Day 18 - Project 365

"Live Strong - Despite Defeat"

Wow, day 18 turned out to be such a tough choice - Style vs substance… I couldn't decide. In the end substance won out as I feel that in the end it's the message that shines through despite the style. We have all seen some of the those independent movies that just blow you away even though they used a camera bought from Walmart and a shop light. Back in 2004 when I first started college for digital media, all I wanted to do was direct movies. However, I was entirely too focused on style, look, lightings and mood. I held all of that above substance, content, emotion and story. It took me 2 years of photography to realize that style with out substance just doesn't cut it. I've become a much stronger director over the past 2 years and am confident that when I get a chance to stand behind that directors monitor again I will be in a much better position to actually direct people!

Brian dropped by around 7:00 pm. I answered the door with video camera in hand. He quickly lowered his head like a celebrity avoiding paperatzi! I could tell this would be an interesting night as it would all be on video. It was my personal mission to stick the camera in Brian's face as much as possible. Little did I know it would backfire as never has my nose, ear and cheek had so much screen time. We headed out to the track at sportsman park. Its about 5 minutes away and has lights so focus would be easy. The track was full of soccer moms jogging to stay in shape, business men who decide that running in work clothes is easier then changing and derelicts just "chilling" cuz that's the cool thing to do. We unload the equipment and start setting up in the parking lot. Shawn points the camera at Brian and decides that the best way to get someone to warm up the camera is to chase them with it. From that point I was setting up alone. There were brief moments that I saw a flash of what may have been Brian or Shawn, but for the most part it was just the sounds of two grown men fighting. Beauty dish, boom, C-Stands, Soft box and vagabond ready to go, Shawn and Brian settle down enough to aid me in carrying it all to the track. We always get strange looks when we bring all the equipment out in public. You always get some people who like to be a smart ass and backseat direct. Miming either mine or the models movements. Although mostly its just curious onlookers wondering what we are doing.

We set up at the end of the track just before the curve. I boom out the beauty dish and instruct shawn to put back the Soft box and light that I had purposely placed 20 yards down - he was half way back to me before I noticed he was undoing my work. Shawn decides that the best way to get ready for this shot was to jog around the track a few times. Being nearly ready to test, I bid him farewell with a sigh. He returns from his quarter mile adventure in good time and we being snapping tests. I make a few adjustments and dial in the final adjustments to camera settings and lights. Time for the water! I love this part, the minor torture of shawn in the name of art! However, this time he refuses to let either Brian or myself apply the "sweat". No, he must do it himself as to avoid a possible, well quite probable over saturation! He gingerly dribbles water on himself and returns to his mark. Not a moment after shawn steps onto his mark does Brian discover my long lost spray bottle. Apparently, I thought it best fit with the electrical gear and put it in with the extension cords. I quickly filled the sprayer with water and attempted to spray Shawn a bit. Of course he had to hold the bottle himself. However, shortly after he set the bottle down did Brian pick it up. Well, from that point forward, Shawn was constantly "sweaty" as Brian took on the job of "spritzer" a little to seriously. He even found it necessary to mist my ass crack as I was bending down - thanks Brian. By the end of the night I had two wet spots on chest which looked as if I had male lactation issues and a wet ass. Note to self: hold on to water sprayer in the future. Shawn was on his mark, lights were set and I started snapping away. However, I just couldn't seem to get the pose out of him that I was looking for. Totally not his fault but as the final shot for today illustrates… I didn't end up using the track shot. (Day 18 Runner up) Although, the shot was stylistically superior to the final choice, the message just wasn't there. We headed over to the bleachers to get what would end up being the winner for the day. I sat Shawn near the middle of the bleachers and boomed the light to its fullest extent, a full 7 feet. This required both a 25 pound sand bag and the Vagabond II as counter weight. The bleacher shot took less time then the setup and we called it a wrap. So in the end day 18 turned out alright and I'll raise my non existent glass to substance as you have proved once again you are king. Day 18… thanks for being a pain in the ass!

Lighting: lets not stray to far from my norm…

AB800 boomed WAY out over head approx. 3 feet above shawns head. at 1/8 power.