Shopping For A Used PC

Am still shopping! Not sure where I am going to get all the money but am looking into buying a PC that I van totally devote to my documentary film project. I prefer Macs but they are so damn expensive, a new system with the standards I need might run upwards of $2000-3000 USD.  With a Mac I could use Final Cut Pro to edit video, a program I have used a bit before (dads funeral video) and prefer.

To save on costs I am looking to get a used PC with lots of RAM, a fast I7 quad processor and a big hard drive 750 GB to 2.5 TB (somewhere in that range). All this computer lingo gives me a headache!! If I can get a system for under $1000 CAD and then run Adobe Premiere in it (video editing software). It should work fine for me. Later on, in a few years I can buy another used unit to do 4K video. That is if I am still making movies then.

This sort of tech improves daily so buying state of the art is sort of a waste of money. I can buy used and good now, and make my movie then move on to other used computer systems and cameras later on.

Quote: Divine (Actor)

"If you believe in something and believe in yourself, do it!"

Bought Me A 24-105mm Canon Lens

Finally!, unless I buy a laptop devoted to film editing my shopping for the documentary seems over. I bought the last piece today a MINT 24-105mm Canon F4 lens with "image stabilizer". After the sale with Larry fell through I searched on EBay for a while to find something comparable. I got a MINT lens with warranty from a seller (store) in Toronto, the cost was $644 CAD (including shipping and taxes). So it is basically Larry's lens minus the B&W filter (will have to settle for a Hoya). Without the filter I am saving $56 CAD, Larry wanted $700 for his.

So an OK decent deal, now I have the main lens I will use for the documentary. It might be the only lens I use to shoot the film. I chose this 24-105mm F4 because it is highly recommended online and has the image stabilization feature allowing for handheld work on my part. The combination of the video rig with this image stabilized lens should allow decent run and gun in the field. I might also try some post stabilizing effects for camera shake thou I am unsure how those will look (pixel-led?).

Canon 24-105mm F4 with image stabilizer

Documentary Watching

I have started studying the work of great documentary film maker Errol Morris. A few years back independent of my filmmaker aspirations I watched two of his films, "The Fog of War" and the "Unknown Known". Last night I watched an amazing film made by Mr. Morris called "Mr. Death". Mr. Death ranks as one of the best documentaries films I have ever seen. It is a portrait of a man who at first seems to be a bit of a hero if a bit strange and eccentric by the movies end you come to dislike the man and what he represents, there is a sadness to his life and his desperate needs. You end up questioning your feelings from the front end of the movie.

Been watching docs of all kinds, have another 15 or so to go through from the library plus my large collection of unwatched DVD docs. I have many more Errol Morris films on order. As I watch the films I take notes on things I like, on ideas, on film making styles. Hopefully I can use some of what I see and learn in all these successful films in my own movie, homage like :))).

Manfrotto 501 Video Head

Today I experienced another example of one of the advantages of having lots of everything (gear everywhere!). In one of my previous incarnations and buying sprees in search of becoming a filmmaker I bought a nice large 501 Manfrotto video head along with 2 sets of tripod legs. Today I took the that head off the legs and put them on my Gitzo carbon fibre tripod then mounted my video camera rig to it. Everything works very nicely. I do not think the head is too much to big, maybe a bit but it is better to have a head that can handle more weight than it has to versus one that is over matched.

Earlier today I was scoping out some Benro video heads (from China) on Ebay and the size I needed ran $249 USD. Now I do not have to buy that unit and instead can use the Manfrotto head I bought several years ago. Finally a bit of saving and no need to buy more new gear. I believe I will take this larger Manfrotto video head with me to the dump. I will not take and use it everyday but the days I do use it will allow me slow non jumpy professional looking video pans.

Bought Me 2 Ultra Slim 2TB Hard Drives

I picked up a 2-2TB ultra slim Seagate hard drives (USB powered) tonight for $120.74 CAD each (including shipping and taxes). I will use these as a main and a back up hard drive to download all my video, picture and audio files. I might get a third and fourth hard drive later. I need to have multiple copies of everything I do. 4TB can be eaten up awful fast when your saving 1080p raw footage video and long raw footage wave files. Who knows how much storage I will eventually require, if I shoot over many months it could require substantial space, and back up space. If I keep a main and back up drive for everything I do then my work should be very safe. I might be also buying a new laptop devoted to video editing. I want to use Final Cut Pro to edit this project so the laptop will need to be a Apple. Been looking into buying a laptop second hand but the savings do not seem that substantial. It might be better and smarter to go new there.

Inspired And Excited By The Films Possibilities

I have been so consumed with buying and setting up the right gear, worrying about the costs along with learning how to do everything that I had forgotten the potential sheer joy of doing what I am planning to do. When I make still pictures the end result photograph you see in the fixer tray is the highest of highs for me. When you get that photo just right, when you tell that subjects story with power and strength, when know you "GOT IT!!". There is no better feeling in the entire world. That special moment in time while I gaze down that floating print is the best feeling I know or most likely will ever know.

Today with the Canon 5d Mark III camera on the rig and the follow focus mounted I did a few minutes of video. I talked and videotaped my subject in some beautiful warm light and it is now all recorded (with lousy sound, did not have the mics set up) and saved on my compact flash card. It was exciting to do that, it felt beautiful, inspiring. It was wonderful in a unique and different way.

When I get all by the buying and techno crap out of the way, I need to remember what this is all about. I will be telling an important story about valuable forgotten lives. I will be trying to bring these lives OUT for the world to see and understand. Trying to tell their important story, trying to inspire and compel change with my film. What is more beautiful than that? This is going to be great. Yes it is scary, yes it is new for me but gosh I am such a lucky person to have the opportunity to do this. Not only did I have the chance to make still images with the families but now I will also be able to record, edit and make a documentary film on their lives.

Great shit!! I am excited and inspired.

Note* Got a note from a person at work (am on my days off). Some more hats were dropped off at the security guardhouse, donated by a person I work with. I hope to put out another hat call before I leave to do the film. I am also thinking of asking for small toys (dolls, toy cars etc) to hand out to the children when I return. Last time there was such sheer joy and happiness with the kids when I gave out some used dolls, I hope to repeat that experience. Hope to bring a bit of happiness into the dump children's lives.

Here is a color and b/w version pic of Chimeeko one of the dump children.

Chmeeko the son of the bride and groom in the dump, digi photo, Mae Sot Thailand April-May 2016

The Follow Focus Has Arrived

The video camera rig gear continues to arrive. I received my Kamera follow focus (FF3) today and attached it to the P&C rig without too much issue. The follow focus seems to work quite well with a nice smooth geared action leading to sharp focus. I do not have my final lens on the unit (do not own it yet) and am currently testing the FF3 with my non image stabilized Canon 24-70 f2.8 lens. So far so good thou, will continue to test this thing in the coming days. The Kamera FF3 build seems solid, lets see how it holds together in the field. Focusing is way easier now than before, it is fast smooth and sensitive. Still waiting on the used Zacuto viewfinder. This close up magnified viewfinder working in combo with the Kamera follow focus should give great results. I should be able to focus quickly and accurately with this set up in the heat, humidity and general craziness of the dump.

Here is the link to the original bought me blog for this item:
http://gerryyaum.blogspot.ca/2016/11/bought-me-kamera-follow-focus.html 

Bought Me A Rode Stereo Rycote Microphone

I bought a Rode stereo microphone to use on camera for the coming documentary. I chose the stereo mic because it will pickup 360 degree sounds including my own voice. I plan on using this mic connected directly to my Canon 5D Mark 3 which will improve sound greatly over the cameras built in microphone. I can use this sound to sync and or enhance sound from the shotgun and lavalier mics. This stereo "in camera" sound will be the least important of the microphones (I think!) but still serves an important overall contribution to good sound quality for the documentary.

I got the unit for $275 USD (plus shipping) as part of a bundle including a dead cat (wind jacket for the mic), a cord and a collapsible boom handle. I am thinking of carrying the boom with me in my sound bag so that at any moment I can attach the Rode Shotgun NDT-3 microphone and record growling dogs or garbage trucks or whatever strikes me as important. Possibly some singing or arguing done by different people at odd unexpected times. The boom poll is a nice bonus that should allow me to get in close to my subject, I hope it is not to big to carry with me.

Rode streo microphone bundle

Quote: Dalton Trumbo (Blacklisted Hollywood Screenwriter)

1970, speech made while accepting the Screen Writers Guild Laurel Award

"The blacklist was a time of evil, and no one on either side who survived it came through untouched by evil. Caught in a situation that had passed beyond the control of mere individuals, each person reacted as his nature, his needs, his convictions, and his particular circumstances compelled him to. There was bad faith and good, honesty and dishonesty, courage and cowardice, selflessness and opportunism, wisdom and stupidity, good and bad on both sides. When you who are in your 40s or younger look back with curiosity on that dark time, as I think occasionally you should, it will do no good to search for villains or heroes or saints or devils because there were none; there were only victims. Some suffered less than others, some grew and some diminished, but in the final tally we were all victims because almost without exception each of us felt compelled to say things he did not want to say, to do things that he did not want to do, to deliver and receive wounds he truly did not want to exchange. That is why none of us--right, left, or center--emerged from that long nightmare without sin."

Learning To Set Up My Wireless Lavalier Microphone System

One of the advantages of being a night time security guard is you have time to play and learn while being paid. Tonight once again I am learning to become a film maker on YouTube, am concentrating on getting better sound. I have my Zoom F4 here at work along with the Rode NDT-2 shotgun mic and my Lavalier Sennheiser wireless mic system.  Spent the last while working on the best sounding setting for this combo of the sound recorder with the Lav receiver/transmitter. The best numbers I am getting seem to be:

- Zoom F4 channel #1 set at 30 gain, #2 (safe channel allowing for more headroom and peaking) at 20 gain.
- The Sennheiser receiver set at +6db and the transmitter at -12db.

I still have lots to learn and play with here, but I seem to be closing in on the settings I might be using in the dump with Fred. Here is the video that was helpful to me, thanks "Video Gear" Channel.
How To Set Up A Wireless Lav Microphone

Note* Part of the reason I log all this info on my online diary is so that if I later forget something or lose my notes I can still go online and search my blog for the information I need. It becomes sort of a personal tech info back up for me, also who knows it might help other people in their set ups.
Note** From what I have studied you want to have the recorder sound level set at about -12db for people speaking to allow plenty of headroom (louder speaking no red peaking). Am still not sure how to set -12db on my F4 recorder but learning more and more now, and that will come soon. My sound recording confidence is growing.

Update* This setting also seems to work quite well:
- Zoom F4 channel #1 set at 25 gain, #2 (safe channel allowing for more headroom and peaking) at 15 gain.
- The Sennheiser receiver set at 0db and the transmitter at -9db.

Zoom F4 On The Camera Rig Or Separate Bag?

Am I better off carrying my Zoom F4 sound recorder in a separate shoulder bag? Weight wise I can mount the F4 to the bottom of my video camera rig but do I want to? If I place it in a separate camera bag I will not have as easy access to the recorders dials and I will not be able to watch the audio recording as closely etc but the weight might be distributed a bit better and I would also be able to protect the recorder from the liquids and general stinking waste of the garbage dump.

I will be carrying a separate bag for odds and ends as well as one or two film cameras plus film. Putting the Zoom F4 in that same bag, might be the best option. As with all things, more thought needed.

Update* Thought of some other advantages to bagging the recorder.

1) It will be less of a distraction for the people I am shooting, especially the children. If the kids see all those flashing lights there figures will be all over the recorder to play with the dials. When we become friends the children's fingers tend to fly over my camera camera gear, children are so curious and love to try to do stuff and see how things work. I might be better off hiding this unit away.

2) If I fall into the garbage as happens occasionally I would have some protection (cloth bag) between the garbage and my sound gear.

Update** Been playing with a bag for the Zoom F4 Audio Field Recorder tonight. I think this is the way I will got, it makes my rig look less intimidating, it provides protection for my audio recorder and as  bonus I will have a space to hang my earphones and film cameras (1or2 35mms, Leica rangefinder or SLR and 1 120mm, a Plaubel Makina or Rollieflex).

Close My Website?

Been thinking over the last few years whether I should close my amateur looking website gerryyaum.com. It is not super expensive to run but not sure how beneficial it is to have any more. I just got a notice for payment of $128 CAD for the site. Should I pay it or let the site go down? I also have to pay for the domain name, that's another $100 or so. With so many free sites like Wix and with this blog do I also need the .dot.com site? If I had a pro level page there it might be worth keeping but everything is so out of date and I see to be no closer to fixing it up then I was years ago. I would lose my email contact@gerryyaum.com but not sure how important that is. It is more pro looking then gerryyaum@gmail.com but I also get a ton of spam mail at that address, over 95% maybe 99% is spam crap and African con emails saying I won 10 million from a long lost friend.

I might be better served by banking the money I waste on the website and email address and instead use the money for film or for next years dump donations. I guess I should check to see how many visitors the site generates but as of now I am thinking of letting it all expire. I could always start it up in a few years time, maybe when I retire from security and devote myself to my photography full time. Another option would be to shift the better looking Wix site to my www.gerryyaum.com domain name (not sure how to do that).
My Free Wix Site (Needs An Update As Well

Update* I think that is what I am going to do. I will let the old white background site go down and try and switch the site www.gerryyaum.wix.com/photo to www.gerryyaum.com/

Video Rig Handle Problem Solved

I managed to solve my rig video handle moving problem. No matter how much I tightened my front handles on the P&C rig they moved on me. I decided the best way to stop the moving was not cork or sticky sandpaper but instead something a bit more radical and tough. I drilled holes through my cast metal rig and the aluminum tubing then placed a screw with nut through it and tightened it all up.

Now my rig is not quite as beautiful as before but way more functional. When I am in the dump shooting, when I have the rig loaded with gear I cannot afford twisting handles or peeling slipping cork. With the drilled holes and screws in place everything is pretty much rock solid. Will have to take some extra screws and such (toolkit?) as backups but it looks like that problem is solved. Gosh I am a rather lousy repair-builder dude but got that job done satisfactorily!

Am proud of myself :))!

Bought me 2-256GB SDXC Cards

Picked up 2-256GB SDXC cards made by PNY Technologies off B&H photo for $79.99 USD a card. I wanted to get quality cards as I will be using and reusing these 2 cards inside my Zoom F4 field sound recorder. There are all kinds of versions of SD (SDXC) cards on Ebay, which are good? which are not? I figured it was safer to pay more and buy from a reputable seller like B&H. The Zoom F4 has 2 SD card slots so I will place these to 256GB cards there.

I should be able to use these cards to complete the entire project. Will transfer the files daily to the computer I will be using to edit the project. Will also transfer all files to a back up hard drive. Organizing everything will be difficult but oh so important. I will have to figure out a system, possibly by date created and file number.

I will be recording 2 mics with the recorder but 4 tracks. 2 of the tracks will be set at a lower gain level in case my subject yells out. I will have 2 sources for the final edit which should help prevent the signal from peaking/crashing out (or whatever the term is!).

Note* Supposedly each card sold at a $40 USD discount.
Update** Been thinking  that since I have 256GB of storage on these cards I will; not have to back them up on a daily basis, maybe every 3 or 4 days thou that could could be a bit dangerous. I wonder how man wave files will fit on a 256GB card? How many hours of recordings?

PNY 256GB SD Card

Quote: Vincent Price

"A man who limits his interests limits his life."

Bought Me A Used Zacuto Z-Finder Viewfinder

I bought myself a used " Zacuto Z-Finder Viewfinder Pro 3.0x for 3.2 with Screens w/ Gorilla Plate V2" Made a slight discount deal with the seller to buy it for $175 USD plus shipping. I believe this is an almost new display model, comes with original box, manual etc.

This unit attaches to the back of my Canon 5D Mark 3 and allows for precise focusing on the LCD when shooting video. It is basically an adjustable magnifying glass. I will be able to focus sharply and concentrate better on the composition of the shot. There will be no glare on the LCD from the hot Thai sun! The Gorilla plate V2 is the metal harness system that allows you to attach the viewfinder to the back of the camera.

These units new run $375 USD from B&H so this is a pretty good deal.

Note* With these most recent purchases I believe I have almost everything I need for the documentary film outside of the 24-105mm lens (that deal is in the works).  I will no doubt need to buy various small items like memory cards and batteries etc, but most of the big purchases seem almost done. I was able to get many items cheaply and or used, got some good bargains. Hopefully the movie will be worth this financial cost. I so want to make an important meaningful and heartfelt documentary.

Zacuto Z-Finder Viewfinder Pro with Gorilla Plate

Quote: Anne Frank (15)

Written less than a month before her arrest and eventual death in Auschwitz concentration camp.

"It's a wonder that I haven't abandoned all of my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical, yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."

GoPro On The Video Rig?

Am thinking of putting a small GoPro camera on my video rig. I would have a wide angle always on video shooting forward or could have it even pointed back at me as I shoot. The GoPro video could be help full in a number of ways, especially if I go with the more personal me story approach to the documentary. Personal is probably the better way to go as I do better when I wear my heart on my sleeve and let it all hang out.

Anyway the GoPro is something else to think about. I wonder how many devices I can hook up to one rig! :))

I Got My P&C Camera Rig Today

I got my P&C video camera rig today. It seems solidly built and is very fast and east to set up. I was able to get it read to use the first out time in 3 or 4 minutes.  I believe this was a good buy. It is cheap, well made and will hopefully not scare my subjects off as some more high end larger more intimidating looking pro rigs might. Sometimes using to high end equipment can be off putting for the local folks your filming, causing fear and unnecessary worries. These are peoople who often struggle to buy rice and pay for medicine, coming into their lives with hundreds of thousands of expensive video/photo gear can be a bit scary for them!

My P&C rig without gear mounted

I have no camera/sound gear, no follow focus on the rig yet but so far so good. Will continue to load it up over the coming days. I will probably be adding all the items listed below.

- Canon 5d Mark 3
- Zacuto viewfinder
- Kamera follow focus
- Rode stereo mic
- Rode shotgun NTG-2 mic
- Receiver for the wireless Lavalier mic
- Zoom F4 field recorder
- Possibly a light source of some kind if I spend all night or part of the night filming in the dump.

I hope all that stuff together plus the rig is not TOO TOO heavy. Walking in garbage all day in 33c heat and humidity tends to wear you down. The less weight the better in those situations. Plus I will also be caring some film cameras (at least one a day) with me.

Note* Another bonus to this P&C rig is that you can build and add to it in multiple ways. Not sure I will do much of that might eventually go to something higher end. Will see how good of a film maker I am, how this all works out and move on from there.
Where I Bought The P&C Rig

Update* Am having some problems with the front handles moving and twisting free no matter how much I tighen them with the red knobs or allen wrench. I might have to add some sticky sand paper or a cork surface of some kind to metal tubing in that area to make the grip better. I have some sticky-cork in my darkroom that I use for my photo paper easel bottoms that might just serve the purpose.

Strange Processing Machine

For the fun of it I sometimes include weird photo gear I find on eBay. Here is a very unique looking unit, sort of has a bad cheapo 1950s science fiction movie feel to it. Not exactly sure how this C-41/E6 processor operates, but if you want it, you have it for a mere $570 USD plus shipping. I wonder what models 1 thru 3 looked like if this is the perfected model 4 version.
Ebay Link 

Wing-Lynch C41/E6 Darkroom Filmi Processor Model 4

Maybe I Will Not Cancel My Membership

I finally found a reason not to cancel my AGA membership. Not because they show wonderful art that makes me want to visit this Edmonton based gallery but instead because they have a mutual attendance pact (reciprocal membership) with other galleries across Canada. The VAG in Vancouver let me into their $24 show twice for free!!, based on my AGA membership. Walker Evans for free you got to love that. Finally a reason worth keeping my membership alive at the AGA, a chance to visit OTHER galleries.
http://www.youraga.ca/join-us/membership/

Here are the galleries I can get into with my membership to the AGA.

• Art Gallery of Grande Prairie
• Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
• Beaverbrook Art Gallery (New Brunswick)
• Glenbow Museum (Calgary)
• Kamloops Art Gallery
• National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa)
• Nickle Galleries (Calgary)
• The Power Plant (Toronto)
• Southern Alberta Art Gallery (Lethbridge)
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (Banff) 
• Winnipeg Art Gallery

VAG Full To The Rafters With Folks

The VAG was filled to the rafters with folks each time I visited. After the dead empty rooms at the AGA it was a welcome sight. Maybe that is what happens when you put art on the walls that the people love, appreciate and have a relationship with! Will the AGA learn from this example, nope, nada, no way!

Why Are Galleries So Quiet?

What's the deal with everyone being so QUIET at museums. Art should make you jump and scream and talk. A bunch of folks looking at pictures like they are at a church is wrong. If I was showing at the VAG I would want people making noise. When I spent several hours with Mr. Evans photographs everyone was so so quiet, sort of depressing. Let loose people become involved, make some noise!

10 Photos By Gerry Yaum Submissions To The VAG

The VAG are nice folks, whenever I have submitted work to them in the past they have always sent me a nice rejection note. When I submit work to many other galleries including the AGA I never ever hear back from them in any form. I was told that photography over the last year has been shown more and more at the VAG. I decided to do up a yearly submission of photographs taking from my archives to the VAG. It will be a mixture of pics with a brief introduction to each section. This will probably lead no where but there is a chance that the variety of the work will be noticed. It might lead to an eventual showing or collecting of the photographs. No hurt in trying! Worse comes to worse I will be sitting exactly where I sit today. No exhibitions in major galleries,very little work collected.

My Time With Dad: Gerry Yaum Photo Diary Magazine

Thinking of refining my dad magazine idea for the AGSA exhibition. Will do up a mini "Gerry Yaum Photo Diary" hard cover version. It will include photos from that last year of dads life along with the poetry and blog entries I wrote. I will also include snapshots of me and dad together, dad fun alone shots and dad with family and friends. It should give the gallery viewer a more balanced view of dads life and the experience of making the photos for the show (the exhibitions theme). Will tittle the edition "My Time With Dad".

Walker Evans Exhibition

This last week at the the VAG I was able to see their current Walker Evans exhibit twice for free, a glorious experience.Seeing a very larger 30 inches plus version of the Bud Fields family portrait was deeply moving. I have always loved this photography, my Walker Evans favorite and one of my all time top 10 photographs. Not sure the history of this particular image, it was listed as from a private owner. We need shows like this at the AGA, not that damn conceptual art work again and again and yet again.

Of all the times I viewed this photograph, the first time I saw the black cat was when I looked at this large print. I had seen the photo countless times in magazines and books but never a print this large before. There it was at the mothers feet a very skinny half dead looking cat! Who knew?

To see a mans entire life as a photographer on the gallery walls of a major instution at the same time, what a wonderful experience. I hope before I die I can view a retrospective of my work in a simliar manner. When I see everything on that galleries walls with all the viewers interacting with the photographs, I know I will have lived a life worth living.

Bud (William Edward) Fields and his sharecropper family. 1936

Bought Me A Zoom F4 Field Recorder

Got myself a Zoom F4 Field Recorder from B&H for $649.99 USD (NEW) plus taxes, with free shipping. This recorder I can attach below my camera and record high end audio for the coming documentary film project. The recorder will allow me to record a second safe channel when I am working with Fred. This second channel you can set at a lower gain rate. The idea there is that if Fred all of a sudden starts yelling (a frequent thingy in Fred's world) the audio will not peak out (clipping) and be garbled. I can do 2 recordings of all our conversations one at a normal level and a backup at a lower gain level in case of screaming-yelling and general agitated talk. I should be able to do first class audio recordings with this unit, it is rated near or at lower end Pro quality.

Here is the recorder:
B&H Zoom F4 Field Recorder Link
Curtis Judd Review Of The Zoom F4

Zoom F4 Field Recorder

Update* The deal with Larry for his 24mm-105mm lens fell through, some kind of communication error, not sure exactly what happened there. I will have to buy one online. I have started that process.

Bought Me A Kamera Follow Focus

Here is the last and very important part of the camera rig for now, a follow focus device. Cost including shipping from Australia (made in China) is $147.50 USD. This will attach to the rig and fold up to the camera lens allowing for easy quick focusing.

Here is a link to the PR-1 rig I bought earlier tonight with the Kamera follow focus in use.  The video was made by Eskild Fors in Norway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii7moY6Q-cw&t=9s

Kamera follow focus.

Will Buy 24-105mm A Canon Lens

I am going to buy a lens from my friend Larry a Canon 24-105mm F4. The lens is very new (less than 2 years old) and was only used 2 times. Larry gave me a good price of $700 CAD for it including a 77mm UV B+W filter (no taxes, duty or shipping costs). Did not want to buy another lens as I already have the Canon 24-70mm F2.8 but the 24-105mm F4 has a very important added feature, a lens image stabilization device. This should allow me to shoot handheld video with much less shake than I could with my 24-70mm. A non shaking lens is VERY IMPORTANT. There is nothing more distracting and off putting with video visuals than a shaky camera, it is usually quite unwatchable, gives the viewer nausea and a headache. Another bonus of the lens is the 105mm shooting length, which might prove very important at times. When shooting at 105mm I will need to always use a tripod.

I hope this lens to be the only one I use for documentary. I might use my 24mm f1.4 with my cheapo steady cam gyro device (bought over 1 year ago) as it is quite a bit lighter and easier to hold with one hand. I will do some experimenting with both lens to see what works best before I leave Canada.  It would be great if I can just use the one lens for everything.

The only way I would take my 24-70mm with me to Thailand would be if I decided to shoot 2 sets of video with slightly different compositions for the talking head segments I will do in the doc. Been thinking of running both the Canon 5D Mark 2 and the Mark 3 at the same during interviews to get different compositions while using the same audio. I could switch between Cameras or use the better visual for the comments made. For example if the interview speaker says something very dramatic or emotional (tears) a tighter head composition might work better and communicate the story stronger.

Anyway will buy Larry's pristine lens at a good price the next time we meet for dinner. Larry is a great friend to me,  am lucky to know him. I am keeping my expenses down as much as I can but the costs continue to go up and up. Making a documentary film on a security guards salary, oh the joys of it!! :(

Canon 24-105mm f2.8 with image stabalizer.

Bought Me A Simple Camera Rig

I got a simple camera rig kit for $263.50 USD including shipping. The rig is called a "PR-1 Prime Video Shoulder Rig" and is an all metal highly adjustable rig. The idea of a rig is that it helps stabilize shooting and allows you to attach accessories to your camera. I can attach a separate monitor, mic, light source etc. There was a ton of options out there but this one seemed to fit the bill for my modest needs. This PR-1 rig set up is highly adjustable, you can add and subtract pieces to build what you need and want. I can continue to add parts-extensions to it in the future if needed or I can eventually go to a higher end model. I will configure this rig kit a few different ways till I get it to fit my leads. I might find 2-3 different setups that work for different types of shooting. I need to figure out something that will work while I am sitting in the passenger seat of a moving truck for example.

I am also going to get a follow focus device for the rig. Focusing a DSLR camera in video mode is HARD. A follow focus attached to a rig (probably the main reason to buy a rig) will all for easy and quick focusing.
http://www.photographyandcinema.com/products/prime-video-rig-kit

PR-1 Prime Video Shoulder Rig

Poem: "Invictus" By William Ernest Henley

I already posted this wonderful poem, but was moved by it again recently so thought I would re-post it. "Under the bludgeoning of chance...My head is bloody but unbowed...And yet the menace of the years... Finds, and shall find me, unafraid...I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Documentary Film: A Personal Autobiographical Storyline?

Am thinking a lot of how to tell this story best.

Should I tell the story from my point of view. Will that get the folks watching on my side? Will it set the dump story up better? Telling a personal story of not only Fred and the dump families but of my own history? A good idea? Not sure if this autobiographical story telling style with voice overs and footage of me (minus my face) will help or hurt.

Maybe if I introduce myself at the beginning of the film as the amateur I am it will help the viewer be more involved in the story. I watched "North by Northwest" again recently. In the movie Cary Grant is an ad man pushed into the world of spies/murder/manhunts/love and adventure. The fact he was an everyday dude guy gave the audience something they could identify with-cheer for. Maybe my inept beginner filmmaker security guard status can be used as a bonus somehow. The viewer can follow my simple Joe blow story, and place themselves in the picture just as Hitchcock used Cary Grant's character to pull the viewer in.

I do not want to use too much of me in this thing, but some snippets might help set up the story and fill in the blanks before getting to the really important stuff of Fred and the families. Maybe I could shoot it now and decide to use it or not use it later on. I might just leave all this ME STUFF on the editing floor later! :)). It might look better down there.

This autobiographical idea would give me some practical practice with the gear before I hit Thailand. I could do some shots working in the darkroom, video of my"Families of the Dump" prints, editing, do some voice overs (speaking honestly of my hopes and fears with seriousness and humor), heck even some non identifiable clips of me in my blue security guard outfit, lumbering about. Even if I do not use the footage, the practice I gain shooting-recording it would probably be beneficial.

Now if I just looked like Cary Grant :)) and had the story-film making skills of Mr. Hitchcock! This idea might actually work!

Documentary Film: Movie Making, How The F-ck Do You Do That?

First day off work tonight. Am laying here thinking about the coming "Film". Am writing some notes, trying to figure out how to do all of this. The tech part is just studying and practicing, so I can do that but how the hell do you tell a story on film? How the hell do I transition from a still photographer to a filmmaker? This is whole different game I am trying to play.

I spent the work week between security stuff learning more about recording audio, doing on camera interviews, lighting, using a cheap gyro type steady cam etc. YouTube is filled with how to videos, and people reaching out to help you. All that tech stuff can be learned and with some practice and gear buys I can get that done. This whole story telling thing is another ball of wax thou. I need to watch lots of documentaries really need to learn from them. I need to learn how to tell stories on film. I think that will be the biggest reason why this project works or fails. Can Mr. Yaum tell a story on film?

What makes a good doc? And or average or bad doc? Is it  the story? Is it the filmmakers skills? Humor? Pathos? Editing? Compelling characters? Shocking audio and video? Emotional impact? All of the above?

I feel like I have jumped into the deep end of the pool here and only know how to doggy paddle.

Quote: Andy D"Addario (Sound Engineer)

"It's not necessarily what you hear in your ear but it's what you feel in your heart."

Cheap Interview Lighting Kit

I decided to buy a cheapish online lighting kit that will allow me to do a simple interview set up on black background with a key, fill and hair light.  The background and stand was not that much extra in cost so I got that also to allow me an quick and easy set up on location if needed. I might also take it overseas if it is not too heavy (or I can attach a black sheet to a wall). Starting to spend too much money again, hope I can use this thing. The cost of the kit was $299 CAD including shipping. If I used it in Asian I would have to get little electric transformer adapter boxes for each light.
Amazon Page Selling This Kit

CanaidanStudio video lighting softbox kit from Amazon, $299 CAD

Bought Me Some Cheap Video Lighting

I want to go to Asia with some type of lighting set up even thou I might not use it. I decided to give a very cheap battery operated system a try. Here is a link to the YouTube dude that recommended it. Hope it works out.
THiNK Media TV: Cheap Lighting For Video

I like the price for this set up. To buy 2 cheaper plastic light stands (these can be pretty tough, used them on my white background sex worker series), the 2 Neewer lights, 2 batteries and a charger, it cost me around $100 CAD including shipping.

Neewer 160 bulb LED video light

I like the fact these Newer LED lights are battery operated and have a dimmer switch on them. Using batteries in Asia is easier as you do not have to worry about using transformers because of the 220w power supply. I will probably need to eventually get multiple batteries. With these units you can also use AA batteries in an emergency which is a nice feature as I often face emergency gear issues in Thai. Another bonus is the small compact size, size and weight is always an issue when traveling around the world to film things. With the 2 lights and their dimmer switch's I can change up the light/contrast ratios on my interview subject, 2/1 maybe 4/1 to get a more dramatic lighting mix.

I will no doubt end up getting higher end lights at some point but for now these should work fine. If they work for 1 project at $100 that's a pretty good deal. I can also reuse the stands (the most expensive item in this purchase at $48 CAD) with the next set of nicer more pro lights.

I will be doing some test interviews in the next while when all this new CHEAP gear arrives. Just to figure out whats what before I do it for real later on.  Will probably use my mom as a subject, I can record stories from her childhood. Will post some of that interview here later.

Note* I could probably use one of these units mounted directly to my camera at night in the dump. It would be very spotlightish visual but would create a dramatic and effective look at the work the families do in the darkness of the garbage dump. It would be especially strong to highlight the children in amongst the garbage waste. I want to show the children's true reality in my documentary, I want to smash the viewer in the face with it.

Update* Am continuing to study video related subjects on YouTube tonight. Going more into lighting, light ratios etc. I knew some of this from my photo work but it is always nice to review and fill gaps in your knowledge.

Update** Am trying to cancel the 2 light stands in this order to save $48 CAD. I can use the light stands from my video lighting kit (ordered after this purchase) and do not need duplicates (I hope). I also have many higher quality metal light stands for my regular film photography.

Update** Was able to cancel the extra light stands. The $48 CAD saved will pay for 2+ nights at my hotel in Mae Sot :)).

Quote: Brock Peters (Actor)

From his eulogy of Gregory Peck's.

"In art there is compassion, in compassion there is humanity, with humanity there is generosity and love. Gregory Peck gave us these attributes in full measure."

Quote: Gregory Peck

Speaking as a presenter at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) awards ceremony,

"It just seems silly to me that something so right and simple has to be fought for at all."

Techno Obsession? What's The Deal With That?

In my studies into making documentary films this past week I have noticed a YouTube tendency. There is a ton of testing and gear related vids but not much in the how to's of actual making documentaries. Everyone seems absolutely obsessed with the gear stuff. This shotgun mic tested against that mic and the minute almost un-hearable differences there in. This cameras ergonomics and video versus that cameras video, which has the most noise. This cameras gizmo's versus that cameras gizmos. This audio recorders XLR inputs versus that other ones. Kind of makes me sick. All techno talk but little talk on the art of documentary film making. Everything seems geared techno and nothing about the heart of what a documentary really is. What makes a great film? What is the creative process? Nothing on the emotions, stories, styles, that create empathetic quality films and how to make those type of films. People on YouTube seem more concerned with the latest gadget (shiny toy) than the film it was made for. Techno thinking-talking-fetish not artististic, creative, story telling videos It is all rather nauseating.

Guess I have to just learn all the techno stuff, buy some of the recommended gear and figure out the creative-story telling thing myself. Maybe the years as a still shooter will help in that regard.

Dream: Understanding-Helping A Life

Just woke up, not sure how coherent this blog entry will be.

Strange dreams all day today before my security night shift. I was in Cambodia and spending time with a young woman who was a brothel worker. She seemed to be in her early 20s and had white paste makeup to cover her darker skin tone. We spent the day together as friends talking and walking and sharing stories. She spoke to me about how she got into the life she lived. We ate and walked together and I made pictures of her and other things in Cambodia. We saw all kinds of strange things on our walk, damaged foreigners ( A barang, the Cambodian word for white foreigner) walking on crutches with a missing legs  and brown infected dying hands. There was also a crazy lion (lions in Cambodia?) who was hit on the road and survived (flipped over in a pool of water), he seemed to have a companion who was a dirty but friendly, a smiling fox that liked to be petted. As we walked I also found some old negs of the  brothel woman which were taken of her by another man (a customer). The pics were of her and another 3 or 4 workers looking frightened while sitting on a hotel rooms sofa.

The dream(s) were mostly about her life and me trying to help and understand what she was feeling. Strange, stuff, sad stuff but stuff that I have had some real life experiences with thru my photography. Earlier, before sleeping this morning, I was remembering back to  a young woman I met briefly who worked in a brothel, this was back in 2003 I think. She worked in Sihanoukville Cambodia and had frightened eyes just like this person in my dream. I  often think back to this girl with frightened eyes, I never did learn her name but did photograph her a bit. Maybe thoughts of her lead to the dreams I had during my daytime sleep.

I think I need to do the "Lost Innocence" photo project or possibly a documentary film of some kind on this same subject. I am haunted by the memories of those lives I knew. That world back when I made the 2003 photos in the Poipet brothels and all the stuff I saw and heard in Thailand during the bargirl photo years, continue to possess me. All these years later I still dream of the people I knew back then. Strange, sad and a bit of a frightening to still have those memories come back so often. Even while I am safe in Edmonton those thoughts and experiences persist. Am I being called to tell that story again? I hate to go back into that world but is it a destiny I cannot avoid?

Bought Me A Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone

Bought a used Rode NTG2 shotgun mike today for $178 USD plus shipping. It seems to be in excellent LIKE NEW condition and comes with all the proper accessories including a wind sock that would cost around $40 USD (with shipping) if sold seperately. A new version of this microphone retails around $269 USD. I hope to use it on camera as a general microphone and for interviews on a boom over the subjects head. For all the in studio interviews I can mike myself with a lavaliere and mike the subject with this shotgun microphone (out of frame, out of sight). During my online video/audio studies I have learned that this microphone is highly regarded and is considered a work horse type tool. The version 3 is supposedly slightly better but also cost upwards of $525 USD. Will stick with the cheaper version for now. I am trying to cut down my costs by buying used gear and lower end pro stuff. Hopefully these tools will still record first class audio and video.

Update* Gosh doing on camera video interviews, that will be a different experience!
Update** I also picked up a 33 foot female-male XLR cable as well as a cheap smallish boom type microphone stand that might work for me. Will do some practise interviews with this gear when I recieve the gear in 3 or 4 weeks time. I need to be well versed in how to do everything before I get to Asia.

My new USED Rode NTG2 shotgun microphone

Quote: Charlie (Bird) Parker

"Music speaks louder than words"

Bought Me Some Audio Gear

Bought some cheaper gear to record sound today. A Azden EX 503 Lavaliere microphone (wired) and a Zoom H1W Portable Digital Audio Recorder. I might be able to use this to record on body audio for my subjects as they move. You apply the mike and give the subject the recorder to put in their pocket and recorder away. My other more expensive option would be the wire less Lavalier system I bought quite a while back to do my photo  picture talks at Larry's gallery. I can also use the Zoom H1W for recording my own personal audio in the field. This unit could also function as an emergency backup system of my wireless system breaks down (probably pretty likely, based on past experience). These two new items cost around $125 USD plus a bit for shipping.

Azden EX 503 Lavaliere microphone

Zoom H1W Portable Audio Recorder

Learning To Make Films-Buying More Gear

Spending the night tonight learning and figuring out what type of gear I will need to make my documentary film. I want to buy the minimal gear I need to do acceptable pro level type filming. I will use my Canon 5D Mark 3 to make the video but will need the proper sound, follow focus, tripod, tripod head, and shoulder rig. Some of this gear I have collected over the years like the tripod and head other gear including the rig I am learning about online. There are MANY manufacturers offering all types of video gear, it is rather confusiing. Lots and lots to learn!

Anyway things are going well, I am spending the night learning on YouTube, making notes and progressing bit by bit. I am also checking into possible grant programs for documentary video production. My funding is all security guard money so have to try to cut as many corners as I can. I might be doing another darkroom workshop in the coming weeks (only the 3rd of the year), that money will also go towards this project. I so want to do a good job to pay tribute to the lives of the people in the dump.

Art Gallery Of Alberta Exhibition Choices A MESS

Today I visited the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) after a long absence. Over the last year I have not gone to the gallery because the work being shown always held no interest for me. I would check their website over and over again hoping to find something on display with some heart to it, something that might have some emotional connection for me. I was continually disappointed by the curatorial staff choices. 

Today I decided to throw caution to the wind and visit. I was EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED, yet again. In the whole gallery there were 2 maybe 3 small works of minor interest. Nothing that made me want to go back and have a second look. Whenever I go to galleries (usually in Europe) I am pulled back again and again to certain pieces. I always visit 2 times, sometimes 3 or 4. I love art that has human feeling, art that tells the story of what it is to live in this world, art that expresses the human spirit. The AGA has disappointed me again in this regard. Most of what they choose is weird ass conceptional arty farty things, usually joined with some meaningless ARTSPEAK. 

I hate artspeak, the glorification of the nothing to make it seem like something. Art should speak to people on its own without useless VERBAGE to prop it up and tell us how we should feel and what it is about. Art should draw people in, slap them across the face and wake them up to a new reality, a new way o thinking. Art should connect to the viewer and draw real emotion out of them. In the past at the AGA I have seen too many weird ass conceptional shows, toilet paper unrolling in forests, cleaning products on tables, Styrofoam animals etc. Today's exhibits included a room filled with humidifiers venting a misty fragrance! What the fuck is that? The exhibition room " --- New Works gallery" as per normal was completely empty of visitors. Why is it the "New Works" room almost always empty? No one is visiting, should that not be a tell to the AGA staff?

I so tire of the conceptional art the staff at the AGA continues to force feed the art lovers of Edmonton. If I took a shit and put it on a large white plate and placed fossilized cockroaches in it, then made up some bullshit, pretentious, self righteous artspeak. Would it become art worthy of gallery space?

Artist Statement:

"My art deals with the reunification of the human internal element back into the energies and movements of shared references to mystic polemic origins of the nomadic homo deligerious species from the primeval roots in our shared soils of civilized organic insectaphelia."

Do I have viable art here?  Would they allow my plate of fecal matter and BS artspeak artist statement a prime position of importance within the Art Gallery of Alberta? 

There is too much conceptual art at the AGA and not enough exhibition choices that emotionally involve the visitor. Would people come to see my literal plate of crap? Of course not but that is what is being chosen and shown over and over and over again in the gallery. Edmontonians dislike (possibly hate) what the curatorial staff is choosing to exhibit, hence the lack of visitors and the money problems the AGA has. The gallery loses hundreds of thousands perhaps millions of dollars a year. Why are changes not being made?

http://canadianart.ca/news/the-art-gallery-of-alberta-behind-the-recent-headlines/

I have been member of the AGA since it reopened in its beautiful new building 5 plus years ago. My disappointment on what is being exhibited and my frustration with the wasting of a wonderful and beautiful facility has reached a breaking point. I have therefore decided to leave the AGA and cancel my membership. I love art, I try to open my mind to all that I see. But I am so tired of being unmoved by what is being shown in the AGA galleries.

I would rather buy film with my membership money or to donate the funds to the people I photograph. I could use the AGA membership money to buy rubber boots for the children working the garbage in Mae Sot, Thailand, where I photograph. I will devote my time and money to try and tell HUMAN stories that have an EMOTIONAL CONNECTION FOR REAL PEOPLE. Goodbye AGA, I am sad to lose you as a friend, but you have let me down too many times in past years.

I would like to say to the AGA curatorial staff,  change course, choose work that has some humanity in it and some emotional power to it, something that draws a response from the people of Edmonton. Get away from your arrogant I am smarter than you, high brow arty farty conceptional art attitudes and choices and instead choose "ART WITH A HEART."

Update* I forwarded this blog entry to some of the upper ups at the gallery. Hopefully they will have an open mind to my frustrations and will consider changes to their future curatorial choices.

Quote: Edvard Munch

"There should be no more paintings of exteriors and people reading and women knitting. There should be images of living people who breathe and feel and suffer and love - I shall paint a number of such pictures - people will understand the holiness of it, and they will take off their hats as if they were in a church."

Tritych

I am thinking of doing a triptych for the coming AGSA exhibition. I will have only 6 possibly 7 20x24 showing. If I take out one of the 20x24s and insert 3-7x11 vertical images for the tritych I can show 8-9 images total. Will try doing up 3 tight vertical heads of dad and displaying them side to side in one frame. Three works telling one story should be compelling. I might have to print this on standard Ilford fiber payer, or possibly a unopened box of Oriental Seagull which I found at the bottom of my photo paper supply. I only use fiber paper for my exhibitions and with those far and few in between I should use up my stocks instead of buying new Ilford warmtone.

Hope it looks good. Will post some photos of this little project later.

Quote: Ludwig Van Beethoven

“It is better to hit the wrong note confidently, than hit the right note unconfidently. Never be afraid to be wrong or to embarrass yourself; we are all students in this life, and there is always something more to learn.”

Building My Documentary Film Knowledge

Am slowing start to build on my almost non existent documentary film knowledge. Working on the technique stuff to help get the most out of my Canon Mark 3. Am reading various books on the art of making documentary film. Most importantly am watching more doc films and seeing how they are done. Bit by bit we should eventually become new fluent in this very different world. Hopefully will be at a level of some competence by the time I am shooting. So so much to learn.