Making the move from stills to video

[C***@adobeforums.com]

After an extended sabbatical, I'm ready to jump back into the pro realm of shooting.

My background: in the late 80's-early 90's was a regional award winning photojournalist and was one of 99 accepted to the Eddie Adam's Workshop in 1992 for the documentary projects I had created. consulted with many big names at the time - National Geo, Newsweek, Time, Black Star Photo, etc. Had a standing position offered at Newsweek by Jimmy Colton - the Director Of Photography at Newsweek who was a team leader at the workshop - didn't take the offer due to family.

Been thru some major life changes over the course of the last 3 years and am now looking to go back to what I enjoyed doing the most - telling stories with images. Having been a still shooter, I am finding the idea of shooting moving images more compelling an idea.

My interests lie in shooting short form documentaries, special interest programming type work (mainly independent cable), etc. In addition, I am also a certified diver (currently awaiting my divemaster) and will want to shoot u/w - natural history type work, etc.

And now a whole new wrench has been thrown into the works - SD or HD.

I understand that HD is the future of the medium, but what about shooting SD? What about SD in 16x9? I really want to shoot video - but the cost of even low end HD gear is already straining my already tight budget to not being able to make it happen.

I have the Adobe Video Collection Professional suite which came with PP 1.0/AE6/Audition 1.0, etc...

I was hoping to get some insight as to whether shooting SD for the time being will suffice. Is it worth looking at as a short term solution until HD becomes more mainstream (1-2 years)? I was looking at either the SONY TRV 950 or the Canon GL1/2 as my first initial camera to work with. I would add on an anamorphic lens to shoot true for 16x9.

Any advice from working pro's would be greatly appreciated...

Cliff Etzel

[B***@adobeforums.com]

Cliff, glad to see someone of your skills and experience on the list. BTW - did you know my late friend Declan Haun from Black Star or the Geographic? (If so, there's a retrospective of his work on exhibit at the Chicago Historical Museum now.) Anyhow, I know many talented photographers making the transition. Taro Yamasaki (Detroit Free Press, People) said the Platypus sessions were great for people who have long been still photographers.

But about gear. I am a print person who is learning to do docs and I now have two Canon GL2s. One three years ago and one about a year ago. They have the best color of all the cameras I tried. And while I know HD is the wave of the future, the issue for me was whether I could afford to make the transition to video or not. If I went HD, then I couldn't afford it at all. So I think the answer to your question lies within it. I also find myself doing more and more video for the Web, which means I do not need HD to achieve quality.

I keep reading that HD will instantly make SD obsolete, but I have also been reading that for a while. I will be eager to see what others says.

Bonnie B

[C***@adobeforums.com]

Hi Bonnie - Declan's name does ring a bell, but do not know personally.

I am aware of Dirk Halstead's Platypus workshops and am considering that very thing as well....

The challenge I see for HD is that the technology is just now making it's way into the price range most of us mere mortals can afford - but then you have to look at more powerful specs for hardware, the encoders, etc. The GL1/2 is my first choice and can be had for half the cost of a new HD camera.

Content delivery on the web is becoming more of a factor on a daily basis (I am formerly a web desiger for the past 6 years). Newspapers know it due to a decline in readership - that's why they are investing in their shooters doing video as well as still.

I love th elook and feel of HD, but it is priced beyond my means - I don't have much to work with regarding my first serious vidcam, so your reasoning is very much the same as mine.

Glad to see there is someone who understands the style of shooting I come from and the need for expedited information rregarding this topic.

Cliff Etzel

[K***@adobeforums.com]

Moved from the Lounge.