02May

Anna Coddington – Little Islands

Anna Coddington – Little Islands

I was lucky enough to get the lovely Anna Coddington and her band to fly down to Christchurch to shoot her latest music video for the very catchy song ‘Little Islands’. We only had a short timeframe to shoot and she wanted something simple for the video. Thought it would be a great time of year to get out and shoot amongst the leaves in Hagley park.

Purchase the single here http://www.annacoddington.com/music/

I’m really starting to love the Panasonic AF102 – it feels like a serious camera.

Director / Editor / Producer LOGAN McMILLAN Grip / Gaffer ANDREW DEAN Makeup LUCY HARVEY Production Assistant BEN SPINK

Shooting handheld on the Panasonic AF102 with a Canon FD 50mm f.14 FD lens

End of the music video shoot

Ben Spink (PA), Anna Coddington, myself and Andrew Dean (Grip / Gaffer)

30Apr

Bevan and Jen – Same Day Edit

Bevan and Jen – Same Day Edit

So attempted my first solo same day wedding video. It was a tough day as I was in a new city and didn’t have my own car to get to bride and groom preparations. Got the edit finished on time though and it was very well received by the crowd and bridal party. Check it out…

Here’s a pic of my gear on the hotel floor this morning. Not a lot of fun lugging all that around by yourself….

23Feb

Christchurch Earthquake 22 February 2011

A devastating and violent 6.3 earthquake hit Christchurch yesterday.

Below are some images and video I took from the past 36 hours after the quake.

I grabbed my video camera right after the quake stopped and this is what I got….

For the description of each picture just click on it and it’ll take you to my Flickr page – although most just speak for themselves.

Drive by

Colombo Street - devastated

Mayor Bob Parker fields questions from the media

The rescue workers go in to start a new shift

The old Sitting Room building

Disaster

Two survivors look on at the demolished building they escaped

A deceiving puddle

Clayton & Phil

Rescue worker climbs out of rubble

Volunteers in front of one of the last remaining icons of our city

Cars crushed

This shot below was taken from my balcony just two weeks before the earthquake. This city will never look like this again….

Christchurch Night Sky

26Jan

Panasonic AF102 Review

So after a bit of playing around I’m finally ready to write a basic review of my new Panasonic AF102 Micro 4/3 video camera that I won as part of the 48 Hours 2010 film competition.

First impressions?  It’s an ugly looking camera :)  but very nice to shoot with.

On a performance side it’s everything I’ve been needing over the past couple of years (while shooting on DSLRs).

It’s a video camera. If you’ve shot on a Sony V1P / Z1P / PD170, Canon XLH1, XA1, Panasonic DVX200, etc. then this camera will be very familiar.

Is it better than a Canon 550D / 5Dmk2 DSLR?  No – it’s different. Image quality is pretty similar.  It’s much bigger in size and heavier than a DSLR (so you can’t strap it onto someones head and run around with it) but it has a lot more professional features that makes shooting so much easier….

My favorite features, which I’ve missed dearly on DSLRs, are the built in ND filters, XLR audio inputs and viewfinder with flip out LCD screen. Simple things I used to take for granted when shooting but are missing on DSLRs.

The top video is an excerpt from a collabrotive feature film I’m working on with other Christchurch filmmakers. Check out the details here: www.TheBicycle.co.nz

I don’t have any lens adapters yet so I’m shooting on the same lenses I use for my Lumix GF1 stills camera.  I have a 45-200mm,  20mm f1.7 and a super wide 7-14m f4.0 (pictured below).  They all communicate with the camera and are controlled through an electronic iris wheel.

Conclusion:  I’m still going to be using DSLRs for various projects due to their size and availability (there are so many around it makes multi cam shoots a breeze) but the AF102 will be doing the bulk of my work – especially corporate jobs due to its audio capabilities, ease of use and it looks like a camera to the client :).

I won this camera but I’d be more than happy to fork out $7,000 NZD to buy one.  It’s definitely the tool to use for a lot of work I do.

I’m also going to pick up a Lumix GH2 which I hope will intercut seamlessly with the AF102.  Feel free to ask any questions below.

30Dec

Late Christmas Present!! Panasonic AF102

Late Christmas Present!! Panasonic AF102

So after winning the best cinematography prize for New Zealand’s 48 Hour movie making competition back in May I got $20,000 worth of product from Panasonic.

I held out until Panasonics new AF102 shipped – picked it up from the airport today (pictured above on the back of my pickup/ute).

These cameras are fantastic. Micro 4/3rds mount – so I can use all the lenses from my Lumix GF1.

Test video I shot on the way to get coffee today…

1st shot is on the 20mm 1.7f “Pancake” lens – the rest is on the 7-14mm f4.0 Lumix lens.

You can view the 48 Hour Best Cinematography winning film here: www.gorillapictures.co.nz/2010/05/death-in-the-west-48-ho…

Thanks to Ant Timpson @ 48 Hours www.48hours.co.nz
and all the guys at Panasonic New Zealand!!