and multiple monitors, you can still fail to nail that exposure. Having the ability to make extreme adjustments in post-production is a welcomed upgrade. We have this flexibility in a photo with RAW files, but now with video, we can capture more and faster. Mind you, we do pay for it with data storage where this project was about 400gb.

Artist Profile: George Bucur

George Bucur is a friend and an inspiration. His work is always evolving. The progression of his work is deeply rooted in the passion for automobiles. 

This is the first of an artist profile series I will be undertaking in the coming months. Throughout the years of being a photographer, I have worked and met many creatives. We all have our own story to tell and reason for pursuing our craft. 

This would be one of the first times I shoot using ProRes RAW on the Nikon Z6. It’s a given the file sizes will be huge for all that data to be retained but the flexibility might be worth it. I was able to retrieve and use shots that were completely gone due to my errors while shooting. This was a run and gun shoot which was completely handheld. This flexibility in editing was something I am only used to in photography.

All data amounted to ~350GB. When shooting N-LOG, it would have been ~130GB. It will be hard, but I will have to delete the clips following editing. ProRes RAW is simply fantastic and working with the files in Final Cut Pro 10 was fantastic. The color wheels actually do something now!

Sparkle BTS of the BTS (Day Job)

Working with a wonderful crew from Abacus & Day Job, we created some art for Sparkle.

Check the BTS.

Kickin it Out School

A beautifully restored car is few and far between. I was asked to capture this Porsche 911T in all it’s glory. The color is beautiful and the restoration immaculate. Working with this automobile was an absolute pleasure.

This would also be the first time I’ve lit a car at all for video. On the left side, I placed a Apurture 300D II with my massive 69” octa bank from Elinchome on it. Beautiful soft light I’ve used in the past for people now for video. I manage to not get the softbox in any shot, but I can’t say the same for myself. It’s just too shiny.

Samantha Tan - BMW M2

Jumping into the deep side here. Automotive cinematography is in a while other class when it comes to the actual shooting. This video is a combination of handheld, stabilizer and hanging out a car window. We wanted to tell a story with this piece. Samantha Tan is a racer driver and we wanted to show that she isn’t the average enthusiast. We wanted to make this a longer video but with limitations of time, we did our best. The most challenging aspect of this shoot would be shooting while hanging out of another sports car. It feels like you are activating all your muscles to stay steady. The Nikon Z6 did its best to stay focused and track the car. Overall, many lessons were learned while shooting this. One of them would be getting a minivan as a chase car.

Karasu 2019 Look Book

With the new mirrorless cameras from Nikon, the possibility to jump into video is even greater. Nikon has been my choice from day one, solely because my dad had some old primes laying around and I could use them to start creating. The Nikon Z6 has proven to be a tiny, lightweight beast when it comes to providing beautiful images and video. Everything is perfect, from the weight to ergonomics. As I get older, smaller, lighter cameras are a welcome change. I have since traded in my old battle axes for the new mirrorless format.

On this shoot, we were able to make use of Nikon’s new LOG format N-LOG. The most surprising detail was the dynamic range. In the photography world, RAW files make the world of a difference when it comes to retaining detail in post production. It does spoil you when entering the video world. When looking at the footage, it’s amazing to see detail in the window, I was expecting them to be blown out.

I have strayed from the technical side and moved to the creative side. The technical aspect is good to know, but the creativity when it comes to shooting plays a bigger roll. When shooting video, all the small details count where photoshopping isn’t an option. Moving to video definitely opens your eyes to the fine details because no one what’s to do a pick up shoot.

Client: Karasu Clothing Company

Stepping into Video

It seems like a natural step forward coming from photography. Taking this leap isn’t the easiest thing I’ve done, but it is a welcomed challenge. Going back to the learning phase is scary and exciting at the same time with so many more preparation steps to make sure nothing is missed. I don’t want to say photography is easy, but video takes a lot more consideration to make sure all is set for a shoot day.

Falling back on what I’ve done in the past when starting out in photography, I have gravitated towards books. There’s plenty of knowledge out there when you feel confused or unsure about what you are doing. I am a strong believer in practice. I’m all for jumping into the deep end, making mistakes and growing from it .