GH2 Impressive GH2 Footage!

L

longcipher

Active member
Here is a 20-second snippet from an interview with one of our model spokeswomen. The following footage was shot in late afternoon with 3 lights + the Lumix 20mm. I treated it in Magic Bullet Looks. What is most impressive to me is how well the AVCHD footage allows itself to be molded in Looks. I love being able to achieve this look with a $1300 rig. I will post the final piece when it is finished (if anyone is interested). I had to leave the sound out since she is talking about a confidential product -- I have other models shot in similar situations and the GH2 killed it on all of the shoots. I love this camera! (PASSWORD is DVX)

 
Beautiful lighting.

It compliments women for sure.

What kind of lights? 800 watt soft boxes?

Now I have to buy me a set...
 
longcipher said:
I hear you about the center framing -- could only argue with the client so long about that. =)
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Outside of this footage, just for discussion sake, the center framing thing is tough. What bothers me more is the flat shoulders to the camera. This is a big no-no in a lot of still photography. What confuses me is when you have a single person talking TO the camera, not in a third person setup like an interview. If they are addressing the camera framing them off center can seem strange given the context of what they are saying.

Interested to hear thoughts on the topic.
 
Bassman2003 said:
Outside of this footage, just for discussion sake, the center framing thing is tough. What bothers me more is the flat shoulders to the camera. This is a big no-no in a lot of still photography. What confuses me is when you have a single person talking TO the camera, not in a third person setup like an interview. If they are addressing the camera framing them off center can seem strange given the context of what they are saying.

Interested to hear thoughts on the topic.
Click to expand...

For this particular setup, it would seem odd to frame the model off-center. You would need something else in the frame opposite her (either next to her or in the BG) to balance the composition. Personally, I would go closer in on her (perhaps change to a portrait length lens) so that her shoulders fill the frame more, that would better justify the center framing. As it is, it's not bad, and I'm sure there's a good reason why the client wanted her framed that way. The client insisting on it that way would be good enough reason for me to agree.
 
I hear you about the framing - trust me. I shot a lot of B-Roll, so this frame will only be up for a few seconds. There are a lot of models and these are like testimonials, hence the center-frame addressing the camera. Here is a still (from the video footage) of a different set-up, some of the B-Roll stuff. Me, personally, when I shoot an interview, I position the subject off-center and 3/4 to the camera -- the classic pose. There's a reason everyone does it.

Sandra_02.jpg
 
I was just talking for discussion sake. My comments were not directed at your shooting! Thanks for even sharing and no critique was meant. I would have gone with center framing as well. My thing is that some people I have been around only frame off center, like 'your not with it' if you frame in the center. But there are times when it is the right call.

Just purchased two GH2s myself. At 40mbps they do make quite a nice image for $1200. I went with matching Oly 14-54 lenses.
 
Nice rig(s)! I have yet to mod my GH2 -- I will admit to being terrified to do it - which is odd since I mod all of my computer gear. And, hey, no offense taken -- I love this community (I read more than post) and know that people on here, for the most part, are very cool and try to be helpful or start dialogues (which is how I interpreted your previous comments).
 
Cool. I went with the hack because I will be shooting in 720p60 a lot and the bitrate is quite low at stock levels.

The hack is very simple. Just use the Ptool software utility which starts with the original firmware, select the things you want to change, then save out a new firmware. Put that firmware on an SD card and update it in the camera. That is it.
I am running 40mbps AVCHD using class 6 SD cards. If you need to span clips then stay under 32 mbps. The detail level goes up and it is good to know that more information is being recorded for color correction & secondary.
 
Bassman2003 said:
Cool. I went with the hack because I will be shooting in 720p60 a lot and the bitrate is quite low at stock levels.

The hack is very simple. Just use the Ptool software utility which starts with the original firmware, select the things you want to change, then save out a new firmware. Put that firmware on an SD card and update it in the camera. That is it.
I am running 40mbps AVCHD using class 6 SD cards. If you need to span clips then stay under 32 mbps. The detail level goes up and it is good to know that more information is being recorded for color correction & secondary.
Click to expand...

I think I'll take the plunge right after I finish this project. I don't know why it freaks me out so much. I will do it though -- I saw some GH13 footage that blew my mind - I imagine the GH2 stuff must be even better.
 
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