1080p Slo-Mo Plus High Speed Shutter

ScottNelson

Well-known member
Been working for some time on this AF100 documentary of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon and recently shot this segment on a fierce section of water named by early settlers as Dillon Falls. Kit Carson and John Fremont explored the Oregon Territory in the mid 1800's and stopped here in Bend.

Two lenses were used, the Tokina 11-16 /2.8 and Canon 70-200 /2.8, both pre-set to f/5.6 on the 7D and mounted via an inexpensive Fotodiox EF/MFT adaptor that worked, though I would have much preferred to have the Birger on board.

Canon 70-200 f2.8.jpg

Shot at 1080p 60 fr. VFR - experimented with shutter to capture the turbulent water drops, using both a 30 degree shutter and a basic 1/250 and 1/500. In the end, decided on the 1/250 - any more than that created more of an obvious stutter/step effect that did not look real plus I couldn't see a discernable difference between 30deg. or 1/250th.

In a late night burst of wine induced creativity, decided on b/w grading though as part of the completed documentary, it will probably revert back to color.


For me, the AF100 is the perfect camera for my work and I couldn't be happier or more pleased with the results!

Regards,
Scott

and yes, my Avatar and I seem to be having an identity crisis - I think it was the wine...
Whites were exposed @ 90 but required gamma and contrast grading in post.


Thanks, Jan. I'll give the 30 degree shutter another look.

The project has been on my mind for years and have approached numerous agencies, conservancy groups, water alliance members, irrigators, etc. but funding is dry, so to speak. I produced a Centennial documentary (with a DVX100a) on Central Oregon 6 years ago when this idea was born and since then 9 of the 16 elderly men and women who spoke about the history of Bend have died.

After watching Zac Halberd's doc on the Hudson a while back, I decided to get off my butt and shoot the Deschutes River without funding, with the belief that the images, when seen in the right places, may create funding opportunities. Either way, I couldn't wait any longer and had to make things happen on my own, kind of the 'Field of Dreams' theory.


Everything was shot @60FPS but the shot where the bird flew thru the frame was slowed down another 20% in FCP7.

 
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Very nice, Scott, good choice of shutter speed. The B&W works very well with the dark trees and rocks and the white water. What did you expose the water at- 90%?
Maybe the B&W would work in certain sections of the final film?
And do you change your avatar weekly? :happy:
 
Scott, Very nice. Tell us a little more about the project. Are you nearing completion or at the end?

Also the the key difference between shutter speeds and degrees is that the degrees will give you the same motion blur from frame rate to frame rate. Something to keep in the back of your mind.

Best,

jan
 
Beautiful!
My only comment would be for you to play with the R and G channels before you go to B&W to bring out some contrast in the fauna in some of the wider shots of the banks.
 
Great stuff Scott! has an Ansel Adams feel. Was this strickly 60fps or did you slow it down more in post?
 
Very nice work Scott and the slo mo works beautifully.

I prefer the B&W ( but I am in a B&W phase at the moment anyway)

Idea to consider - maybe a letterbox for an anamorphic aspect.
 
Rather than start another thread, here is an additional segment on the river. Like the first, this is shot in 1080p @ 60FPS but in this case, all scenes are shot with a 270 degree shutter angle. With the slow moving water I wanted to blend and soften the flow - to take the hard video edge off the scenes. Jan has offered some very good advice and I'm thankful for her help. Comments?

Regards,
Scott

 
Very nice, and great approach with the shutter!
I love the longer shutter speed, beautiful bokeh, and droplets glistening on the grass!
 
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