FA+
Shop
Lights Camera ACTION!
10 years ago
General
I hold two Convention Staff positions within the Fandom: I'm the gaming head at Midwest Furfest (which has been my longest running volunteer position for well... anything now) and as of last year I am the head of Photography for 
furrymigration. Both are doing something I enjoy- which is why while I'll be trimming down on what I am doing for the fandom as of next year; I won't be cutting either of these con staff positions.
This journal is about the latter since Furry Migration is well, only a few weeks away o.o; FM is a new con (2nd year) and the Photography department still needs to be filled out; much like MFF did when I took over gaming seven years ago. I'm going to be loosing some of my staff come next year; but its too close to the con to really work on the department HR wise this year- needless to say that's something I need to put some of my diverted effort and time into next year.
The really interesting thing is its a lot easier to get Photographers then it is Videographers, at-least in the sphere of influence of FM. Well ones that are willing to be tacked down or have the skill and interest on doing more then just a personal video of their experience at the convention with their friends or of the Fursuit parade. That's not what I need.
Last year I tried to Juggle both still photography AND Videography for the con. I'm pretty sure both suffered a bit as I could not focus on one. So as much as its going to feel wierd trusting my staff to take 99% of the still photography; I think that is what is needed.
I'm a photographer that dabbles in and just started to get serious about videography. I think videographers in the fandom get a lot more attention then Photographers simply for the fact there are a lot less of them... but that's a whole nother discussion I'm not going to get into at this point.
As of right now... I have a workable staff of Photographers for the con. i am the ONLY Videographer. So that means this year I'm going to be doing something very different at the con and with my post processing.
I'm going to be the full time dedicated con videographer. Which means while I have two panels on Photography at the con and will be supervising the Photographers I will be running around with a video rig the entire time instead. I've done so many volunteer positions for photography its going to feel wierd not having an SLR with me, just my Olympus PEN which also happens to be my backup for Video.
I have three dedicated cameras ready to roll, covering Mainstage, panels, and Wandering videography. I have the Olympus PEN around as a backup and to take a few really quick snapshots for mostly personal use.
It's going to be a different experience. Yes I have been shooting video at other cons I've been to but this will be different. I need to bring my A game knowing that I'm still a realitive novice with Videography compared to my experience with Photography.
I'm not going to fill out a FM Meme: but basically I can sum it up as this: I will be the big guy running around with the really big video camera. I'll stick out like a sore thumb if you are looking for me if I have my gear on :)
If you are at FM and I take video of you, I reserve the right to use it in offical promotional material/ my con memories video unless you request otherwise. One nice thing about videography vs photography is I can get a clear record of if you don't want to be filmed even if I already recorded you without having to carry around a pen and paper. As with my Photography, I generally target fursuiters first. But I do record audio. If you say something that amuses me to the camera, suit or no suit there is a good chance you will make it into some sort of video.
If you WANT to get recorded and make it onto the footage from the con that will get posted to Youtube my advice is: be interesting. Be interactive. Realize I am shooting VIDEO. The worst thing you can do is sit there and strike a static pose, with one very creative exception that I have from this years Fursquared video.
And this goes for ANY convention I am shooting video at. Whether I am the "official" video guy or just doing it for fun. If you interact with me there is a pretty good chance I will use you in my video... somewhere.
I am looking forward to FM in a few weeks to use my equipment, maybe learn a few new tricks to video recording and editing, and get another video or two up on my Youtube channel (I haven't had anything to really add since Fursquared as I couldn't make Megaplex this year :/)
Also, if you are looking for any content for video from last year's Furry Migration PM me. I will let you know if its something I have recorded or not.
Videography Adventure Awaits!
furrymigration. Both are doing something I enjoy- which is why while I'll be trimming down on what I am doing for the fandom as of next year; I won't be cutting either of these con staff positions.This journal is about the latter since Furry Migration is well, only a few weeks away o.o; FM is a new con (2nd year) and the Photography department still needs to be filled out; much like MFF did when I took over gaming seven years ago. I'm going to be loosing some of my staff come next year; but its too close to the con to really work on the department HR wise this year- needless to say that's something I need to put some of my diverted effort and time into next year.
The really interesting thing is its a lot easier to get Photographers then it is Videographers, at-least in the sphere of influence of FM. Well ones that are willing to be tacked down or have the skill and interest on doing more then just a personal video of their experience at the convention with their friends or of the Fursuit parade. That's not what I need.
Last year I tried to Juggle both still photography AND Videography for the con. I'm pretty sure both suffered a bit as I could not focus on one. So as much as its going to feel wierd trusting my staff to take 99% of the still photography; I think that is what is needed.
I'm a photographer that dabbles in and just started to get serious about videography. I think videographers in the fandom get a lot more attention then Photographers simply for the fact there are a lot less of them... but that's a whole nother discussion I'm not going to get into at this point.
As of right now... I have a workable staff of Photographers for the con. i am the ONLY Videographer. So that means this year I'm going to be doing something very different at the con and with my post processing.
I'm going to be the full time dedicated con videographer. Which means while I have two panels on Photography at the con and will be supervising the Photographers I will be running around with a video rig the entire time instead. I've done so many volunteer positions for photography its going to feel wierd not having an SLR with me, just my Olympus PEN which also happens to be my backup for Video.
I have three dedicated cameras ready to roll, covering Mainstage, panels, and Wandering videography. I have the Olympus PEN around as a backup and to take a few really quick snapshots for mostly personal use.
It's going to be a different experience. Yes I have been shooting video at other cons I've been to but this will be different. I need to bring my A game knowing that I'm still a realitive novice with Videography compared to my experience with Photography.
I'm not going to fill out a FM Meme: but basically I can sum it up as this: I will be the big guy running around with the really big video camera. I'll stick out like a sore thumb if you are looking for me if I have my gear on :)
If you are at FM and I take video of you, I reserve the right to use it in offical promotional material/ my con memories video unless you request otherwise. One nice thing about videography vs photography is I can get a clear record of if you don't want to be filmed even if I already recorded you without having to carry around a pen and paper. As with my Photography, I generally target fursuiters first. But I do record audio. If you say something that amuses me to the camera, suit or no suit there is a good chance you will make it into some sort of video.
If you WANT to get recorded and make it onto the footage from the con that will get posted to Youtube my advice is: be interesting. Be interactive. Realize I am shooting VIDEO. The worst thing you can do is sit there and strike a static pose, with one very creative exception that I have from this years Fursquared video.
And this goes for ANY convention I am shooting video at. Whether I am the "official" video guy or just doing it for fun. If you interact with me there is a pretty good chance I will use you in my video... somewhere.
I am looking forward to FM in a few weeks to use my equipment, maybe learn a few new tricks to video recording and editing, and get another video or two up on my Youtube channel (I haven't had anything to really add since Fursquared as I couldn't make Megaplex this year :/)
Also, if you are looking for any content for video from last year's Furry Migration PM me. I will let you know if its something I have recorded or not.
Videography Adventure Awaits!
Newer DSLRs like the 70D support Continuous AF on select lenses with the STM drive (Cannon makes like 4 or 5 STM lenses I believe. None of them would be considered "L" glass). I know the 5D mark II doesn't support STM nor does my 60D (The 5D Mark III I believe may...)
There are a lot of videographers who swear by DSLR video even when they have to shoot everything in Manual focus unless shooting a subject on a tripod at a fixed focal length where your focal plane is going to be fixed. For wandering videography... its a challenge. I'm not nearly fast enough to even dare try manual focus if either I or the subject is moving in and out of the focal plane the lens is focused on....
Mirrorless cameras have a distinct advantage that they use different technology and are designed so that ANY AF lens attached to the camera has CAF on video. They work quite well; my Olympus Micro 4/3rds cameras are still my backup for Video.
However much like the DSLR the form factor is awkward for taking video without an external mount and the controls are still built for photography and not video work in the end- the buttons and menus aren't as easy to change. 95% of the time this is not an issue. Like their DSLR cousins they likewise can't be run off AC power without doing major modifications to the Body to accept a special adapter. That said, if given only a mirrorless camera and said "you need to use this to make a Con Video" I'd be perfectly able to do so.
As far as the GoPro/Action cam and Mobile tech videography goes (IE taking video on a Cell phone or point and shoot camera) - I see it as a Niche. I have a Sony action cam; and its used for very specific things only. Overall I haven't been impressed... its still full auto recording and you typically can't even review what you are shooting unless you have an external monitor to hook it too... and even then.
Plus fixed apeture, fixed focal length, fixed focal plane... I couldn't take a GoPro seriously as a "main" production camera but that is just me. Though a dedicated video camera may have more buttons and knobs then I will likely use... its still nice to have the ability to expand into that should a time present itself where I need more control over the video I'm recording... but that's I guess just my take on it...