Comments on: Vincent Laforet Goes Beyond The Still

By: Brian Carey

Brian Carey — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:57:40 +0000

Everybody thought movie theaters would die out with the advent of TV. They haven’t. Print media would be desimated with the advent of computers. The pie will have to be shared out in more ways! But it’s going to be interesting to see where this is all going. Among other things I am a wedding photog. and some wedding photographers are beginning to shoot HD video and extracting stills from the videos! I’m still on the fence!

Brian Carey

By: Neill Watson

Neill Watson — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:03:26 +0000

As Vincent said, editorial will need to adjust it’s budget, but I can’t see how it will. I’m now shooting video on Canon DSLR’s as well as stills, but my clients, like Vincent, are commercial, not editorial. I gave up trying to convince editorial companies of the need to invest last year and concentrated on finding new clients for this technology. Editorial will probably never have the budgets to pull off these shoots in any but the rarest circumstances.

Never the less, I’m really excited at the prospect of assembling a crew and working with others instead of alone, as most stills shooters do!

Great times ahead!

By: Swiss Photographer

Swiss Photographer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:40:37 +0000

So much gear. Hard to wrap your head around it at times. Is technology driving our visions or are we reacting to it?

Decent interview of Mr. LaForet.

By: A photographer

A photographer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:28:22 +0000

@Matt Moses,

Gee did not come across to me that way. This is the first interview I’ve seen of Mr. Laforet where presents himself professionally.

Vincent has a huge amount of press, awards and hype behind him. Rob has every reason to in the world to not toss him softball questions. Vincent has his own schedule and agenda to follow.

I do think he is growing as a visual storyteller and as an expert in the new field of HDSLR. His web presence is enormous and he has many followers. I have more respect for him after reading this interview than any of the puff pieces that have been published before this piece.

By: Gary Miller

Gary Miller — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:52:05 +0000

Another wonderful interview.
Vincent has no limitations when it comes to visual creativity as a still or video journalist. Some 8-10 years ago (good memory…just short!) he was one of the first to speak at Poynter on the subject, embracing audio-slide and video as a reporting tool for newspapers of the future.

Now appears to be the future.

Thank you both

By: Vincent Laforet interview at APhotoEditor « Robert Ivanov – my own piece of web

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:20:23 +0000

[...] Laforet interview at APhotoEditor A Photo Editor–Vincent Laforet Goes Beyond The Still APE: Are you a filmmaker [...]

By: jt

jt — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:07:39 +0000

Love to see some of the commercials that he has directed any links?

By: Vincent Laforet

Vincent Laforet — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:18:10 +0000

Thank you for all of the comments! For a look into what one of these shoot looks like (a larger one) please check out the following http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2010/02/24/so-what-does-an-hdslr-hybrid-shoot-look-like/

By: Richard AH

Richard AH — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:23:40 +0000

@Jim Newberry, On the PC there is plenty of low-budget software that will edit video from the 5D MkII without conversion, such as GV Edius Neo, Adobe Premiere Elements 7/8. Annoyingly it’s the high-end NLE systems that require the files to be converted first but the budget programs are MUCH easier to learn.

By: Russell Kaye

Russell Kaye — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:00:39 +0000

Rob – great interview – many thanks – R

By: cH

cH — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:46:38 +0000

@Jim Newberry, I for one will not do it without enough pay, period and I hope others do the same. But that does not mean that I will never shoot video on an assignment, it means that just like when I bring my film camera along, or med format, or whatever, to shoot a little for myself, I may shoot some video and work with it and perhaps even offer it to the client but not for nothing, that’s totally silly and a quick way to put yourself out of business.

By: Chris Stenberg

Chris Stenberg — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:16:35 +0000

It’s amazing what’s happening now with technology. Both the shrinking budgets due to the economic climate and the evolution of technology are both creating opportunities and at the same time taking them away.

Video production has become much more affordable, and a great production value can be achieved with so little. I have worked in video for years and am now actually migrating a bit to stills. Owning a really expensive $5ok+ broadcast camera just doesn’t seem worth it anymore.

By keeping the equipment costs low and working with DSLRs it is possible now to make a great living in a type of production that just didn’t exist a few years ago!

By: David

David — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:54:57 +0000

@Scott W Baker,

Shane Hurlbut had some interesting observations about lenses and HD DSLRs in this blog post: http://hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2010/02/06/still-lenses/

By: Matt Moses

Matt Moses — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:29:59 +0000

Vincent, you were very patient and answered so nicely to such a cynical and condescending (sounding to my internal reader voice, at least) interviewer!

Came off like …You shot some good stills , and now you think you’re an important filmmaker? Why do WE need an EXPERT? You’re nobody, how did YOU get these DP’s to judge your (little) contest?

Keep up the great work, Vincent!

By: Scott W Baker

Scott W Baker — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:16:23 +0000

Curious if Vincent could comment on the shooting of HD Video using Zeiss lens on the Canon’s and if they are better than Canon L lens, and if so why and which ones he likes most.

Thanks, great article.

Scott

By: Jim Newberry

Jim Newberry — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:53:49 +0000

@chantelle, On the Mac side I think most folks are using Final Cut Pro. You could probably use just about any NLE software, the trick is to convert the footage to a more manageable codec (Prores for Mac).

By: Jim Newberry

Jim Newberry — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:51:05 +0000

@Jeff Singer, I agree–we’re already getting nickel and dimed to death from editorial clients as it is; shooting video as well for little or no extra money is ridiculous. I’ve been shooting 5DMII video projects on my own, and the storage alone is expensive (those 1TB drives are piling up in my office) not to mention the time involved in converting and editing…plus dealing with separate audio and buying other expensive accessories.

By: EddieMambo

EddieMambo — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:33:02 +0000

Laforet Continues With His Inspiring & Beautiful Art !
Great Interview Thankz

By: Ed Hamlin

Ed Hamlin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:56:44 +0000

Nice!
A couple of thoughts as I read this. I am wondering about those who work in different genres. What is Vincent’s impression of what changes might take place for photographers who shoot commercial, wedding, and portraits. Those genres seem to lack quality video at times.

What does he think it takes to shoot a quality video, what kind of organization skills do you need to employ?

I have never been a big video fan even though I have shot it in the past. It is very time consuming to edit and put together in a usable product. I use to do for family and now I don’t even offer because of time.

I wonder if Vincent has checked out the new Nikon D3s and what he thinks of it versus the cannons that shoot video.

Last if photographers are not careful about shooting video for free they are going to set a bad precedence for coming changes within the industry

The title could change to a PhotovideoEditor LOL

By: Jim Prisching

Jim Prisching — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:21:33 +0000

Great article on how the business is allowing photographer to evolve and take on new roles

By: chantelle

chantelle — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:44:31 +0000

Did Msr. Laforet mention which editing software he uses?

Any thoughts out there from the rest of you shooters on what editing software works best with hybrid cameras?

Thanks!

By: Gordon Moat

Gordon Moat — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:29:16 +0000

Keep this up and you will need to call this place A Video Editor.

By: jan scherders

jan scherders — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:26:00 +0000

another top interview !! really appreciated it

By: Jeff Singer

Jeff Singer — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:48:52 +0000

On the editorial side, how will photographers shooting video will be workable for all but the largest editorial productions? Magazines have low budgets as it is for stills and rarely have room for anything extra in the budget. The time (a lot) and expense (very significant) will be put on the photographer. I hope that doesn’t happen, but can’t imagine any other scenario.

Here are a couple quotes from some big names in editorial about the subject:
From an Adbase interview with the the Photo Editor of Outside Magazine
“Right now, the more any photographer shoots video, the better … I just did a shoot where the photographer just shot video, volunteered to do it and just did it… I mean that’s the other thing, too… we want more and more for no extra money, you know. We’re not paying for video.”

From a PDN interview with Wired Magazine.
“In the meantime, Wired has no budget to commission additional content, so they’re depending on photographers who are interested in experimenting for no additional fee.”

As photographers, we have a chance to set expectations and let the editorial clients know we need to be paid for video. But, as was done with digital fees and web use, do you think that’s going to happen?

By: myles

myles — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:59:03 +0000

Solid interview Rob and Vincent. Great insights and info here to learn from. Love the last paragraph as well. Publishers have to step it up – the demand for quality outstrips the race to the bottom every time – yet so many seem blingd to this. Good luck Vincent!

By: Interview on A PhotoEditor « Vincent Laforet’s Blog

Interview on A PhotoEditor « Vincent Laforet’s Blog — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:33:00 +0000

[...] Haggart recently interviewed my on his site A PhotoEditor. Together we discuss the new breed of HDDSLR Cameras and how the industry is reacting to [...]

By: Roger Tooth on the Saturation Point for Photojournalists « Prison Photography

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:19:39 +0000

[...] if on cue, A Photo Editor has this interview with Vincent Laforet about his switch over to moving [...]

By: Ch

Ch — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:13:39 +0000

nice interview…I like Vincent’s attitude allot…so many times converts to video from stills are flying the flag like its the best thing since sliced bread and everybody has to do it or they are going to die – I remember when you HAD to start recording audio or you were simply going to be left behind, yeah right – in the rusting graveyard of old technologies and old ideas…but Vincent doesn’t have that attitude and its refreshing…and I especially like the last paragraph in which he talks about the publishers and their need perhaps not need, want, and cost of doing video.

By: Travel Stock Photos

Travel Stock Photos — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:35:09 +0000

Wow, there’s so much about photographers making transitions into video in the last year. I guess I’m going against the mainstream again – shifting from video (HDDSLR with Nikon D90) to traditional photography. By August 2008 when I first heard about revolutionary D90 video technology I was making commercials and motion design production in small Russian city. I saw this new camera as a unique chance to significantly improve the quality of my footages (we only could use DV before). I should say that technology really worked out for me – the production of commericlas with real-life shootings grew up almost 2 times.
I don’t know why but this inclined me even more towards still photography.

By: A Photo Editor – Vincent Laforet Goes Beyond The Still | The Click

A Photo Editor – Vincent Laforet Goes Beyond The Still | The Click — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:33:38 +0000

[...] I was talking with Vincent Laforet about the contest he’s working on with Vimeo and Canon called “Beyond The Still” (here) and I decided to take the opportunity to interview him about his own transition from newspaper photographer to Hollywood commercial director. I was as big a skeptic as any when Vincent released “Reverie,” the first short photographed with a 5D that read more like a cologne commercial, but the list of elite DP’s who’ve volunteered to judge this contest has me believing people are really embracing the new technology and running with it. I give it up to Vincent for being on the tip of the spear with where this is headed and bringing his professionalism and sense of community with him. [...]