There's something about the moving image that claims me...
Despite a lifelong love affair with the still image I have found myself having something of a dalliance with video, or as I rather pretentiously like to call it - film.
It’s full of challenges and takes forever to even come close to mastering but once the medium has got its claws under my skin I find it hard to turn away. Could it simply be the challenge of the new? Or maybe the challenge of the challenge?
After working with video for perhaps 15 years now, ever since the arrival of the 5D mk2, I’ve felt like I’ve been doing wrong. As if I’ve been unfaithful to my core discipline.
But finally, now that I see the deep impact video has on viewers I’ve decided to try harder to let myself off the hook. I need to remember that I now try not to call myself solely a photographer. I prefer the name Creative however precious that may sound. This lets my mind wander more freely around the stories that call out to me and gives me license to write, shoot or film my way through the deep language that the land speaks in.
Here’s a little something I’ve worked on over the past fortnight, specifically for work that I do with Nicola, and within hours of posting on our website it’s garnered over 50 comments, and counting!
Already it’s made people gasp, cry, gaze in awe, be lost for words and more. If you want to see the full story that accompanies the film I've added it to my Earthlight site here...
I rarely take a still image that speaks so eloquently to so many. Don’t worry, I’ll never hang up my still cameras, that’s in my bones. But I am going to let myself off the hook more often when I feel like mixing it up a bit.
Superb video Jason, I really enjoyed that. Super piece of filming on the barn owl. I'd love to be able to video the birds in flight shots I do instead of stills with continuous high on my 11fps Nikon! Alas, video is a mile over my head, I wouldn't know where to begin!
Thank you Peely! That’s kind of you to say. To be honest it’s not easy. Keeping the bird in focus using just the back screen when the autofocus refuses to play is rather hit and miss. I’ve just ordered a larger field monitor which will slide on top of my camera and give me a larger image to work with.
Thank you Jason that was beautiful, such a privilege so see the barn owl in its natural habitat. The whole film is a stunning piece of camera work and editing.
Thank you Rob. I was very fortunate with the owl, and in many ways I’m still cutting my teeth with video. It’s great fun though!
Beautiful
Thank you Denise.
Thank you for sharing this video Jason. You must have endless patience! This film of the barn owl was so special
Thank you Linda. It did take a while but to be honest I just love being in one place for a few hours at a time and waiting for the barn owl gave me permission to do just that.
Wonderful – another magical 'mindful moment' film celebrating nature Jason.
The need to forgive yourself for doing what you're doing seems inconceivable to me, but to refrain from being self-critical can only be a good thing.
Language remains something arguably important since it creates our realities. Resisting the urge to stay on my soapbox any longer though, I'll just say I adore the term 'Creative'. It's so open, spacious and rich.
Thank you Dee. Great advice here. I do need to be gentler with myself and I'm enjoying the freedom that comes with being simply a 'creative'!