Day at the park with family, using Barry Green's Skip Bleach scene file setting

[Dave ©]

I just filmed some short clips at a local park last week. I used Barry's Skip Bleach scene file for all shots and only corrected one clip that had the wrong white balance (I forgot to adjust it when we changed locations within the park). So what you see is what I shot. I'm still learning this camera - really, still learning how to shoot period - so I'd be really interested in your feedback.

http://www.vimeo.com/6566071

What do you think? Any good?

[ChrisPrine]

Wow! Looks great!

[Dave ©]

Thanks Chris. Any thoughts/feedback from others?

[jambredz]

looks really good man!

but is it just me, or are the images vertically stretched like when u shoot squeeze with the dvx. why is that?

[Dave ©]

Thanks. Hmm...something looked just a hair off to me as well but I couldn't put my finger on it. I need to go back and look at the 1080p footage and compare it to the final output.

For web, I usually just do a simple export via Quicktime Conversion in FCP rather than using Compressor. I wonder if I messed up the export settings when saving to 720p for Vimeo or if the stretching is inherent to converting 1920x1080 to 1280x720. My previous short films were all shot in 720p; this is my first 1080p.

[TigerFX]

Nice, fun edit :). A couple of questions:
- Are you using a stabalizer? The footage looks really smooth
- Would you mind sharing where the music came from? I'm always looking for decent royalty-free music and often it's not great quality; this music sounded great and I felt was a perfect choice :)

[Dave ©]

Thanks Tiger. I am definitely having fun doing these little 2-3 minute clips. There's no real story in them but they're good for sharing with family and friends. For me, it's a good way to learn how to shoot and use my camera without the pressure of "getting my shot", etc...if that makes any sense.

To answer your questions:
- No stabilizer, just handheld using as much natural support as possible (e.g. on bended-knee, leaning against a tree, camera physically sitting on railing or bench, etc). To be fully transparent, I did use FCP smoothcam on the one clip moving from my wife down to the "I love Dave" scratch in the wood. And that's probably the one shot that really stands out to me as extra smooth. I love FCP Smoothcam!
- The music came with DVD Studio Pro, which is part of Final Cut Studio. It comes with a pretty large assortment of stock music and useful sound effects (kids laughing used in this cut). Check out my other Vimeo clips. They all use music that came with DVD Studio Pro.

Edited: Meant Soundtrack Pro, not DVD Studio Pro

[Cranky]

Too many blown-out shots, and not just the sky. Did you have a polarizer on the lens? IMHO, it is a must for outdoor shooting. Did you have zebras turned on? Also unmotivated focus rack here and there.

[Dave ©]

Thanks for the feedback, Cranky. I didn't use a polarizer 'cause I don't have one. It's on my wishlist, though. I did use zebras, with 70% and 105% settings, attempting to keep faces right around 70%.

Thanks again for the feedback. I appreciate it all, as it'll help me get better.

[Cranky]

I did use zebras, with 70% and 105% settings, attempting to keep faces right around 70%.
I see. I try to keep my video from blowing out by using 100% zebra, though I understand that when shooting against bright sky it is almost impossible. The faces do look fine. Try a polarizer next time, you will get some blue sky in the shot too :-)

[Dave ©]

Awesome! Thanks again, I really appreciate the feedback. As you can see, I'm pretty new to this.

[iFilm7]

why is it so squeezed vertically? lmao ah its botherringgg

[Dave ©]

Covered that one already, iFilm, but thanks for the feedback.

[Dave ©]

I re-exported in 1080 and uploaded to Vimeo without down-converting to 720p. I think that fixed the vertical stretching. What do you think now? http://vimeo.com/6636177

[Skilled]

Did you do any colorgrading at all? MBL or somthing? Like the look and I am gonna try it now.

[Skilled]

Hmmm.. Sont see that one on the CD..did you get this from the handbook?

[Dave ©]

No color grading whatsoever. I'm pretty new to video stuff and, to be perfectly honest, wouldn't know how to color grade if you asked me to. I'll learn it soon enough, though.

The scene file was on the CD that came with the HMC 150 book. It's called SKPBLC and is within the Scene4.txt file.

[Dave ©]

MBL or somthing?

By the way, what is MBL?

[matt s.]

MBL = Magic Bullet Looks

http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/categories/color-correction/magic-bullet-looks/

[Skilled]

No color grading whatsoever. I'm pretty new to video stuff and, to be perfectly honest, wouldn't know how to color grade if you asked me to. I'll learn it soon enough, though.

The scene file was on the CD that came with the HMC 150 book. It's called SKPBLC and is within the Scene4.txt file.


Thanks

[Dave ©]

MBL = Magic Bullet Looks

http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/categories/color-correction/magic-bullet-looks/
Ah...I have looked at it with envy many times and probably should have known that acronym. It's on my wish list, that and a polarizer...and a million other things. Thanks!