Latest Video from Chelsey June

One more video out the door. We are pretty proud of this one! Of course working with the wonderful and talented Chelsey June makes all the long hours worth it. Hope you like it! If you do, give her page a listen, a like and a share.

Here is the link for the song "Morning Sun". It was recorded here at Corvidae Studio, and the video was shot in a couple of locations in Gatineau, Quebec over the summer & fall. Then the work of editing began, also done in house by Jonathan. The final project is pretty impressive, but then Chelsey is a natural.

http://youtu.be/6nsMXAvI-iM

Thoughts from the reflector

I am not, nor do I claim to be, a videographer. I just happen to be married to one. So I get drafted into doing the things that I can do on video shoots; like verifying continuity, hair & make up checks, animated reflector, main cheer leader and gopher. Along the way I have observed a few things about the process Jonathan uses to get the results he does.

Lighting, like in still photography, is vitally important. When shooting indoors you can control it, mostly. You need reflectors and know how to frame the shot. Which is why, if you were on a set, you would see me holding a reflector over my shoulder, angled just precisely at "30 degrees, not 35... Try this way, a little more left & up; hold that" Trying very hard to imitate an immovable object while in an enclosed space and not getting in the artists or the shooters way. Outdoor shoots are only slightly less acrobatic, with me kneeling on rough ground in the shape of a roughly slanted sign holder with the reflector above my head.

Planning and dry runs are paramount.  Jonathan will lay out the shot & run through it physically before actually hitting record. That spares the singer from having to do multiple retakes of the song because the framing was off or the reflector was visible. It does make the animated reflector's job interesting, as you get positioned multiple times before the shooting actually begins.

Meteorology is not a precise science. When filming outdoors we plan using hourly forecasts, especially if we need a particular feel to the light. Sometimes things just don't cooperate, but you make do and always have a plan B, for secondary shooting. Many of our clients are independent musicians who work to make ends meet. They are not available at the drop of hat, so we need to be flexible in our schedules while still making sure the shooting conditions will get them what they need for a video that reflects their talents (and ours). It may take longer to get it right, but as this is going to a permanent (as permanent as anything is) representation of the singer's art, it is important to go the extra mile. They are paying us to make them look as good as they can in this performance.

Repetition is not a bad thing. You want as much footage as you can get from each shot, as the perfect video performance may have to be woven from several different angles and different takes to capture the passion that the singer can convey. Static performances can appear wooden & stilted. Movement has to be controlled but has to be there; movement via the camera, not the performer can often make for a more dynamic video.

Location, like in real estate, is everything. Why we scout out locations and are always thinking photographically; what we can shoot where. Is the location right for this artist, this song and this time of year? Is it safe? Is it allowed? If not, no matter how beautiful the spot, find another location.

Don't be afraid to get up close and dirty. At a recent shoot, there was something odd in a tree. It was the same colour as the bark, just looked odd.  It was garbage, strategically placed, but garbage; a wash cloth to be precise. We ended up leaving that location with a bag full of garbage that we picked up.  End of shoot meant the first stop was the washroom, for hot water & soap; although I was wearing gloves during the trash pick up, so was mostly protected. It is also helpful to have a bunch of garbage bags & wet ones along with you. Never know when you are going to need them. We tend to do this on many of our shoots, be they still or video. I never will understand why people can lug things into a gorgeous location, but refuse to pack them out again. Especially when there is a trash can just a short walk away. Leave every where slightly better than you found it is a good philosophy for camping, photography and to life in general.

Laugh. Take the work seriously, but not yourself. Have some fun. If you don't, the musician is likely to get self conscious & self critical. Nervousness isn't going to translate into a good performance or a good video. Tell people what they are doing right, and help them get there. Show them how you want them to move, where to look, what emotion you think works and be specific. Don't be afraid to be a little goofy to help them relax.  It is often hard work, but a video  (or photo) shoot shouldn't be unpleasant; at least not because of who you are working with.

We don't control the weather though, so laugh at that as well. Remember to bring layers. Lots of layers for those between the shots, 'hurry up & wait' times.

Small venue, too much to do and other musings

Jonathan and I went to The Branch in Kemptville at the end of May to listen to Ann Vriend play. What an amazing evening that was.  I meant to write about it sooner, but life tends to get awfully busy sometimes. Looking back, over a month, it rates as a night of spectacular music that was well worth the drive from Ottawa.

Ann Vriend

The restaurant bills itself as a "Listening Room" and they do not disappoint. After a fabulous meal, they offer to add the cover charge for the evening's music to your meal tab, if you are planning on staying, which is quite convenient. To encourage a pleasant musical evening, they pass out little note cards for each table to remind everyone that people are there to listen to the artist, not other's conversations. I was quite impressed when a particularly rowdy patron, who wandered in during the second set, was politely asked by the staff to quiet down. When he continued to disturb, he was talked to again, and left shortly thereafter. Now that is a venue that takes pride in delivering what it advertises.  For someone who wants to actually hear music in a social setting it is a pleasant surprise to see a venue support the artist in their delivery.

Ann, on keyboards, played the songs from her album,  "For the People in the Meantime"  (that you can purchase at CD baby) and was accompanied by the amazingly talented musicians, Rooster Davis, and Peter Hendrickson, on drums.

Rooster Davis (keyboards) and Peter Hendrickson (drums)

Ann's voice is powerful, controlled and emotive, her keyboard playing is inspiring. Her songs paint a picture of the world as she sees it. It is a fascinating view. Ann manages to convey beauty, humour and pain with sincerity, not always easy. She, Rooster and Peter's playing meshed beautifully and leaving room for the others to shine during solos. You could tell they truly enjoyed hearing each other play.

We had contacted Ann before the show and asked if it would be o.k. if Jonathan came and shot. We don't want to be "those photographers" that don't consider the musicians or the audience. You know the ones; they are so wrapped up in the shot they interfere with the show. Jonathan was taking photos solo that evening, as in a small space, two photographers snapping could very easily distract from the experience.  Shooting in a softly lit room, is a skill I haven't fully mastered yet, so we default to his experience. That said, there were some shots I would have loved to have gotten of the setting, as my eye is often drawn to things that are different than Jonathan's. The reflections behind the bar in particular caught my eye, maybe next time.

Enjoy the rest of Jonathan's photos taken that night. If you get a chance to hear any of these amazingly talented people, seize the opportunity. You will not be disappointed.