News – Page 2

A Free eBook for Taking Better Nature & WIldlife Video

I’ve been working on a new site for quite a while now. A site that will help people shoot better nature and wildlife video. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner learning to shoot video or a seasoned pro. My goal is to provide something for everyone.

While I’m working on developing the content, I put together a free eBook with ten no-cost tips that will help you shoot better nature and wildlife video right now. These are tips that if you’re not using them right now can instantly make a difference in your footage.

You can find out more about it by clicking HERE

One feature of the new site is entitled “It’s Your Nature”. Here I’ll post articles on such topics as attracting butterflies to your garden.

I’ll also be creating video tutorials on how you can shoot better video. I’ll cover topics such as why you should manually white balance to how to protect your gear in the cold.

But I really want to hear from you! I want to know what you are wanting to know more about. Is it how to use a slider or why would I use a grey card? Maybe it’s how can I get closer to wildlife or where’s the best place to film grizzly bears? Leave a comment and let me know what topics I should be focusing on.

In the meantime, download the free eBook and start shooting better nature and wildlife video today!

A New Venture

In the very near future I’ll be starting a new venture Filmmaking Naturally.

For year people have been telling me I needed to make a living with my nature and wildlife work.

So, we’re going to give it as try.

Click the link and you can follow the progress of the website Filmmaking Naturally.

You can get on the mailing list and see a film that I haven’t shown around for quite a while.

You can also check out the Facebook page HERE as well. Make sure you click the LIKE button.

The default is a Welcome page but you can just click Wall to see what’s going on as I post my twitter posts there as well.

Or, you can follow me on Twitter by following film_naturally

Here’s a film I did last Summer up around Decorah, Iowa. You may be surprised that this is really Iowa. Trust me, it is. 🙂

Hopefully I’ll see you over at Filmmaking Naturally.

BTW, Filmmaking Naturally will have short films etc as well as news. But unlike this blog you’ll also be able to join as a member and I’ll be uploading video tutorials on how I do what I do.

The nice thing is that even if you don’t shoot video, most of the video tutorials will translate over to photography as well.

Consider signing up once I open the doors you may be surprised how much it can improve your photography or video.

And if THAT wasn’t enough, since December I’ve been partnering up with the CR Spirits Professional Dance Team.

Right now you can sign up for a free month of Spirit Life and go behind the scenes with one of the most amazing dance teams around by clicking HERE.

Anyway, here’s my short film “Is this Heaven?”

Better Video?

I just picked up some software that should make for a better video viewing experience.

So I thought I’d give it a go and put up an old video to see how it compared. I think the compression is much better and the file should load and play much faster.

Now you can easily share the videos on your Facebook profile as well as Twitter and Digg by clicking on the “Share Icons” directly below the video

Faith

Well, I finished my UWOL Challenge film “Faith” on time. It is now in the hands of the judge who will determine it’s fate.

This was a hard one for me to do. Not because it was technically difficult but because it was emotionally. I debated a long time whether I should put this one out there for everyone to see. My friends around the world who participate in the nature film challenge all said that it needs to be given its wings. So on their advice, here it is.

I guess this is less of a film and more of a therapy session for me.

While I think most people can sympathize with how I feel, I think you have to be a nature filmmaker to really understand it. There’s a connection there that runs so deep you have to experience it in order to really understand it.

I feel responsible for not being able to make a difference. I feel like I’ve let nature down.

So, the only thing I can do is to try and make an impression on someone that is strong enough to make a difference and bring about change.

So this is my “Renewal.”

I don’t feel I’m any more talented than the next guy. But, I think what people are really seeing when they watch my work is a little of what I feel in my heart when I’m in nature.
If you really broke down my work, it’s really not that technically great. I see footage every day that I only wish I could do as well. I know filmmakers that can take a stick and make a masterpiece out of it. That’s not me. I don’t have that kind of vision.

I probably work differently than most filmmakers out there. For these challenges the first thing I do after I get the theme is I find the music that creates an emotion for me.
Once I find that music that tells me this is the one that makes me feel like the theme then I go out and shoot.

So while I was out shooting “Faith” I played the music I selected over and over inside my head. So as I shot I could see if it was matching the emotions I felt from the music.

I’m not sure if it worked or not but I guess if you like the film then maybe it did.

So anyway. Here it is. Maybe not much of a film but maybe it will give you a little insight. And maybe that one person will see it that can make a difference where I cannot.

[xr_video id=”332afe5f90dc4cca9408562873bb3b71″ size=”sm”]

Best Challenge Ever?

I’m in the middle of another UWOL Film Challenge. The theme for this challenge is “Renewal.”

So far I’ve shot some fantastic footage. Maybe some of my best. I find myself chomping at the bit in anticipation waiting for the next opportunity I can get out and shoot for this challenge.

The new camera is simply amazing. The quality of the footage continues to blow me away. While they may announce a new version of the camera this month, I think it’ll be hard to beat what I’m getting right now. It’s simply stunning.

This also may be the most personal challenge I’ve done for the competition. Maybe that’s why I find myself so anxious to get out and shoot for it.

The film is due on September 20th. So, certainly not a lot of time to tweak it so it’s just right.

I’m going to try and shoot the one crucial scene tomorrow. If I don’t get that shot then the whole film will fail. So, it’s really, really important that I get this shot and I get it right. I’ve been trying for over a week to try and find a way to make it a simple shot and still make it clear what is going on without looking too cliche. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow if I was able to pull it off or not.

I’ll be up before sunrise tomorrow working on getting some more shots to fill the gaps in the story before I head out for the big shot of the day.

There’s nothing like being out in nature that moment just before the sun peeks over the horizon. There’s no way I can describe the feeling. It’s as close to being magical as anything can be.

I hope tomorrow is a good day! I’ll keep you posted!

It’s POC time!

There’s a project I’ve been wanting to do for over a year now. But in order to do it right I really needed another HD camera. I suppose I could have used one of my SD cameras but if I was going to do it right, I should go ahead and invest in another HD camera.

So after a lot of research and talking to people I finally bit the bullet and ordered another camera.

The thing about this camera is that it’s tiny. Tiny enough that no one would pay me much if any attention. It seems now days, that’s becoming more and more important.
The other reason I wanted a small camera is if I have to bring two complete camera systems into the field, I need something that’s not going to weigh a ton and be able to fit in the bags I currently own along with my other HD camera.

This one fits the bill on both of those.

The scary thing is that this little dynamo is capable of create better footage than my big camera. The downside is that it lacks a lot of the tools my other camera has to allow me to take some fantastic footage.

So it’s another learning curve to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Tweak a setting here, adjust a little there.

But I think it’s all going to be worth it. I feel I have the right tool to start on my project which I think is going to allow me to pursue a life of filmmaking.

Just a few more tweaks and I think I’m good to go.

All the images on this page are grabs from the new camera. Below is some footage I shot today at one of my favorite local haunts, Indian Creek Nature Center. Another Proof of Concept video to see if the camera could in fact do what I needed it to do.

So what’s this big project that required a second camera? All I can say is stay tuned, I’m working on it!

[flv:http://www.silverphoenixllc.com/phoenixblog/movies/Prairie_GH1.flv 592 331]

Film Festival Selections

I’m proud to announce that two of my films have been chosen as official selections of the 2010 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival April 9-10, 2010. Collins Road Theatres
Marion, Iowa 52402 319-377-4555

“Silent Kingdom” is a 3:10 long PSA style film calling people to action to save our environment.

What people are saying about “Silent Kingdom”:

I got to say this is a another triumph of imagery for you Kevin. I always love to see what you come up with ! In every one of the these challenges, there are those that give the rest of us new goals to work toward, and you are always on that list. Thank you for that.
Chris J. Barcellos

Kevin, Kevin, Kevin…..Have you ever shot an image that was not just flat out beautiful??
You are the king of gorgeous….seriously….
Nicely done, nice message…the text was perfect!
Bob Thieda

Wonderful imagery as always. The words short and to the point. Having watched several short environmental films on a big screen last night, I can say this beats the pants off all of them.
Annie Haycock

“The Prairie” is a 3:00 long film about the cycle of life in an Iowa tallgrass prairie.

What people are saying about “The Prairie”:

Another beautifully shot film. The editing was spot on and had a good pace to it. The insect shots were great, especially the one of the spider and droplets of water. You clearly made use of the good light.
Mihali Moore

Probably your most stunning camera work yet, Kevin…
Meryem Ersoz

It is an enjoyment to observe your film. You have a good taste for joining pictures, music and words, -a feeling of art.
Finn-Erik Faale

You really captured the magic here.
Mike Sims

Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers began with the first Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival in 2001. The Festival was created to provide a venue for Iowa filmmakers to screen their work for peers and general audiences. For every filmmaker whose work is admired by audiences in megaplexes across the world, thousands more lack the means to show films to the masses. The greatest reward for an independent filmmaker is to have their work shown to an captive audience. One festival entrant commented what a wonderful feeling it was to observe an audience reacting to his film and laughing when they were supposed to laugh!

The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival was created to provide a venue for Iowa filmmakers to show their work and for the general public to view the best of the state’s filmmaking industry.

CRIFM also publishes the Iowa Film News Update, a newsletter featuring screenings, casting calls, festivals and other news of interest to Iowa film enthusiasts.

The organizationâ€™s primary goals are to encourage Iowa independent filmmakers to continue improving their craft, to provide a place to specifically showcase Iowa-connected films, present a unique cultural event to the community, and to offer networking opportunities for the purpose of building the Iowa Filmmaking Industry.

Check out the 2010 film schedule here for times.

My First Film Challenge of 2010

Another film challenge has begun. The theme for this one is “A day in the life.”

The biggest trouble I have with these challenges is once an idea pops into my head it’s pretty much impossible for my brain to think of any other ideas.
That’s great if the initial idea is an awesome one. But if it’s something that’s complex or that I’m not going to be able to pull off for whatever reason then it really stifles my creativity.

So the idea I have for this challenge may be a little tough. I explained it to my wife and she sat there with this expression which I know means she’s not getting it. She understood the idea but she can’t see in her mind how all of that is going to come together into something that flows smoothly. So then of course I begin to wonder if there’s any way that I CAN get it all together and flow smoothly.

I’m going to try to get out in the morning and see if I can get some footage and figure out how this is all going to come together in just a few short weeks.

Keep an eye on this blog for updates.

Silent Kingdom

frost

Another film for the Underwater Over Land Film Challenge.

The theme for this challenge was “Animal Kingdom.”
Unfortunately this film had to be put together in just a few hours.
Family matters kept me home for most of the time period we had to complete the film. So, on the last day I headed out and spent most of the day driving around trying to find anything to film.
I knew I didn’t have enough wildlife footage to even come close to doing a film that really addressed the theme. So, I came up with the idea of doing a film about there not being any wildlife in the “Animal Kingdom in the tenth hour.

With the film due that night, I sat down about 9:00PM and started trying to put something together. My plan was to do a voice over but as the night wore on, that grew to be less likely.

The clock struck 2AM and I was still trying to put something together to beat the deadline.

Finally I just started laying down track, hoping that it would all make some kind of sense.

Although not the film I was hoping to do, I made the deadline and hopefully it has a bit of a message.
[flv:http://www.silverphoenixllc.com/phoenixblog/movies/SilentKingdom.flv 592 331]

A New Challenge Begins

fox

The latest underwater over land film challenge has begun.

This time around, the theme is “Animal Kingdom.” Why couldn’t I have had this theme when I was in Africa? 🙂

This is a tough time for wildlife filming in Iowa. Archery deer season is currently going on. They even allow hunting inside city limits as well as many parks. So, I’m guessing I’m going to have to find a blaze orange vest to wear as every year several people get shot by being mistaken for a deer.

Most of the birds that migrate have passed trough. The rivers haven’t frozen to concentrate the eagles near open water.

Right now I’m thinking about concentrating on the “Kingdom” portion of the theme and not so much the “Animal” part.

If you have any suggestions for ideas on this theme, send them my way!