James Polits

Little Moments Are Precious

James — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:56:01 +0000

The things that are most precious in life aren’t necessarily the big moments, but they are the people that you share life with. And I’ve been blessed with one precious daughter.

I love spending time with her. Aside from hanging out with my with or family time, there is nothing I love more.

So, on a Saturday evening when Mommy was gone, what am I gonna do? Capture one the little moments I get to spend with Sophia.

Shooting an Event Solo

James — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:52:55 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I find myself shooting events solo A LOT. Shooting by yourself presents a particular set of challenges that require you to be prepared if you want to make the most of event.

Patrick Moreau of stillmotion shares some really good tips for making the most of shooting solo. Head over to stillmotion’s blog to check it out! It’s worth the read if you ever shoot by yourself.

Link: [Q OF WEEK] – SHOOTING SOLO

When Video Became Important to Me…

James — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:27:54 +0000

On Monday, I decided I wanted to shoot something during my lunch. My goal was to produce something just for practice. I had no script and shot it in two takes (aside from b-roll).

One of the things I was rather pleased with was the audio… kinda. I filmed the piece with a Rode VideoMic Pro mounted on the camera. I wouldn’t normally shot an interview this way. If I had more time, I would have a more proper setup with a microphone right overhead. But lunch breaks are pretty short.

For what it was worth, it picked up the sound well and with auto gain control off on my T2i, it was really clean (thanks Magic Lantern!). This would be a decent setup for a run-n-gun situation.

So the video above is what I made. It turned out to be good practice in both shooting and editing. Hope you enjoy it!

Downtown With One On The Way

James — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:28:03 +0000

I had the opportunity to take some photos for some friends who are wanting to make a special little announcement for family members. They were a lot of fun and I learned more about what I need to work on, but I’m gonna have to wait a little while longer to share much.

Here’s a little preview that keeps their secret safe.

Flash & Lighting Practice

James — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:07:37 +0000

After Christmas, I got a super cheap radio flash trigger and an umbrella and light stand kit to start playing with off-camera flash lighting. It’s blast to play with, but I’ve got a long way to go.

Capturing the Moment vs. Being Present

James — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:09:05 +0000

I love spending time with my family. They are one of the most precious things in my life. And I want to be present for every special moment.

However, I struggle with spending my time behind the camera instead of engaging in the moment.

During the Christmas holiday this year, I made a conscious effort to let that photo or video clip I wanted fall to the wayside if it came between me enjoying my family. That also meant spending less time editing the photos/video as well. My family got my attention.

What was the cost? Well, for the price of enjoying my family and giving them the love and attention they deserve, I didn’t have all the shots I wanted or a well edited piece from the holidays. BUT, I have some great memories shared with people I love. And that’s worth it!

Sound: Replace with Ambient Noise

James — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:43:57 +0000

Sound is one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of a video project for those learning and getting started in film. And one thing that kills a moment is a big “Uhh…” in the middle of the monologue or speech.

Larry Jordan posted a great quick tip for using Soundtrack Pro to replace sections of audio with ambient noise. It’s definitely worth the read if you’ve never used it before!

LINK: Replace Ambient Noise in Soundtrack Pro

Kids Talk About Christmas

James — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:25:38 +0000

I love Christmas time. But I get caught up in the busyness of all that needs to happen this time of year. I have a feeling that I’m not the only one.

This year, I’ve done two things that have helped me not get lost in the busyness as much.

The first thing we did was take my 15 month old daughter to the mall and pick up a tag to get a child in need a Christmas gift. There was something special about explaining to my daughter that we are helping someone just because we can and it would be special for them, even though we will never meet this person.

The other thing that helped me focus on the Christmas season was shooting a short piece with preschool kids talking about Christmas. It was kinda a last minute project that I rushed through. After it was done, I watched it through and remembered the magic of the season as the kids told the Christmas story.

Check out what the kids had to say!

And don’t forget the reason for this crazy season!

Busy Learning & Enjoying My Family

James — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:47:03 +0000

It’s been over four months without a blog post. Oh well.

Over the past couple months, I’ve been kept really busy with projects and my family. I mean, a 15 month old darling daughter comes before sharing with you. Sorry! But in all seriousness, I love writing and sharing with you.

However, I have shot and edited two weddings over the last few months as well; and both with Final Cut Pro X. I learned a ton about how it works and it’s quirks. It’s definitely not the right tool for every project, but great for some.

For the second wedding, I just completed the montage. I had a ton of fun and learned a ton from this one. I’d say it’s not too bad for the second wedding I’ve done with a DSLR!

Check it out and tell me what you think!

Don’t Learn by Experience Alone

James — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:00:43 +0000

Learning by experience is one of the best ways to learn, in my opinion. You have the opportunity to see and feel how things work. You fail and you get better from it. But if that’s the only way you learn, you are missing out! I’ve found that reading books or articles and watching videos about the topic I am learning not only teaches me great new things, but it helps me understand and explain things I learned from experience.

I’d suggest finding a community online that focuses on your craft. Reading books can be an excellent way to learn. This week, grab a new book or find some great articles online that add to your knowledge.