Here is a fresh wallpaper for you. This was taken on approach to KGL (Kigali International Airport) while filming aerials for Rwanda: Hope Rises in 2008. Click on the photo to download a full-size JPEG.
End the Wait from Storyspark on Vimeo.
As a follow-up to the first video, this motion graphics piece was developed by Storyspark to communicate the urgency & the simplicity of the need for families to adopt. Kudos to the excellent design & animation chops of Dan & Gordie, with the music track by Adrian Bradford. Always great to work with these talented people.
Find out more at endthewait.ca.
After a shoot earlier in the year for the newly opened downtown Robert Lee YMCA, I was brought back to re-work the brand imagery for a further three of the YMCA’s family centres in Greater Vancouver. The deadline was tight (aren’t they all?). Over 5000 images shot over the last two days in time for a dozen selects, processed and ready for release tonight. Here are a few of my favourites.
What I love about shooting for the YMCA is there is such a great community vibe. Each of the centres has its own flavour & feel, and at each place the volunteers and members are more than willing to jump in and help out. Everyone featured in these photos (and for the previous RLY shoot) is someone who is part of the YMCA community in some way. There are no professional models. While this poses some problems in terms of getting advertising-ready images out of the shoot, it also lends an authentic feel to the images. I love how these turned out, and I’m looking forward to more upcoming work with the YMCA in the new year.
2010 Contagious Conference Opener from Storyspark on Vimeo.
The opening film for the 2010 Contagious Conference, held at the Vancouver Convention Centre and hosted by BCAIM. Produced by my new company, Storyspark. Directed by yours truly and the ingenious Dan Stewart. Awesomeness brought to you by all the Contagious Conference volunteers.
Marketers are not Advertisers – Seth Godin, 2010 Contagious Conference from Storyspark on Vimeo.
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of filming Seth Godin in New York as part of a series of videos for the upcoming Contagious Conference. We had a great time during the interview, with Seth sharing lots of insight and new ideas about marketing, gift culture, and what it means to be a Linchpin
This is round two or three of a series of projects that have quietly launched my new venture, Storyspark. If you haven’t already, head over to the website to check out what it’s all about.
A fresh wallpaper for a crisp month. Click the image to download the full-size file.
T-55 Test Drive on Vimeo.
A few days ago, on the rainiest August day on record, I was part of a crew that headed to Chilliwack for a test drive. Our test vehicle has a 38-litre V12 engine and weighs 40 tons: the venerable T-55.
I had to think about whether to post this. My views on war aren’t really compatible with going out to “play” with a machine like a Russian main battle tank. But at the same time, this is about making movies. And we had a lot of fun on the day. This test drive is part of a more extensive behind-the-scenes look I’m shooting for the 3rd season of Sanctuary, a Vancouver-based television series that airs on the SyFy network. I can’t say any more than that. Have a look at the video.
Recently I had the privilege of working with friend & photographer Dave Delnea on his first short film, OnGray. Conceived as a collaboration between friends, OnGray began as a photography shoot before growing to include video and a large crew of collaborators. My part was to cut the piece together and colour grade the final film. I worked with Dave to build a story out of the photographic pieces and create a colour palette signifying events within the story world. It was a lot of fun, and the finished product & website looks great!
I’ve been itching to tell everyone about this for months… and the day’s finally here! I’ve written an eBook for readers interested in stepping into the world of motion picture storytelling. The full title is Vision in Motion: A Photographer’s Introduction to Digital Video, and it’s available for $5 from Craft and Vision (Just $4 if you use the discount code MOTION4 before June 27th).
Though targeted at photographers, the eBook is for anyone who’s interested in the world of motion picture storytelling. With the explosion of video-capable stills cameras, many are considering dipping their toes into moving images. But while there are many resources out there on how to operate a video camera, what does it take to create a visual story that moves people? We talk some about gear, but mostly about process. What is story? How do you build a story? How do you connect images together to build towards a climax? What are the differences between composing a shot for a still image vs. motion?
It’s tough to pack all that into one eBook, but feedback so far has been positive. It’s gotten people excited to give video a try and get started with motion pictures storytelling. Go check it out!
VISION IN MOTION is a downloadable PDF. USD $5.00
A four-year project in the making, the Robert Lee YMCA is a great example of human-centred architectural design. Where the original 1941 building felt closed and functional, the new building is open, inviting and filled with natural light. I was invited to photographically explore the architectural spaces (designed by Vancouver companies Endall Elliot and Stantec) for a special supplement in the Vancouver Sun newspaper. You can see a few of the photos in the gallery below.
For more information on the Robert Lee YMCA, check out the latest article on the Vancouver Observer.
