New major update

I like that they are continue with the development of the app. I don’t have any multicam project in the works to test it’s new abilities. What was most interesting for me is ability to convert Final Cut Pro 7 projects to Final Cut Pro X with new application 7toX for Final Cut Pro. I won’t go into strangeness that a third party developer made this possible and lack of interest from Apple to implement this ability on their own. I guess they have other priorities.
I immediately downloaded the app from the AppStore. It promises translation of the project in three easy steps. It wasn’t so easy for me. That is because I thought that the app would behave differently. I had some projects at work (reportage from the Gorenjka chocolate factory) where we only have Final Cut Pro 7. I wanted to move the XML file and use a footage that I captured myself at home with Final Cut Pro X and hoping it would reconnect the files automatically. But the problem arrived at the moment of the translation. If the media file was not present at the same location as in older project it translated the clip to Generator file and as that impossible to reconnect. Help pages said that you need to have all the files online throughoutthe process. I thought that you only need them where you export the XML file, but you actually need them where you translate the XML file to FCPXML file. As soon as I found out what could be the problem (I tried lots of different exports of XML file, capturing the files locally, renaming them, renaming the path in the XML file and other stuff) I waited for the next day, moved the footage with Media Manager to an external disk drive and as I tried the same thing today everything worked the same as promised. Three easy steps.

Old timeline

New timeline

Project is now in the Final Cut Pro X timeline. It needs some polishing with the organisation of the files on the timeline as their was some audio files that were not linked to the video and there was some messy stuff going on. But everything was quickly solved with Revealing the clip in the Event Browser and than replacing it with the same one plus the audio. Of course I need to colour grade the footage again. But that is all.

Search...

… and replace

I would just like to add that I use a Frank Glencairn’s G-log picture profile for a Sony FS100 as you can see from the lower two frame grabs. The first is without the picture profile and you can see that there is a lot of blown highlights coming from the outside but there is hardly any information in the mixing machine where the chocolate is mixed. After I set the camera to the G-log there is much less blown highlights but there is still the same amount of detail in the blacks. I would consider this shoot saved by the G-log. Thanks, Frank. I will try to write more about the Picture Profile with some tests at some later time, but don’t hold me to it.

No picture profile

Frank Glencairn's G-log picture profile

The first thing I bought was Manfrotto 561BHDV monopod. With it I could have a smallest stable news gathering kit possible. If serious sound wasn’t needed that is the smallest stable kit to carry around with me all the time. Monopod isn’t the smallest one but it has a decent head (701HDV). I also always use Fader ND on the lens so that I can leave the aperture wide open and to keep the shutter in the 180º rule (1/50s for 25fps and 1/100s for high speed 50fps).

Smallest stable video recording kit here with Nikon lens and Fader ND.

Next thing I bought was a audio recorder Tascam DR-100 to use it as a dual-system audio because NEX-5N has no audio inputs so you need something more serious to capture good quality sound. When using with FS100 this recorder is unnecessary, because the camera already has XLR inputs, but it would also be very handy combined with an accessory described later down the post.

Tascam DR-100

Next thing was the rig itself. After many decision making evenings I decided to choose a Half Inch Rails rig from British below cameraman Sam Morgan Moore. I bought a Rig RnG S2 15mm that can be adjusted to my needs. It offers great flexibility and with addition of other parts creates countless possibilities that suits every mans needs.

Here is the Sony NEX-5N camera with Nikon glass, SGPro follow focus, and Half Inch Rails Run 'n' Gun S2 rig in my favorite small setup.

Here is the rig in shoulder mount setup waiting for monitor and camera. You can also see double-system audio w/ Røde NTG-2 microphone.

Next I needed a HDMI monitor. I want it to be the right size. Small enough to carry it around on difficult locations and big enough so that I can focus easily with it. SmallHD DP4 EVF fell into this category. Small enough to be used as a EVF and big enough to be used as a monitor. Perfect for handheld or shoulder mounted and of course useful even in studio situations. I can’t set enough great stuff about them. Their support is fast and helpful. They really want to satisfy their costumers and they respond to our needs.

Boxes full of SmallHD.

Here is me using the Sony FS100 w/ SmallHD DP4 on difficult location in the canyon of river Soča filming for Red Bull.

Fully rigged FS100 w/ HIR S2 rig and SmallHD DP4 EVF filming a broadcast commercial for Telemach.

Half inch rails Shoulder Pads. They make for a cofortable shoulder mount while being super compact and low profile.

Another photo of a fully rigged FS100 ready to be picked up for some shoulder action. The boy is my intern, learning to be the best filmmaker ever. (:

The same setup minus the tripod, shoulder mounted. Nice looking girl in the car is the boys mum checking on how I treat my interns.

Last thing I bought was something I always wanted to have since I saw a Wim Wenders movie Lisbon Story about a sound engineer Phillip Winter trying to help his director friend recording sound for his silent movie about Lisbon. The movie also has great soundtrack by Madredeus.

Big package from CVP.

My girl was very happy with the contents of the box as was I.

My very own Røde boom pole, Røde Blimp windshield and a Dead Wombat. It's a great companion with the Tascam DR-100 for recording location sound.

Beautiful Leica M9

There was also rumours of Nikon’s new mirrorless camera, but when the time progressed there was more and more evidence that it will have smaller sensor size and inferior video capabilities.

In august Sony presented it’s small mirrorless camera Sony NEX-5N. I knew the NEX system from before as I was using a FS100 video camera for a few months (Sony NEX-FS100 first impressions, FS100 best accessory, FS100 after three months of use).

Twins. Like Schwarzenegger and DeVito.

I specially liked the option for using various amounts of different lenses with help of adapters and 1080p 50fps slow motion. After hearing lots of positive reviews on twitter and some blogs (especially eoshd.com) I decided that I will buy one. I ordered it on Amazon (DE, UK) with 16mm f/2.8 lens and a spare battery. I wanted to have at least one AF lens that I could also use for photographing my one year old. Size of the package is also perfect for that as you can have it on you all the time.

So I preordered the camera and waited and in less than a week they send it to me.

Sony NEX-5N w/ 16mm f/2.8 lens

New camera

You can see some candid shots I did on a first photo walk with the camera the day I go it.

Catch the pigeon

Silly guy

Colored gangsters

Hurry! Move!

I hope we'll have enough tomatoes

Leek logs

Rising slider™ shot

Cokin gradient filters for the Top Gear look

Midget cam

First project was a car show Makine, presenting the new Volkswagen Jetta 1.2 TSI. Also used Canon 5D MkII.

Camera was also used for screen capturing Skype call with Moscow correspondent Andrej Stopar.

Doing some low light tests with Nikon glass.

As soon as I got the Nikon lens adapter I did some tests which I still have to put together and present is some future post.

Spying on my neighbors house which happen to be a residence of Macedonian embassy.

I was actually doing some comparison tests between Nikon and Canon glass and also between 5D and FS100 resolution. This will also be mentioned in details in some future post.

Slow motion recording of underwater hockey.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G is a perfect interview lens for low light shallow depth of field situations.

You can get the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens for very cheap on Amazon and is perfect for interviews and other low light situations.

Special equipment cart with our own valet.

This time we used Canon adapter.

Canon lens adapter is somewhat stupid cause it doesn’t have an option to change aperture but for this price it is perfect. And the lens being wide open was never any serious problem. [wink] And if you need to bring the light levels down you just use a Fader ND filter.

Erazem Lorbek acting his lines.

Žile acting as selector placing a call to two Slovenian team players in a Telemach ad.

Erazem Lorbek, photographer Samo Vidic, Goran Dragić and photo assistant

Edo Murić in the middle of beautiful nature

Wide angle of the location for Spar commercials

Goran Jagodnik thinking about his lines

Uroš Slokar against the crew

Commercials for Spar were recorded in a quickly manner with reflectors only in Kranjska Gora. Kit lens was used on FS100.

Sony NEX-FS100 best accessories, Nikon and Canon lens adapters.

These two came from the Amazon store for 40€ each (around $60).

Nikon G AF-S lens to Sony E-Mount NEX-3 NEX-5 Adapter Ring

Canon EOS EF Lens to Sony E mount NEX-5 NEX-3 Adapter Ring

As you can see they are not the same on the Amazon page as I got them by mail and they are not the expensive sort ones but they get the job done. Nikon one is slightly better as you can manually set the aperture. Canon lenses have electronic iris control and tab is why adapters which can also control the aperture cost a fraction more.

Using Sony NEX-FS100 with Nikon glass. Here you can see it with big Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D ED lens with Fader ND filter.

Slightly more colorful version with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM glass.

Next time I will write about the comparison I made between Nikon and Canon glass and between Sony NEX-FS100 and Canon EOS 5D MarkII cameras using the same Canon glass.

Clouds prevented the sun to burn everything and let me breathe easier.

Seagulls were playing over the ferry as we traveled to the island Šolta. They were so close that I didn't have to use telephoto lens but just plain 50 mm one.

Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) mating. They didn't mind me watching.

Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)

The Cardinal was very trustworthy.

I have never seen Carpobrotus (commonly known as Pigface or Ice plants) bloom. It is a ground-creeping plant, with succulent leaves which are mainly dried by the time I used to see them in the summer.

This time they were blooming and I seriously played with the idea to take some of them home with me.

This one kind of look like a little devil.

More Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis). Color green means it is the mating season.

Poppy (Papaver) is another plant I never saw on the islands before.

Aloe vera blooming

Even trees like this Pine tree were different.

Some of the plants were unknown to me but they were beautiful all the same.

The bees were doing their job pollinating the plants before they stop blooming.

I have seen Stick insects (Phasmatodea) in captivity but never before in the wild.

Even the lemons were not the same. This one is called Buddha's hand, Citrus medica.

Date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) were full of dates which were unfortunately not edible.

When I said full of dates I meant full of dates.

(Mytilus galloprovincialis) Mediterranean mussel

Opuntia and its pollinating friend

Its a big black bee with blue wings, latin name unknown.

Beautiful but toxic Nerium oleander

(Sicyonia carinata) Mediterranean rock shrimp almost bite my finger off.

Even ordinarily snails came out while raining.

So beautiful it doesn't need a name.

Lavender (Lavandula) attracted many bumble bees.

Large wasp with four yellow dots and orange head. It could be Scoliid wasp but who am I to tell them apart.

They said it was not poisonous. I felt better believed them.

Caring for the young ones.

Another Opuntia this time in the sunset light.

One of many terrific sunsets.

Orange, how I want you orange.

Last night presented another terrific sight. Summer thunder storm. This phenomenon is actually more frequent later in the summer.

It is true that the water wasn’t warm enough for prolonged swimming in the sea but going to the seaside before the season definitely has its advantages.

I am sorry for all the mistakes that I made naming flora and fauna. If you know the correct names please let me know so that I can correct my errors.

Strange form factor and several mounting points.

Its form factor is strange. I guess it wants to be small and easy to work with, but I don’t know if it succeeds in doing that. It is definitely configurable. Handlebar, microphone, handgrip and viewfinder can all be removed. So it definitely is small. But as such totally uncomfortable to work with. We got the camera with the kit lens (Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Zoom Lens) which is crap in my opinion and we will soon have to switch to prime Canon EF lenses or micro four thirds with accompanying lens adapter (I later found out that Micro four thirds lenses aren’t the most suitable for the camera). The camera is very back heavy with this kit lens and because the handlebar is positioned to much to the front. You can reverse the handle, but then it is difficult to operate with LCD monitor which is located on the top so the camera is useless in shoulder mount situation without external monitor.

It handled being mounted to a side of the car pretty good for the first time.

Another thing that I miss are the ND filters, but I guess none of the cameras with interchangeable lenses have them so that means getting a matte box, several NDs or Fader ND and other filters is a must. I also wasn’t satisfied with the position with the XLR inputs (one on the side and one in the back), because you have to unplugged it every time you put the camera in the bag. Decision to go with the HDMI instead of BNC plug for external video was unwise and will probably be annoying in the future.

Two magic arms were enough for quite steady shot.

But enough with the negative stuff. The camera has a few pluses too. It has a lot of mounting points. 1/4″ and 3/8″ threads on the top and bottom so it is perfect for mounting on the car. One magic arm on the top and one below and that is it. It would be wise to have another to have three fixed points but maybe another time. It also record 50p slow motion in full 1080p resolution and even has smooth slow recording option to record 25% slow motion (as in 100 fps) for a three seconds burst.

That is it for now. More information about the camera in a few days after I will get to know her better. You can see more images from todays shoot below.

Various angles

One more car mount shot

Looking back at this post it is interesting how anoyed I was with the camera regarding that I am now spokesperson for Sony for that camera.

My post will take advantage to present you with the location data that my iPhone 3GS and recently bought iPad 2 collected from Jun 24th 2010 (of course my iPad 2 only collected data from Apr 13th 2011) in connection to my traveling around making various movies.

This is the movie playing back my movement first zoomed out over whole Europe and in the second part over my country Slovenia.

Location Data

Mousover for iPad view. Trip over Germany was done with iPhone and iPad together at the same time. See the difference of location data capture. End location near Köln is practically the same but the way there is very different.

iPhone - Slovenia region (click for larger view)

A day in Bad Kleinkirchheim – top left dots over the Austrian border

Coop story – bottom left dots near the seaside

My home town Ljubljana (click for larger view)

Trip to Bosnia and Hercegovina - Red Bull Cliff Diving Activation Neretva

Red Bull Cliff Diving Activation Neretva

Tirana, Albania - Red Bull Bo 105 helicopter show

Flight with Alouette III helicopter

Indjija, Serbia - Metal Cinkara ad

Metal Cinkara ad with Serbian basketball team

Trip to Croatian coastline - Cedric Dumont meets the inventor of parachute

Cedric Dumont meets the inventor of parachute

Link  to some pages that have more written about the topic if you are interested:

iPhone Tracker
Apple Q&A on Location Data
iPhoneGeotag – interesting use of the data for setting the location of your photos in Aperture and iPhoto library
A roundup of today’s “Locationgate” news
How the iPhone knows where you are
Why the phony LocationGate scandal targets fear of Apple’s iOS more than Android
Interview: Apple CEO Steve Jobs on How the iPhone Does and Doesn’t Use Location Information
Apple says it’s building ‘crowd-sourced traffic’ service for iPhone users
Location tracking probe expands despite 2001 FCC law requiring all phones track users
Blast from the past: Steve Jobs talks location privacy issues
iPhone 101: Location data and GPS

You can see parallel videos of source material, finished effects done in Apple Shake application (I am still quicker in Shake because I am using it longer and I didn’t have time to try to do all the effects in Nuke), color correction applied to the clip and the final version with all the supers and logos added.

Telemach couch internet ad – VFX breakdown from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

If you really want to see at the innards of the Shake file you can click on the next image and see the whole node tree of one shot done in Shake. This is the shot with the couch elongating in it. I also did all the keying, background white room with vignette and shadows under couch in the composition.

Shortening the couch - vfx breakdown (click for full size)

You can also watch all three videos in the Couch campaign below.

It really was special permit.

Reiner Wilke explaining rigid rotary sisyem of Eurocopter BO 105.

Isida in front of Eurocopter BO 105.

This was our transport. Sud-Aviation 319B Alouette III.

Alouette III was kindly lend to us by Albanian Ministry of Health and piloted by Albert Xhafaj, Chief of the Medical Transport unit. Helicopter was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France. It is recognised for its mountain rescue capabilities and adaptability.

Powered by a 649 kW (870 hp) Turboméca Astazou XIV turboshaft engine, derated to 447 kW (660 hp) - source Wikipedia.

Knowing that I would be the one shooting from the helicopter I mage a special vibration dampening rig from Manfrotto Hi Hat and a loosely inflated football. It also helped that I had a image stabilized Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens.

Headphones on, Canon EOS 7D w/ Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens and Fader ND filter on Manfrotto Hi Hat improvised vibration reduction rig

Here you can see the beauty of my vibration rig (©2011 Samo Vidic with an iPhone).

I was almost hanging like that from the helicopter (©2011 Samo Vidic with an iPhone).

Reiner approaching the city (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

Our helicopter above the BO 105. I am seating behind on the bench with open doors (photo taken from video stream recorded by Martin Smerdel on Sony EX1).

Passing the crowds celebrating the Summer day few meters below us (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

Flying over Top Channel building (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

Approaching the University (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

Flying over our five star hotel Rogner (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

Upside down (Canon EOS 7D frame grab).

The whole flight only lasted 30 minutes. The time sure flies when you are having fun (no pun intended). The experience was indescribable. It will be hard to top it. It certainly is my favorite spot for recording until now. But not only that. People were fantastic, kind, helpful. I made some photos from the ground when we were returning from the airport to the hotel, but I will put them in another post. I will also do a post for the clip when it will be on albanian Red Bull site.

For now I just need to tell another story. When Samo and me were escorted from the airport premises, our taxi driver in the follow me vehicle asked us if we can stay with him for five minutes longer because he has to do some work before he takes us to the exit. He kindly asked me, if I can take some pictures of him during his work, because they don’t have any time to take them during work hours. Here are a couple of him posing in front of the plane.

Jari, I hope you are not mad, because I posted the photos of you on the blog.

The photos were already send to you by email.

Enough for now!

The day for us started at the airport. I almost reached the baggage weight limit carrying two tripods, Canon 7D, follow focus and hand held shoulder rig.

20kg is allowed without additional payment.

My ticket was upgraded to business at the arrival. They said that economy class is full. I later found out that they had to transport some people in police custody and they probably didn’t want to give them business, so a few of us were upgraded.

Upgraded to business.

Boarding for Tirana

Police escort

Take off

Reas meal in business class. We even got metal cutlery.

Border between business and economy.

Snow and sea

Clowds over Albania

Tirana Airport

On the way to the hotel.

In front of the hotel.

First we went to hotel. And then to see locations.

Domen and Martin found long lost twin brothers in Tirana.

Location scouting

Cotton candy

Waiting for the pilots to arrive at the location (Martin, Samo, Domen, Isida, Ledia, Erjol).

The Flying Bulls insignia

Carnival

What is the time?

Pilots arrived (Endri, Erjol, Siegfried "Blackie" Schwarz, Ledia, Reiner Wilke, Isida, Samo, Martin, Domen).

Second location (Mother Teresa square) in front of Academy

Police motorcycle

Really fast food

After checking the locations we went to dinner. They really like to take us to eat sea food every time. Albanian hospitality is the best.

This is the guy from previous picture.

Delicious

Evening meeting. New member on the right - Albert Xhafaj, Chief of the Medical Transport unit with Helicopter.

Later we found out that we got another helicopter to shoot from and we met with the albanian pilot to coordinate the workflow. Me and Samo will be flying with him. It’s good that we expected to have two helicopters and I brought with me improvised rig for dampening the vibrations of the helicopter.

My room.

Canon EOS 7D, Manfroto Hi-Hat, and half empty football

My attempt to make a helicopter rig to dampen the vibrations. Manfrotto Hi-Hat on a half empty football. I really hope that the footage won’t look like jelly too much.

More at some later point in time.

The ads were quit simple. Three different versions (television, internet, telephone) in each a person or two were surprised buy elongating couch (one seater changing to a two seater) representing more services for the buck from the service provider.

Domen (director) talking to the talent, instructing him on then next move.

Mine is bigger than yours. Martin behind the Canon EOS 5D MarkII.

Canon EOS 5D MarkII was out second camera but we decided that we wouldn’t use it later on, cause it was proving to be more difficult to key its h.264 footage than Sony’s ProRes 422 (HQ).

Camera... rolling... and action.

We were sharing the studio with a set for a famous folk music show Na zdravje.

Girls Nena and Edina were the next talents. It was nice for a change handling some real camera (albeit old) with serious tripod.

Domen and Samo (photographer) were giving girls directions. Or were they just seeking their attention.

My only not not on tripod shot on an apple box with a sandbag (©2011 Žiga Zupančič).

Video village

All lights were aimed at the girls.

Next time I want green Kinoflos for the green screen.

Posing for the camera.

Next time more stories from the post production, special effects difficulties, fast turn around and maybe even finished spot. All depends on the client.

Yesterday was another energy day. Red Bull Pležuh 4cross Pohorje (Maribor, Slovenia). Pležuh is a 200 year old traditional snow transportation device from Selnica, north east part of Slovenia. It is simply one ski with a seat and a couple of handlebars. And yesterday it was used for the first time for a modern 4 cross downhill race.

Technical specs for racing pležuh

The race track had nine turns and one kicker. Warm weather made the snow difficult for skiing.

Start line

There was lots of overturns and crashes. No injuries though.

Finish line

Battle of pležuhs

Last jump

The race  is finished, news cut was send to the stations, now all we have to do is edit a five minute clip and do some color corrections. It is one o’clock after midnight and I’m signing out.

I will post the link to the video later this week when it will be online on Red Bull’s site.

Update: Movie down below.

We are getting some slider shots near the goal for the clip (Domen Smerdel in yellow and photographer Samo Vidic)

I was the designated crane operator.

We used home made crane from the guys at pejmodejmo.com and I was the crane operator. I had some hard times recording with it cause I had no external monitor and had to see the action on the monitor on the camera which was difficult to see in both highest and lowest position of the crane because of its angle. The other obstacle was blinding sun which prevented me to see the monitor at all.

But that was not all. We also didn’t have remote triggering for the camera so I had to lower the camera every time, go to the front, press record, go back, set the framing, record the shot, lowered the camera and press stop. Every time. This was no workflow for action shots during game. Nonetheless I got some great shots of scoring goals in slow motion so I didn’t feel so useless.

Crane was also used for some jib shots.

Goal

And again. I really had some luck with deciding behind which goal to stand.

Pucks were flying all over and you had to be careful.

You can see the whole clip streaming from Red Bull’s official site below.

Rig for simultaneously recording with six DSLR cameras.

This is the rig I had made from various Manfrotto parts. You can read more about the rig here. But I think you can see the rig more clearly on this photo. (:

Beautiful Maja posing with seven, err, six bodies.

You can probably see that as I was turning (rotating) the rig, the cameras moved with different speeds. The ones closer to the center of the rig moved slower and ones on the edge moved faster, but the angular velocity was the same for all bodies. I am no physicist so I can’t tell you if that was influencing the strength of rolling shutter jello effect. If it has it is important to notice that Nikon 3Ds and Canon EOS 550D were moving the fastest, than Nikon D300s with Canon EOS 7D and cameras closest to the center, Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and Canon EOS 5D Mark II, had the best conditions i.e. the least movement.

My friend Maja was kind enough to be the model for the shoot as it was part of many tests and also a possibility to make a short movie out of them. You can see more photos of lovely Maja in my previous post.

Setting us all different cameras was quite a pain (©2010 Dino Schreilechner).

Setting up all cameras to shot the same thing was no easy task as I had to set exposure, framing, focus on all of them. Even just pressing record was difficult. At least on Canon cameras, because they don’t have any similarities between them. Record button is placed differently on almost every Canon camera. Even the button for Live View is not the same on different models. Some have dedicated button, some doesn’t. Nikon is so much user friendlier in that regard as it has dedicated Lv button in the same place on both models. And the start/stop button is the set button on the dial on both of them. But more on ergonomics in some later post.

This are the results that I got.

Rollig shutter results (click on image for higher resolution)

I measured the angle of an edge of the building. Than I measured that angle again when the cameras were moving and got the difference angle. That gave me rolling shutter intensity.

Results chart with introduction dates

So Nikon D3s has the least rolling shutter even though it had the worst position (if there are differences between edge and center position as stated above) together with Canon EOS 550D who is not much behind the 5D and 1D who had the best position. I would say that if they were on top of one another they would have the same distortion or the 550D would be even better. I think this is due to age of the model, 550D being the youngest. Canon EOS 7D was surprisingly the worst even though it had the best position and the body being relatively new model.

You can see rolling shutter in effect in the next video. First are all the cameras placed sequentially and in the last shot you can see them in sync as a 6-up display.

Rolling shutter – DSLRs comparison from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

You decide which you like best. I personally think that they are all horrendous and not useful for fast panning shots.

I would like to thank everybody who supplied me with the needed equipment: Nikon Slovenija (Nikon 3Ds, Nikon D300s, AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G), Samo Vidic (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 1D Mark IV), Foto Format (Canon EOS 550D, Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM), Luka Stanovnik (two Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lenses) and my father Milenko Prevec (Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM).
I would also like to thank Maja Mesojedec for being such a patient model and Dino Schreilechner for helping me with the test and taking some behind the scene photos.

If you liked the story, please consider helping me maintain this blog by purchasing your gear through my product links. It will cost you nothing but will allow me to continue writing. Thank you!

I took of from Ljubljana towards the region Štajerska before 7AM. Weather forecast was good for that part of Slovenia. I was a bit worried about the morning fog but was bound to lift if needed.

7:05 on Ljubljana's highway

I planned the course of the eclipse using SkySafari, iPhone app. With it I’ve seen the path of the moon crossing the sun.

SkySafari for iPhone

I was near the town of Vransko half past seven as I noticed that the nearby mountain tops were lit by the first rays of the sun. I stopped on the nearest hill over the town. The scenery was beautiful.

Panorama of town Vransko from my vantage point.

I quickly started to shoot phases of the eclipse.

Previewof the solar eclipse on Nikon D200 display.

I decided to do a time-lapse only during greatest eclipse as I didn’t have remote head on the tripod to follow the sun path. I used Nikon D200 and an analogue F90x with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D ED and Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro lenses. I had a special foil on Sigma for watching eclipses that I got before the last full eclipse in Europe August 11th 1999. Nikkor had a polarizing filter on and a Light Craft Workshop™ Fader ND filter. Combined there was enough absence of light for watching.

Special foil for watching eclipses on Cokin filter on Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro lens and analogue Nikon F90x

Nikon D200, Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D ED, polarizing filter with Fader ND

The eclipse was not seen with the naked eye.

The scenery and the light during the eclipse was perfect so I took some different photos.

Hand glove didn't helped watching the eclipse.

The lack of sun rays was not visible even during greatest eclipse. Maybe you could see the moon crossing the sun it if you squint with your eyes and imagined the eclipse.

The ground was frozen and after a good hour of standing I was freezing.

After the peak of the eclipse I went home to process the images.

Processing the images using Apple Aperture.

Photos were merged into one where you can see the whole course of the eclipse.

Course of the partial solar eclipse 2011

I pieced the photos into a movie and added a music score. I am very pleased with the creative beginning of the new year.

Solar Eclipse 2011 from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

Faust Vrančić jumps with parachute.

We went to Zadar after that where we recorded a sequence in St. Frane monastery. It was about Faust’s invention of the parachute in his study. The monastery was near the sea and it was beautiful.

Monastery courtyard

The inside was already prepared by set designers. Candles, old books, fruit, various instruments and other props made the atmosphere of Faust era.

Set design was perfect.

We even had a sextant 'cause we were near the sea.

Katarina Prpić from Imago agency helps Mario Petreković buttoning his shirt. Behind them Domen plans the shots. On the right set designer Zvonko Sarić admires his set.

Photoflex Litepanel provided all the light we needed bouncing the light that came from the window back in the room. We were using Canon EOS 7D so a little less light wasn't problematic.

We used Glidetrack on two Manfrotto tripods for slider shots.

I did focus pulling with SGPro follow focus system. Cokin Z-Pro was used as a matte box.

Mario practices his next scene as Domen and another set designer go through some stuff.

Faust went and tested his parachute in Venice as I tested myself doing rotoscoping.

Ther is a scene near the end of the movie where Faust walks to the Saint Mark’s Square in Venice (Piazza San Marco). We shot him and the wall in front of the monastery and the square was added in postproduction using Apple Shake application.

You can see the whole movie again at this link.

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

Strong winds on the way to the Šibenik, Croatia.

On the next exit after the turned over trailer they closed the highway and we were detoured to the local roads.

On Saturday we went to the fortress above the city and started to shoot the interviews with B.A.S.E. jumper Cedric Dumont. It was windy up there, which was difficult for sound recording, but we were more concerned with the wind in relation with the jump. In case the wind was to strong the jump would be cancelled.

Rooftops over Šibenik from hotel Jadran in the center.

Our team on top of fortress: Šibenik turist center representative, Ruža Novak (Imago), Domen Smerdel (Baza Media 2.1), Cedric Dumont (Red Bull B.A.S.E. jumper), Krešimir Krišto (Red Bull)

A view from the fortress.

Domen and Cedric stand on the edge during recording, while Martin holds the reflector.

One of the production cameras was also Sony PMW-EX1.

After we did the interviews, we went to the city where we filmed the scene in which Cedric looks for Faust Vrančić’s birth house. We walked the narrow streets looking for interesting houses and details. We filmed with Canon EOS 7D (B&H link) on Glidetrack slider and Manfrotto tripod (B&H link). We used Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM – B&H link with Shoot 35 FLEXIgear Lens Gears and Follow Focus..

Cedric is looking for Fausta Vrančić's house.

Later we went through the city and shoot announcement presented by croatian actor Mario Petreković as Faust Vrančić. I didn’t tell you that there was an annual medieval fair in Šibenik that weekend so we had a perfect opportunity to shoot historical enactment of parachute invention.

Martin was following Mario Petreković with Glidecam Smooth Shooter all over city.

Mario as Faust climbed the cannon in front of St. Nikolas fortress announcing the jump.

The city was full of fair maidens, drummers and soldiers.

Another Glidetrack setup on the stairs. Manfrotto tripod on one side with the Pro Pod on the rail on the other side and a bunch of lovely Red Bull promotors in the back.

We went to lunch afterwards. There we had to take decision about the jump, because it was time to leave for the airport to prepare for the jump. I was supposed to setup the cameras on the plane to record the takeoff. Half way to the Zadar airport we decided to cancel the jump because the wind was to gusty. We went back to record the missing shots.

The moment of truth. Cedric decided that it is to dangerous to jump.

When we came back the other crew still shot some fillers so Cedric went to practiced some longbow shooting and entertaining the fair maidens.

The sun was slowly setting behind the St. Jakov cathedral so we had to hurry.

The last thing we shoot was another interview with Cedric in which he described the day and the history of parachutes.

When the day finished we  had all the shots where we needed Cedric in, who was leaving early next morning. Next day we filmed in Zadar but this is for another post in which I will tell you about the scenes where Faust invents the parachute and goes to Venice to test it.

You can see the movie at this link.

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

Faust Vrančić and his parachute

Cedric and Faust (played by croatian actor Mario Petreković) meet at Medieval fair in Šibenik. This is the only way for past and present to meet to talk about its shared love, parachute.

Cedric and the inventor of parachute

I will post some impressions and photos from the shoot in the next few days.

Update: links to the posts

Faust Vrančić – parachute inventor from Šibenik

On set of St. Frane monastery

If you liked the story, please consider helping me maintain this blog by purchasing your gear through my product links on the right. It will cost you nothing but will allow me to continue writing. Thank you!

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

Red Bull Double Air

As you can see we upgraded original clip and made a decent event highlight. We added interviews, 3D animation and color corrected the footage (we also whitened the snow). Unfortunately Red Bull decided to publish clean version without titles. Can’t think of the reason why. As soon as the change this I will replace the link. Let me satisfy you until then with uncut 3D animation which I did in Cinema 4D.

Red Bull Double Air 3D animation from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

If you liked the story, please consider helping me maintain this blog by purchasing your gear through my product links on the right. It will cost you nothing but will allow me to continue writing. Thank you!

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

Coop story

The shots were recorded in HDV so I converted them during capture in ProRes. Final Cut Pro has a setting that enables this (HDV to ProRes via FireWire). Everything else was as usual. Editing was done in Final Cut Pro, Color correction in Color, titles in Shake and music was chosen in GarageBand.

Some roosters were giving me the eye.

I was glad to be behind the fence.

Coop Story from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

If you liked the story, please consider helping me maintain this blog by purchasing your gear through my product links on the right. It will cost you nothing but will allow me to continue writing. Thank you!

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

Camera settings were set on minimum (sharpness, contrast, saturation). That is how I achieved flat exposure.

Unprocessed frame (click for full resolution)

RGB Parade Scopes in Apple Color

I set the exposure low so I didn’t  get any blown highlights. I had to be careful with the yellow flowers because I could easily blown only red channel. You can see on the scope above that red channel values are above 100 IRE.

I didn’t have ND filters then (later a bought Light Craft Workshop™ Fader ND filter) so I had to use shutter speeds higher that 1/50s together with wide open apertures (f/1.4 for 50mm and f/2.8 for Macro). Some shots have it set as high as 1/800s. I forgot to change the white balance from AWB (Auto) and I was kind of lucky because the tone values were practically the same and white balance didn’t change. ISO was set at 100. At that time I didn’t know anything about native ISO settings. 7D has native ISO settings 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600. ISO’s 160, 320, 640, and 1250 are crushed versions of the higher ISO and have cleaner noise but have less dynamic range. Settings 125, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 are boosted from the lower ISO’s and have increased noise so I try to avoid them.

All material was converted using MPEG Streamclip to Apple ProRes 422 (LT). It is easier to edit because h.264 is very processor intensive. After the edit was locked I didn’t replaced the ProRes footage for the h.264 one before color correction because conversion left values over 100 and under 0 IRE untouched.

I did color correction in Apple Color. Primary In: I equalized the values between clips, lowered the highlights and lifted the shadows to put them inside 0-100 IRE. I used Secondaries to desaturate any green foliage to preserve only yellow and brown color tones. I added slight vignette (Gamma 1.37, Blur 0.5) in Color FX. A also changed overall Gamma (Green 0.91, Blue 0.85) to cool the temperature of the predominately warm brown shots. The main correction was done in Primary Out tab. I lowered saturation to 0.9 and shadow saturation to 0.17 as I wanted blacks to stay black. I lowered the highlights not to lose the detail in the flowers due to over saturated yellow. I also played a bit with curves as you can see in lower image.

Primary Out color correction

I added the titles in Apple Shake. I used Stabilize node for tracking and Text node for the text. The second title has a shadow so you can still read the text when it is above the same colored flower. I controlled focus of the title with Defocus filter which is much more real looking as the Blur.

Shake node tree

I choose the music It Can’t Be from the GarageBand library. I exported the clip in ProRes 422 (LT) codec and transcoded it in Compressor with QuickTime H.264 setting to upload it to Vimeo.

This was the whole workflow. Now I invite you to watch the clip Nuclear Wasteland again.

Nuclear Wasteland from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

Milenko Prevec taking pictures of Tussilago farfara.

Shot with my father’s Canon 7D with EF50mm f/1.4 USM and EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lenses using Manfrotto tripod and a Glidetrack. Edited in Final Cut Pro with music clip It Can’t Be from GarageBand, title tracking was made with Shake, which still does what it supposed to do. Color correction was done in Color.

The other footage of ordinary spring plants at some other occasion. Now let’s jump to the wasteland area.

Nuclear Wasteland from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

Our house is on the left

Later that morning we went from St. Oswald which is near Bad Kleinkirchheim with a lift on top of Brunnach (1908m), where I did the rest of the time-lapses. Up here is also the Brunnach lake which is used a winter for snow cannons.

Brunnach panorama restaurant Nock-In at height 1908m with Brunnach artificial lake

I used Nikon D200 with MC-36 remote. For one moving shot I used Mizar Optical KD motor mount. I fixed it to the rail with Manfrotto Super Clamp. This shot is slightly shaky ’cause the wind was blowing hard.

Nikon D200, 17-55mm f/2.8 lens, Mizar KD Mount, Nikon MC-36 remote and Manfrotto Super Clamp

12V lead battery and mount remote were placed on the bench next to the backpack

I did the rainbow shot late that evening again from the balcony. I forgot to turned of autofocus so there is some focus searching in the shot.

I used Aperture to process the RAW files, exported them in HD resolution and merged them to movie files in QuickTime. I edited them in Final Cut Pro and color corrected in Color. The music was put together in Soundtrack using ambient loops and bird sounds. I had to remove flicker from the 270º shot. For that I used FurnaceCore (DeFlicker) from the Foundry.

I hope you will enjoy watching the movie.

A day in Bad Kleinkirchheim from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

I decided to use Vimeo this time because I don’t like the legality politic on YouTube. They turned of on of my videos, television clip that had more than 85% of my own footage. The rest were their TV show presenters. But more on that on some other occasion.

Slovenski prevod vpisa si lahko ogledate na tem naslovu.

Package contained disk adapter, screwdriver, USB cables, USB enclosure and CD with manual

Replacing the unit wasn’t difficult. You follow instructions and where the failed you follow your common sense. I had some problems with puting the SuperDrive in an external enclosure, as there are no instructions for that, but not much.

Replacing the optical unit is not so difficult

I just have to install all applications again

I want a clean install so I have to install all the applications again. In the future I will replace the disk for a faster SSD, but their prices need to come down a bit.

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tem naslovu.

432bb2cca7444e889c725085d0df8565

Testing the improvised crane

The full lenght of the crane (Manfrotto tripod, Super Clamp, monopod, counterbalance and Canon 5D MkII)

Then we sat in the boats and drove on the other side. The climbing wasn’t difficult as we had some climbing gear to help and protect us (Petzl Jumar).  When we came up we hauled up our equipment with ropes.

Looking at the jump site

Carabiners, ropes and Jumar helped me to the top

I pieced together the crane at the top and placed it on the edge. It was difficult to handle cause I didn’t have a display to monitor my crane moves. The jumps were also sparse so I couldn’t practice the camera movement.

Team on the top (myself Peter Prevec, photographer Predrag Vučković, diver Orlando Duque, cameraman Domen Smerdel and climber)

Domen in position

The crane is positioned on the edge of the cliff

The monopod was Super Clamped to the tripod head, the counterbalance was made of Manfrotto SkyHook, The Pod sandbag and 12V lead battery

Canon 5D MkII on the crane with diver and buoy beneath

Orlando Duque and Lorens Listo from Mostarja did only seven jumps (Orlando five) one of them together so we finished quickly. The next day we did a teaser for the ed Bull Cliff Diving Activation Neretva long clip.

Red Bull Cliff Diving Activation Neretva, Bosnia and Hercegovina

If you liked the story, please consider helping me maintain this blog by purchasing your gear through my product links on the right. It will cost you nothing but will allow me to continue writing. Thank you!

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tem naslovu.

After two hours of sleep we went south to river Neretva, where we put all our equipment in waterproof bags, dressed neoprene suits and rubber boots and went with cars up stream where we boarded the rafts.

Three rafts and Red Bull bouy

We stopped at two locations in the canyon where Orlando jumped. We could climb with him to the top at the first location. The day was hot and this made climbing in neoprene suit and rubber boots very hard and uncomfortable. The water was ice cold and so we needed the suits.

The crew on river Neretva

Red Bull buoy was trailing along

Orlando Duques first jump

Rafts ready for action

Jump sequence

Predrag Vučković in his underwater phase

After we filmed the first location we went on. Rafting the white waters was phenomenal. I thought that it would be scarier, but it was enough adrenaline for the first time.

Every raft carried six people

Beautiful river Neretva

They must had great time filming The Battle of Neretva (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064091/)

Waterfalls in the middle of the river

Second location had very difficult access. The climbers had to put ladders and a small platform for jump to happen. In the mean time we grilled some čevapčiči.

Skipper and his čevapđinica (traditional Bosnian eating place)

After a whole day of wearing wet neoprene boots

God rays

Then we went to our positions and started shooting some jumps.

Domen climbing to the top

Glidetrack, The Pod sandbag, Manfrotto Modo tripod and Canon 5D MkII

Looking at the viewfinder

Stone Crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) - the one in front

Last location

The weather went bad. The water was cold and the divers stopped jumping. We put down the equipment and went to the base where we changed clothes.

White waters of Neretva

GPS locations of the trip

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tem naslovu.

Coach Matjaž Kek on a hallway in hotel Primus, Ptuj

Valter Birsa and Bojan Jokić training for a game playing Playstation

Camera Sony PMW-EX1 with Letus Extreme DOF adapter and 50mm f/1.4 lens on Glidetrack slider which is supported by two Manfrotto tripods

Playing football

Team captain Robert Koren in Kompas office at Ptuj is prepared to play his part

1kW Red Head diffused through 1x2m Litepanel was used on scene

Lastminute center

Confessional in small church in Vipava valley

Confessional

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tej strani.

First batch of cameras (bottom right is Canon 550D with 50mm f/1.4, that I got from Foto Format) - iPhone (edited with Pro HDR, CrossProcess)

I knew that there will be to little time during the weekend so I went location scouting in the afternoon. I still had an idea about a poppy filed so I followed directions from my friend Nataša to the nearby field. There were a lot of poppies but the surroundings were horrid. Small village on one end and billboards on the other. This was clashing with my idea of a lost lonely girl in the nature.

Poppy field I (©2010 Peter Prevec)

Poppy field II (©2010 Peter Prevec)

I gave up the poppy filed idea and went to Slovenian Istra. I took the highway to Koper and over the hill to Dragonja. It was raining for the whole time and I wasn’t hoping for nicer weather. First photos were made under umbrella.

Istrian wines (©2010 Peter Prevec)

I mainly used Nikon D3s body with the new 24mm f/1.4 lens, which quickly became my favourite lens and only thing that is stopping me from buying it is high price (€2.000). It is everything it promises: sharp, fast, sensitive and wide.

Even old Megane looks like a hot rod with the new 24mm f/1.4. (©2010 Peter Prevec)

There was lots of interesting locations on the way, but they were to far apart and we would use too much time between them so I decided to go to small deserted village called Abitanti near Croatia border. On the way the sun came from under the clouds so I stopped a few times to take pictures.

Sun between clouds and earth. - iPhone (edited with Pro HDR, CrossProcess)

Self portrait - iPhone (edited with Pro HDR, CrossProcess)

I stopped by the road, step out, take picture and drive on. The light was phenomenal. (©2010 Peter Prevec)

Sunset after the rain. (©2010 Peter Prevec)

It was after 9 PM when I arrived to the Abitanti village so I quickly set up the cameras to do some time lapse photography. You may think I was too late and the darkness to thick, but the light sensitive Nikons were performing great in night photography with the fast lenses I had.

Nikon D300, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, ISO 400, f/2.8, exposure 8s, time 21:52 (©2010 Peter Prevec)

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED, ISO 800, f/1.4, exposure 2s, time 21:55 (©2010 Peter Prevec)

This is actually a night photo. The bright thing on the sky is not sun but moon. You can see some stars on the left side of the image. Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED, ISO 400, f/1.4, exposure 1.6s, time 23:17 (©2010 Peter Prevec)

I hope I will finally write more about the shoot itself in the following days and even post some video clips.

Slovenski prevod vpisa najdete na tem naslovu.