More Location Shots

This image here shows the early hours in the morning I was on set for to get this grainy effect which is the fog acting as this edit. By having the composition of the camera so high up I have the chiltern views within distance which creates this sense of vulnerability, alone up high surrounded by nothing.

Using animals within my shoot such as cows shows my experimentation skills as well as the ability to overcome situations which I have no control over, an example of this is that I can't tell the cows what to do and act, therefore the only way to capture good quality footage is to rely upon the camera angles and movement I do.

Above is a photograph I took on the famous red stairs in the world famous Times Square NY. By having this contrast between these two very different settings it links into the idea of a abstract video, but the lights of these buildings at night could represent the diamonds themselves.

Filming Shoot 3 - Close Ups

This shoot included a variation of different close ups of several different things which would be included within the video. The shots include influence to create homage of Pulp Fictions glamourising drugs scene and other current artists work but interpreting and portraying it in my own form. For some shots I used a macro camera to get lots of detail and I made my own kaleidoscope lens for several other shots which you can see in the images at the bottom. 

What went well within the shoot?

My experimentation skills of using a different lens - the planning and design work which went into this was a success as it shows the lengths I will go to for my work. As well as the experimentation with lighting, I used natural lighting in nearly all of these shots so relied on the camera angles which I took them from or the composition of the model which was a success as I created several lens flares. 

What was unsuccessful within the shoot?

In some of the shots the kaleidoscope lens was shaky with the contrast of the heavy wind hitting it and moving it which meant some of the shots were not very stable. As well as me being unorganised and  not bringing any tape to stop this from occurring. 

What would I change or do differently?

I would be more prepared from the lens breaking or shaking, by bringing tape and construction tools to stop from this happening. As well as considering the weather conditions before hand to stop it from happening again which is something I will aim to do within my re-shoots.

Filming Shoot 2 - City Life

After a trip to London tonight I shot several abstract clips for my music video. Although I am including abstract clips, by visiting London at night I can link the visuals of all the bright lights to this idea of lights acting as the diamonds. I shot several different locations such as: Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland, Oxford Street and Westminster. By choosing to shoot in the dark I felt it gave of this vulnerable atmosphere even though in the visuals you are in the middle of a giant city with loads of people surrounding you, this idea will make the viewer link these aspects all together. 

What went well within the shoot?

I felt throughout the shoot I successfully delivered a meaning which was actually unintentional in till I started filming, this shows the development stages of my filming progress. 

What was unsuccessful within the shoot?

Although in some of my shots the weather paid of and created this nice natural windy effect, some of the shots themselves meant that the wind was taking over and visually came across as a fast and rigid mood which didn't fit with the song. I had no control over the weather which meant I was delayed waiting for the wind to calm down. Because of the wind as well, due to my specific plans of where I wanted everything allocated, it meant my model was looking a bit stiff and rigid as she was fighting against the wind and trying to act graceful so this meant that in some shots it could come across looking stupid. I may be able to shoot more of these shots in the following days when the wind isn't so bad. 

What would I change or do differently?

If I were too do my shoot differently I would have considered weather and the effects it would have on my work, to stop this I would have more people on set to use props such as blocks of wood to block the wood not on camera. Also using different lenses to create different effects such as using an Kaleidoscope Lens. I would also consider the effects of holding the camera portrait way up as it means that you have to crop the final outcomes to landscape meaning you loose parts of your shot which is something I know now not to do. 

Filming Shoot 1 - Forest Fields

Today I shot several shoots of the only model in my music video. Throughout this shoot I used the same outfit on the model too add an element of simplicity. Using a family member to act the role within the video allowed me to use someone reliable where as other models would mean that it wouldn't always be reliable. I shot the videos across varies woodland areas along with fields situated above land in order to get some successful shots of the surrounding views. The time of day was really important when considering the effect I wanted to create, by getting on set for 6am meant that I had this foggy grainy effect which I believe was successful. 

What went well within the shoot?

One of the many aspects which worked well within this shoot was the successful planning which really paid of through the footage. By planning everything carefully and selecting appropriate props days before, and even using a family member to act the role meant I wasn't messing around and rushing everything for I had a sense of stability and reliability which shows in my high quality work. The high amount of footage I shot alone just on this shoot alone meant that the shoot went on longer than planned, this itself could be considered as a negative aspect but it wasn't, it meant I could experiment with different natural lighting. Clouds and fog gave this mysterious effect, where as the bright sun came out later on and meant that I was able to experiment with lens flares for the more abstract clips to be shown in my video. I believe in the shoot itself I created this British heritage atmosphere from the cleverly choice of clothing, as well as the country location which links in with the British style of Ben Howard and him being a british artist himself portraying his roots.

What was unsuccessful within the shoot?

Although in some of my shots the weather paid of and created this nice natural windy effect, some of the shots themselves meant that the wind was taking over and visually came across as a fast and rigid mood which didn't fit with the song. I had no control over the weather which meant I was delayed waiting for the wind to calm down. Because of the wind as well, due to my specific plans of where I wanted everything allocated, it meant my model was looking a bit stiff and rigid as she was fighting against the wind and trying to act graceful so this meant that in some shots it could come across looking stupid. I may be able to shoot more of these shots in the following days when the wind isn't so bad. 

What would I change or do differently?

If I were too do my shoot differently I would have considered weather and the effects it would have on my work, to stop this I would have more people on set to use props such as blocks of wood to block the wood not on camera. Also using different lenses to create different effects such as using an Kaleidoscope Lens. I would also consider the effects of holding the camera portrait way up as it means that you have to crop the final outcomes to landscape meaning you loose parts of your shot which is something I know now not to do.