Dan Rather Reports: Afghanistan Combat Outpost / EX-1

[Fotojorno]

Hi All,

This is part 2 of a story I produced and filmed in 2010 for Dan Rather Reports, it aired this Sept. on the HDNet channel. The majority was filmed with a EX1 and about 20-30% was filmed with a 5D using a Zeiss ZF 35mm f2, Nikkor 24 2.8 and a Nikkor 85 1.4 -I think the 5D shots will be pretty obvious.

You've all heard of Restrepo but you haven't heard of Bari Alai. In May of 2009 Out Post Bari Alai was attacked and completely over run by Taliban forces, only two of the seven NATO soldiers stationed there survived the attack. This story is about the soldiers that replaced them three weeks later. They went on to spend a year on top of the hill while being fired on almost daily.

It's 10 mins long but watching it until the end is worth it, trust me.

Tech info:
Cine 3
30P
1/50th shutter
5600 preset for ext. day
Graded/CC with Colorista and Looks.

[Buck Forester]

Excellent. Did you shoot the EX1 at the stock 35/mbps? I was thinking HDNet would require a higher bit rate. I guess shooting war footage would make an external recorder inconvenient.

[simonpwood]

Great footage.
The 5D was very soft compared to the EX, but color matched really well.
Great mix of shots!

[Fotojorno]

Thanks guys, really appreciate it. Yes, all of the EX was internal recording at 35mbs and your right, when it comes to conflict photography even SD will suffice if the content is good enough. Yeah, a external recorder would of been inconvenient and it wasnt a requisite. Im in Haiti right now filming with a F3, I have a KiProMini with me but havent even used it yet. Simon, I agree the 5D was much softer, I was shooting in the Normal profile with sharpening and contrast turned all the way down. I tried grading the two to match as best as possible, glad you thought they blended well together.

[John Foundas]

Stud!
Using a slider during live fire?! haha cool as sh*t!
I remember watching this on HD Net. Riveting story. With 20 years of experience as a photojournalist may I say, "what huge balls you have!" LOL
Well done.

[mcgeedigital]

Great story Bill. Kudos.

[Fotojorno]

Thanks guys!.. John, I waited a few hours for that live-fire dolly shot. They literally got shot at daily, so it was just a matter of setting it up and waiting, didnt take to long. I almost brought it on some foot patrols but it woulda been a clusterf**k. I'll give inspiration credit to Danfung Dennis for me bringing the dolly and lugging it around on top of all the other gear I had. After his first ever Steadicam 5D combat footage, I wanted to do something that hadnt been done before as well. He really knocked it outta the park though.

[hemophilia]

Really well-done man. Congrats.