The biggest thing that happened to me personally this past year was the birth of my baby daughter, Alexa. Wow! What an awesome experience. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me. So, yes, I have been filming and photographing her ad nausea. And she is proving to be quite a hit – winning a local photo competition with one of her photos (albeit of her hand!)
Goosebump Productions under went a little upgrade on the web site. We have also expanded our service offerings somewhat to include photography services – so we are now a one stop photo and video service.
Exciting projects included numerous projects with the WWF, including supplying footage to a Carte Blanche story around the mislabelling of fish, which was awarded the best insert of the year! I worked with the legendary Deon Bing, we did numerous shoots for Kyknet’s Reise en Soetkyse, filming the legendary Zebelon Dread from “Hey Voetsek” fame, and filming the AfrikaBurn art festival. Not to mention all the amazing newly weds we have had the privilege of working with while shooting some amazing weddings, and some “trash the dress” shoots – all in all we had lots of fun.
I am currently hard at work putting the finishing touches to the “Empowerment through education” project, which is looking good, and which can hopefully help change the lives of some underprivileged children… watch this space…
Goosebump Productions also shot Goldfish live at Spier – this was our coolest shoot of the year, and some of the footage was used on their awesome “Cruising Through” music video. These guys rock, and are making a good name for themselves and SA internationally.
We acquired a Canaon EOS 7D camera, which is not only a great stills camera, but it also takes the most amazing HD video footage, so I am finding it hard to get any work done with my new toys - one being Alexa!
This all being said 2009 was a really tough year, as apparently 80% of production companies in South Africa went bang this year due to the economic crash and the fall from grace of SABC, and their failure to pay their production companies. So we are happy to have survived the “naughties”. 2010, however promises to be our most exciting year so far, with some interesting projects in the pipeline – and then of course the 2010 world cup… and judging from the craziness around the draw – the actual event is going to be completely mad!
Here’s wishing you all a festive 2010!
Mark
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Photo award winner
I just won two awards for one of my photographs! I recently joined the creative camera club to get some inspiration for my photography. I must say I am very glad I did so, as I have learnt a lot from the club, and have enjoyed the interaction from like minded people. Our club recently participated in the annual Interclub awards evening, where the following clubs enter their best images for judging:
Cape Town Photographic Society
Creative Camera Club
Fish Hoek Photographic Society
Helderberg Photographic Society
Hermanus Photographic Society
Tygerberg Photographic Society
Tafelberg Afrikaanse Fotografieklub
Paarl Photographic Club
Weskusfotoklub
There were 109 photographs entered, and I was quite suprised to say the least when my photo, entitled "holding hands" won two awards. One for the best overall print, and one for the best human interest award.
The image was shot for one of the clubs creative shoots, entitled "smaller than my thumb" and is a photo of my newborn daughter holding onto my thumb.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Surf sessions - The Hoek
I shot these yesterday at a surf session. I actully wanted to shoot something to test this lens out that I borrowed form Sybrand, so I took it down to "the Hoek" at the corner of Noordhoek beach. I liked these ones...
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Bohemian rhapsody with Zamar
Here is another video we made for the band Zamar. This one was an afterthought, let me explain...
We originally planned to shoot a video for the song “libertango” under these beautiful oaks. Unfortunately on the day we were set to shoot it was pissing with rain. We then decided to shoot the video under this Bedouin tent. We felt it had a nice bohemian feel, which suited the music and the band, so we set up everything there. One hour before the sun disappeared it suddenly stopped raining (well sort of). We made a quick decision to shoot the actual video under the oaks as originally decided. There was just no time to set up the stage and the entire rig, so we left everything under the tent and shot under the trees. On our return we loved the vibe the set created in the evening and decided to shoot an unplanned video under the tent. The song we chose was "Argentinian Tango". Was it better than the planned shoot? I think so… you decide. Checked the planned shoot here
Click on the arrows next to the Vimeo badge for full screen.
We originally planned to shoot a video for the song “libertango” under these beautiful oaks. Unfortunately on the day we were set to shoot it was pissing with rain. We then decided to shoot the video under this Bedouin tent. We felt it had a nice bohemian feel, which suited the music and the band, so we set up everything there. One hour before the sun disappeared it suddenly stopped raining (well sort of). We made a quick decision to shoot the actual video under the oaks as originally decided. There was just no time to set up the stage and the entire rig, so we left everything under the tent and shot under the trees. On our return we loved the vibe the set created in the evening and decided to shoot an unplanned video under the tent. The song we chose was "Argentinian Tango". Was it better than the planned shoot? I think so… you decide. Checked the planned shoot here
Click on the arrows next to the Vimeo badge for full screen.
Is Love Blind?
Hein Wagner & Melindi Kearney's wedding, which took place at the Sea Trader up the West Coast was exceptional. It was so special in many ways... For me it was the first time I was asked to film a wedding for someone who has never been able to see.
Hein has been blind from birth, but this does not stop him, as amongst many of his crazy achievements he holds the record for the fastest blind person on earth, clocking 323km's per hour in a car!
Hein's appreciation of beautiful things and the way he does everyday things is amazing. The way he reads the time, the way he ties his shoelaces, the way he "looked" over his wife after she walked down the isle, the way he studied the old bridal car, the way he signed the register, the way he knows who is around him, the way he teases himself... just being around this special couple for the day was extremely inspiring.
I shot this wedding on my brand new Canon 7D. Yes it is predominantly a stills camera, but it also happens to shoot video.
Thanks to Sybrand Cillié of ProPhotography who has spent many hours helping me with this transition, and for all those beautiful lenses!
I decided to included a lot more audio in this video particularly for Hein, so he too can hopefully watch this and relive the moment. I think the ministers words were very beautiful and worked well as a kind of voice-over.
I must admit I was a bit like a fish out of water on this shoot, as it is very unfamiliar territory, and these cameras are not really designed to do this kind of thing, but I think I got some beautiful footage... you decide, and your comments are welcome.
Click on the arrows next to the Vimeo badge for full screen.
Hein has been blind from birth, but this does not stop him, as amongst many of his crazy achievements he holds the record for the fastest blind person on earth, clocking 323km's per hour in a car!
Hein's appreciation of beautiful things and the way he does everyday things is amazing. The way he reads the time, the way he ties his shoelaces, the way he "looked" over his wife after she walked down the isle, the way he studied the old bridal car, the way he signed the register, the way he knows who is around him, the way he teases himself... just being around this special couple for the day was extremely inspiring.
I shot this wedding on my brand new Canon 7D. Yes it is predominantly a stills camera, but it also happens to shoot video.
Thanks to Sybrand Cillié of ProPhotography who has spent many hours helping me with this transition, and for all those beautiful lenses!
I decided to included a lot more audio in this video particularly for Hein, so he too can hopefully watch this and relive the moment. I think the ministers words were very beautiful and worked well as a kind of voice-over.
I must admit I was a bit like a fish out of water on this shoot, as it is very unfamiliar territory, and these cameras are not really designed to do this kind of thing, but I think I got some beautiful footage... you decide, and your comments are welcome.
Click on the arrows next to the Vimeo badge for full screen.
Monday, October 12, 2009
World's largest omelette
We recently got a call from the legendary Deon Bing to go and film a world record breaking attempt: The worlds largest omelette. 65 000 eggs, 125 x 25 liter buckets of egg pulp, a ten ton pan, 500kg of cheese, 200kg of tomatoes. = 3250 kg of omelette. Yes South Africa broke another world record. Congratulations to Pick n Pay, Humpty Dumpty Eggs and all those that were involved.
Check out the video Deon put together here.
Check out the video Deon put together here.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Afrika Burns 2009
On the 11th of October 2009 a good photographer friend of mine, Sybrand Cillié and I set off into the desert to the annual “Afrika Burns”. This is similar to the “Burning Man” held in the USA. Sybrand was keen to play, so I suggested we go along and have some fun. This was my 2nd year, and I must say the experience is amazing. Go check out the “Afrika Burns” facebook site for more.http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=2348764031
I got my hands on a Canon 5D MkII, as I was keen to play with the HD video feature, and of course take some decent photos. Here are a few photos that I liked… video to follow when I get a chance.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
What gives me goosebumps
I enjoy stories. I enjoy telling stories as well as hearing peoples stories. When a good story is being told, and I really connect with the story emotionally, then I get goosebumps. I am not talking about campfire ghost stories. Just regular stories told well. Strangely enough, though, I don’t often get goosebumps when the actual event takes place. It is only the re-enactment of the story that does this to me. Why? I think I have an explanation. It is in the edit. Its the way you manipulate the detail of the event. Not change the details, but focus on certain detail, exclude certain detail, massage certain information, and present it, not as the events unfolded, but present the information by creating suspense by withholding certain information, and sometimes focusing on seemingly trivial detail to further build that suspense...
This is the same as editing film, or video. You have the facts - the shots. You have the chronological order of events. This is the linear sequence in which everything was captured. As an editor, or a story teller you can take those facts or shots and just trim off the really bad bits, and lay them out as events unfolded. This is quick and easy, and doesn’t require much thought, but the result is predictable, and boring to watch. Like when some people tell a joke, and you kind of know where it is going... The punch line, when it is delivered, is expected, and evokes a polite laugh. The really funny jokes take you completely by surprise.
Nonlinear narrative or disrupted narrative is a narrative technique, used in film, wherein events are portrayed out of chronological order.
Pulp Fiction, in my opinion one of the best films ever made, makes extensive use of this technique. I like to use this editing technique. This takes time and imagination, and the results are often unpredictable and surprising. This is what gives me goosebumps.
When I make a video, I love to watch the final edit with my client. If I get goosebumps, then I know I made a connection. It is like a sign. A message from somewhere telling me what I have done is good. And this is a fantastic feeling. I wish everyone could get goosebumps when doing their work... It would make the world a better place...
Mark
This is the same as editing film, or video. You have the facts - the shots. You have the chronological order of events. This is the linear sequence in which everything was captured. As an editor, or a story teller you can take those facts or shots and just trim off the really bad bits, and lay them out as events unfolded. This is quick and easy, and doesn’t require much thought, but the result is predictable, and boring to watch. Like when some people tell a joke, and you kind of know where it is going... The punch line, when it is delivered, is expected, and evokes a polite laugh. The really funny jokes take you completely by surprise.
Nonlinear narrative or disrupted narrative is a narrative technique, used in film, wherein events are portrayed out of chronological order.
Pulp Fiction, in my opinion one of the best films ever made, makes extensive use of this technique. I like to use this editing technique. This takes time and imagination, and the results are often unpredictable and surprising. This is what gives me goosebumps.
When I make a video, I love to watch the final edit with my client. If I get goosebumps, then I know I made a connection. It is like a sign. A message from somewhere telling me what I have done is good. And this is a fantastic feeling. I wish everyone could get goosebumps when doing their work... It would make the world a better place...
Mark
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tango in the woods
"Libertango" a music video for the band Zamar, preformed under the oaks at Belofte Bos.
A while back I received a call from Veronica from the band Zamar. I had filmed them previously at some function in Noordhoek, so I knew that these guys ooze passion, and it is extremely difficult not to like them or their music. They wanted me to make a them a music video on a very limited budget. I naturally jumped at the opportunity. So we got together on a few occasions and after much to and fro we finally settled on a location out past Stanford, called Belofte Bos. This is a beautiful location under the oaks. I tried to get the aid from an old mate, Manny, who is now a top notch DOP. This didn't work out as he has a hectic schedule, but he did offer some decent advice. I also called on the services of another old mate Graham, who helped out as grip. In Manny's absence I used the photographer of the year winner, Sybrand to assist with the lighting.
As it goes in Cape Town, it pissed with rain on the day of the shoot. We landed up setting up the entire set in an alternative location, and then the skies opened for a 2 hour period, so we went for it. We did not have time to re-do the entire set, so we just made do with what we had. After the sun went we decided to anyway use our 1st setup and shot another song there, which still needs to be edited... Anyway here are a couple of shots of the shoot, courtesy of Sybrand, and of course the video. Let us know what you think.... and thanks to everyone who was involved, it was good fun
A while back I received a call from Veronica from the band Zamar. I had filmed them previously at some function in Noordhoek, so I knew that these guys ooze passion, and it is extremely difficult not to like them or their music. They wanted me to make a them a music video on a very limited budget. I naturally jumped at the opportunity. So we got together on a few occasions and after much to and fro we finally settled on a location out past Stanford, called Belofte Bos. This is a beautiful location under the oaks. I tried to get the aid from an old mate, Manny, who is now a top notch DOP. This didn't work out as he has a hectic schedule, but he did offer some decent advice. I also called on the services of another old mate Graham, who helped out as grip. In Manny's absence I used the photographer of the year winner, Sybrand to assist with the lighting.
As it goes in Cape Town, it pissed with rain on the day of the shoot. We landed up setting up the entire set in an alternative location, and then the skies opened for a 2 hour period, so we went for it. We did not have time to re-do the entire set, so we just made do with what we had. After the sun went we decided to anyway use our 1st setup and shot another song there, which still needs to be edited... Anyway here are a couple of shots of the shoot, courtesy of Sybrand, and of course the video. Let us know what you think.... and thanks to everyone who was involved, it was good fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arIhST6YiAs
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