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How to turn any boring office space into an interesting background

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Many of us have been there. You get a call to go and photograph or film some people in an office somewhere. You prepare with all sorts of cool ideas, maybe we could shoot in the lobby, or the roof garden you think. But no, when you arrive you’re shown to a smallish conference room with a massive table in the middle and beige walls. How are you going to make this look cool?

Well don’t worry, there are a few tricks you can use to pimp up even the blandest of offices. In this video from Epic Light Media you’ll discover how.

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These are the best and worst brands you can buy for shooting video… maybe

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Camera gear talk is always quite interesting and often pretty amusing. So many are loyal to their brand, not that I’m pointing any fingers, and just can’t seem to look at things objectively. And while most brands these days have got things pretty good when it comes to stills, the sub-$5,000 camera market for video shooters is still a bit all over the place. Relatively speaking, though, it’s a pretty young sector of the market and everybody’s still trying to figure things out. One or two might have it almost right, though.

In this video, Caleb Pike looks at all of the manufacturers currently producing cameras for less than five grand to see how they really compare to each other, including everything from build quality to ergonomics and features to overheating issues and some 30-minute time limits in between. And while Caleb doesn’t really cite any specific camera models here, just the brands as a whole, it’s pretty interesting to hear his take. Even if it is still pretty subjective.

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This guy’s mad video editing skills hilariously turn him into random objects

Kevin Parry is a stop motion animator and video creator known for his short and fun video clips. In his recent series of videos, he magically turns himself into random stuff: a snowball, a pumpkin, or a pile of balloons. And no, he doesn’t use magic – only some clever video editing skills he’s famous for.

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The Photographer’s guide to getting started with video – and why you need to learn video

As a photographer, making the transition to video or adding it to your offerings can be a daunting task – especially if you haven’t jumped on the mirrorless train yet. Even if you’re already a very good photographer, shooting video requires a very different skillset (and potentially a whole bunch of new gear) that can take some time to learn.

In this 16-minute video, photographer Justin Mott offers up some useful advice for photographers thinking about getting started with video – or how to take it more seriously if you’ve already had a little go with it.

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Are you guilty of making these six mistakes before you even hit record?

When it comes to shooting video, many of us will cut corners, especially on small scale lower budget productions.  It’s all too easy to just grab a camera and start shooting without actually putting any real thought into it. And usually, this lack of forethought shows in the final result.

In this video, Epic Light Media talks about six of the most common mistakes people make when shooting a video. They’re nothing to do with making sure batteries are charged or packing extra memory cards and while not all of them will apply to all situations, they’re all things that you’ll want to keep in mind if you decide to start taking video more seriously.

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Camera containing Panasonic’s 8K global shutter organic CMOS sensor spotted at exhibition in Japan

This 8K organic CMOS sensor from Panasonic seems to be turning into the Duke Nukem of sensors. Basically, vapourware. Every so often, a box with “8K” written on the side of it seems to be trotted out to some show or other, with a promise that it’ll be getting released soon and then it never seems to actually happen.

The sensor was first announced in February 2018, boasting an 8K 60fps global shutter. In October 2018 they said it was coming in Autumn 2019 – where we just heard about its development. It didn’t get announced as being available. Well, now it’s been spotted again at the 4K/8K Video Technology Exhibition in Japan.

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Manfrotto’s new low-budget lightweight monopod is designed for run & gun video shooting

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Manfrotto has today announced their new Manfrotto Element MII Fluid Video Monopod. They say it’s the lightest video monopod on the market, coming in at a mere 1kg (or 670g for the headless version), and includes three feet at the bottom to help it stand when you need to as has the option of a built-in fluid drag head for smooth tilting and panning.

It’s available in two different options. First is the whole kit with the built-in fluid head but you can also buy the monopod sans head with a 3/8-16″ thread on top allowing you to attach your tilt (or other) head of choice.

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This viral video is the result of an angry Broadacres woman for shooting on public property

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On Saturday, 16 February, Kelyn Alyssa and her husband went to Broadacres in Houston to have some photos taken of their baby daughter to celebrate her first birthday. During the shoot, a woman started shouting at them from a car for taking photos. But then it got worse – she got out of the car and threw a tantrum. She was screaming at the couple and the photographer, she hit the husband and started moving the props, all while the terrified child was screaming.

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The new Panasonic S1 might just be the new low light video king

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There’s been a lot of buzz around the new Panasonic S1 full frame mirrorless camera. Some of it good, some of it not so good. People like to complain about the size and weight, and the fact that it doesn’t have a flippy out LCD like the GH5. But how about the good? Well, cinema5D has been having a play with the Panasonic S1, and when it comes to low light performance, they feel it could be the new king in town.

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