Late August soundtrack

"Coffee & Cigarettes" Augustana:

"Round Here" Counting Crows:

"Sunday Best" Augustana:

"Pachuca Sunrise" Minus the Bea:

"Lion's Mane" Iron and Wine:

"Teardrop" Massive Attack:

"Hometown Glory" ADELE:

"Saeglopur" Sigur Ros:

"Colorblind" Natalie Walker:

Taking Strides in Video Production

Lately I've been amazed by the amount of digital video uploaded online. I might seem behind the times: You Tube made its fame ages ago and here I am "in awe" of the pattern. It's not the video or how it's being uploaded. It's that people--without any [or very little] training in video production--are putting such thought into the videos they're editing. In the few months that Flickr has alowed it's pro users to upload video (max: 90 seconds) i've seen some great inspirational videos of photographic moments expanded. I've even witnessed some of my friends using You Tube, Vimeo and other Website outlets for their creations. We are able to explore our creative outlets and tell our stories through multiple datatypes and for that I am enthusiastic. Becca Fishow just finished a rough edit on a video about her short time in Luxembourg this summer. She can explain why she didn't stay for the time she thought she would, but I think her experience--no matter the length--taught her a great deal about her artwork, and goals as a writer--or creator.

In Stephen Masiclat's new media courses we'd argue which was the better direction for journalism on the Web: the allowance of user-generated content and transparancy of the media organization providing the venue or the elitist judgement that only "qualified" journalists should upload content and the users should simply devour that content. The elitist concept never went over well even though it seems hard for many media organizations to accept. I'm thankful to be part of one that has seen the light, even with a little bit of struggle.

The point here is that user-generated content isn't just prevalent. Much of it is actually interesting and entertaining and I'm excited to see where users will go with their creativity as it's most cost effective to explore different artistic mediums these days. For example, digital cameras are getting better. They're stronger, more compact, can carry professional flashes and hold interchangable zoom lens, and can tape high quality video. This allows the standard user to interact with video in a way they haven't before. It allows the trained photographer and videographer the ability to leave their heavy equipment behind for daily tasks.



I recently started playing with the Canon's G9 and am blown away at each use. I wouldn't trade my 40D or my photographic equipment, but I would leave it behind without guilt. For the last two years since I've become serious about photography I feel guilty when I'm not taking pictures. But living and working in the metropolitan area means I'm often worried to carry around my equipment if I'm just going to work or going to a concert, etc. The G9 is sturdy and compact giving me the opportunity to take quality images and videos without killing my back or breaking a lens in the tight crowds. I find myself experimenting more with photographs, which is exactly why I liked toy cameras (i.e. the Smena 8m and Holga). Photography might be a job for me now, but playing with the G9 gives me the ability to take a short video on my way to get coffee and use the footage as a cut in a bigger video project as time goes by. thus I'm still finding inspiration even when I've gotten into a routine at work.

I'll be keeping my eyes open for any new video inspirations and I'll send some of my projects along to my personal blog, Heart-Shaped Sunglasses, whenever I can.

Flickr: Rebeccamissing

This image is from Rebeccamissing on Flickr. It's one of the most gorgeous images I've seen in a long time. I'm deeply inspired by G's work. Please check out his account and the video that parallels this photograph.