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It’s totally ok to ask for help with your work

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It’s a problem that all of us face at some point or another in our creative lives. We hit a wall and we just aren’t sure what to do next. We don’t want to ask for help, because we like to think that we can solve any problem by ourselves and come up with a solution. Sometimes, though, asking for help is the best thing you can do.

Simon Cade at DSLRGuide faced this problem recently when filming at a writer’s workshop in France. He had an idea for a story in his head of what he wanted to shoot, but then his story just hit a wall partway through. He didn’t know how to continue it. He turned to the writers attending the workshop for help, and ultimately it led to him growing as a filmmaker.

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Creatives, don’t fight procrastination – turn it into your advantage

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Do you tend to procrastinate when there’s work to be done? I believe many of us were taught that we shouldn’t do it, so we feel guilty when the work keeps piling up, and we do nothing about it. I’ve stumbled upon an interesting video which shows that procrastination isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, it might even be good for some creatives. Simon Cade from DSLR Guide shares some thoughts about how he deals with it, and if you recognize yourself, it might make you look at your procrastination from a new perspective.

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How to make your digital footage look like it was shot on Super 16mm film

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Shooting with real film is the dream of many filmmakers. Often, they actually get their chance, and fall in love with it. But these days, even more so than in the past, film is very expensive. Unless one is independently wealthy or wins the lottery, it’s just not viable for every project.

Simon Cade at DSLRguide has discovered this, too. Having recently started to try out Super 16 film, he knows he can’t justify the expense to use it for all his projects and ideas. So, he set out to recreate the look in post using DSLR footage. In this video, he talks about analysing the Super 16 format, and how to reproduce it digitally.

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How to deal with haters and negative feedback on your work

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When you start publishing your creative work online, you need to be prepared for all kinds of comments, both positive and negative. While the praise feels good and constructive criticism helps us grow – what are we gonna do with “haters?” Simon Cade of DSLRguide gives you some tips how to deal with hateful comments. You should leave them alone, but not ignore them completely. You should also change your attitude, and Simon shares some very helpful tips how to find the balance and turn even hateful feedback into fuel for your future growth.

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This is why you should just give up and quit photography

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We all have those nagging doubts when it comes to what we shoot. No matter how good others tell us we are or how amazing they believe our work is, we feel like frauds. We struggle constantly, whether it’s with ideas, budget, time, stress. And when you sit and think about it, there are more reasons to quit than to keep carrying on.

It’s bad enough when other people tell us what we can’t do. When we tell ourselves, it can be truly devastating. It’s a topic explored by Simon Cade in this video. He talks about what he goes through, how he feels, and why he should just quit.

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Inequality in filmmaking industry: do filmmakers need to be male?

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When it comes to male and female roles in the society, there are a lot of stereotypes and a lot of inequality. One of the fields where disparity seems to be largely present is filmmaking, and movie industry in general. Simon Cade of DSLR Guide discusses this topic in his latest video trying to get some answers. Do filmmakers need to be male? And if not – why men are still predominant in this industry?

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10 shooting tips to make amazing slow motion sequences

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Shooting slow motion is now easier than ever. Many cameras being released now will shoot 60fps. They may only do it at 1080p, but they can do it. If your final project is 24fps, that means you can slow down 2.5x without losing a single frame. If you’ve got a camera that shoots 120fps or 240fps, then you can slow things down even further. With 1,000fps cameras for our phones on the way, we can go even more slow-mo crazy.

But how can you use slow motion effectively? This video from Simon Cade at DSLRguide goes a long way toward answering that question. Some of the tips are technical, and some are purely creative. The why is just as important as the how when it comes to using slow motion, if not more so. Because if you don’t have a good reason why you want to use it, then the how doesn’t matter.

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How to get cinematic lighting without electricity

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Most of my shoots, whether for stills or video, are out on location. Often, those locations are out in the middle of nowhere. So, I rely on portable battery powered everything, including lights. This means we don’t always get the power we’re able to in the studio with mains powered lights, but it doesn’t mean we’re out of options.

In this video from DSLRguide, filmmaker Simon Cade talks us through some different setups using portable battery powered lights. He shows us how to simulate both moonlight and sunlight, as well as complementing and overcoming issues with practical lights. He also shows a great way to build a good flaming torch to either light a shot or be the subject of it.

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You Don’t Need To Buy A New Camera To Be A Better Photographer

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Let’s face it, with how rapidly camera manufacturers are improving digital technology and releasing new and improved cameras, it’s hard not to get caught up in gear acquisition syndrome. At some point, you may have even caught yourself saying, “If I just had (fill in any piece of equipment here), my photography would be so much better.” I’ll be the first to admit the thought has ran through my mind at least a couple times. That’s exactly why this poignant video from filmmaker, Simon Cade, hits home so much.

If you were to take a look inside Cade’s gear bag, you’d find the same CanonT3i and Canon Elph 300 that he’s been using since the beginning of 2013. Yet, despite shooting with older and (what could be considered) entry-level gear, upgrading to a new DSLR isn’t even on Cade’s radar. And, the logic he uses to battle the nagging desire to spend tons of money on new gear and gadgets seems to be pretty flawless.

“My theory is that the people who don’t prioritise equipment & technical things end up being successful enough that they shoot on high end gear just because they can. It’s definitely not the equipment itself that makes them great / successful.”[Read More…]

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