For me, there is a definite benefit in being able to immediately apply yesterday's experience to today and then, use it again tomorrow while it's still fresh in my mind. One of the great perks of working on a long term project.
I started my first day around 5:00 am, by setting up my camera near a fishing pier in Hoboken, just south of the Empire State Building. The view also afforded a clear shot of the Chrysler Building, which I knew this time of year would remain lighted until around 6:00 am. My goal was to film the light on the Chrysler Building turning off and then film the sun rising behind it, while keeping the city deep in silhouette.
To do this, I planned to expose for the sky and let the buildings go deep into shadow. Usually, I would use a graduated filter to knock down the brightness in the sky and gain detail in the foreground, but today, I wanted the foreground to go very dark.
For these tests, I was using a camera that I was unfamiliar with and it was fortunate that I brought along a small LED flashlight to find some of the controls. The light would increase very soon and there was already a soft blue glow growing rapidly in intensity around the buildings, but on my side of the Hudson it was still pretty dark.
Finally, camera ready, focus set, I'm in the right place at the right time to get the shot.
I remain here for the next two hours. The skyline is constantly changing with the movement of the sun. Ferries and runner have appeared as if out of nowhere. Dozens of interesting angles to be found without moving more than a few feet and I want to exhaust the shots in this area before moving on. Fortunately, just before I am about to leave a very large cruise ship glides up the Hudson. Excellent!
That night, I spent a few hours filming traffic movement on the west side of Manhattan. The recently installed bike lanes provide safe platforms to shoot from, two lanes into the street. Eighth Avenue between 23rd and the Village is brightly lit and well populated, making for good filming. I experimented with time lapse and slow shutter speeds to enhance the constant flow headlights moving uptown.
Saturday morning, I revisited the same area in hopes of getting some of the same angles that I filmed the night before, only now, in early morning light. Having the same, or at least a similar image available in a variety of lighting conditions is very important when shooting for stock. A television show or feature film might require an exterior shot to establish a location and/or time of day.
Keeping a journal of the previous day's location is key to the success of this technique.
That evening, I returned to Hoboken because I now knew that two more cruise ships would be departing
and I wanted to film them both with a variety of lenses. It still amazes me to see an object the size of a shopping mall floating down the Hudson. "The Macarena"must be the official music for a party cruise as it can be heard on nearly every cruise ship leaving the harbor.
Scheduling is perfect and I have plenty of time to create some unique images.
Sunday morning was not going to happen until Sarah kicked me, whispering, "Get out there."
The bed was comfortable, but I grabbed the gear and stumbled to the car.
It was time to move from the west side, so with little or no pre-planning I drove through the Lincoln Tunnel heading for the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. At 5:45 am I expected the underside of the FDR Drive to be life-less, but to my surprise and delight, (relief) the area was filled dozens of people walking, exercising or fishing along the East River. It was Sunday and fortunately, parking was available nearby. I grabbed my rig and got out there.
The Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges are a spectacular sight in any light, but with one in silhouette and the other catching a red glow as the sun rose over the river, I felt blessed to have a camera in my hands. Even more impressive than the bridges was the action happening below the highway. With Chinatown nearby, the diverse population of the east side of lower Manhattan provided a wealth of images in the golden light of morning. I filmed for two hours and still got home in time for breakfast.
To keep the gear in your hands for more than a few hours a week is essential. With constant use the camera becomes transparent and you begin to concern yourself less with the technical aspects and become more involved in the images you desire to create.
I am enjoying your blog, and gleaning some very useful tips, from carrying a small flashlight to shooting the same scene at different times . Looking forward to reading back to the beginning of this well written blog.
ReplyDeleteRobert Pratt.