Editing Luke

Inspiration Boards

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm all about collecting. If someone leaves me a cool note, if I like a picture, or if someone sends me a postcard, it's just one of the many opportunities I take to cycle inspiration around the bulletin boards above my desk.

I think it's important to surround ourselves with things that trigger memories, influence our thoughts, and remind us of our aspirations. My boards are busy, but purposely so. I like that I can still look at them and see something in a way I might not have before. It's a simple concept, but I like inspiration that comes cheap.

Here are some of the items on my boards at the moment.

My Week With Marilyn

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Oscar nominations came out on Tuesday and so, like I do each year, my goal of screening as many pictures as possible before the broadcast is officially underway. My Week With Marilyn just opened at the Monarch Theatre last night and so it was the perfect opportunity for Andrea and I to head down and check it out.

First things first, Michelle Williams is spot on in her portrayal of Monroe. You might expect something shamelessly camp, but what's delivered is vulnerable, emotional, and intelligently nostalgic. It's a well earned Best Actress nomination for Williams, and her performance alone is a strong enough reason to see the film. Thankfully, the supporting cast is no let down either and I was thoroughly engrossed throughout.

What I've always found fun about the Oscars is the variety of films that you can discover if you're willing to take a few chances. I had a good feeling about My Week With Marilyn to begin with, but there are several flicks I know nothing about this year. When you've grown up addicted to movies, sometimes it's just fun to find more ways to feel connected to them.

The Monarch Theatre remains a great venue for watching smaller, more dramatic films. It was packed last night because it was 5+5 Wednesday - $5 ticket and $5 pop and popcorn. If you live in Medicine Hat, you really should visit the Monarch. They still have some of the best theatre seats in town.

Ernie the Spaceman (1997)

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Like a lot of kids do, I created my first videos using my toys. At 12 I took what little savings I had and put it towards a used video camera that was for sale in the newspaper. It's what makes these videos special now, the fact that I actually planned to create these and had it in my head that I wanted to buy myself a camera because I knew I wanted to make movies.

Ernie the Spaceman was actually an Ernie key chain, a mascot from Expo '86, a World's Fair held in Vancouver, BC. He seemed just unique enough to not be recognizable, and before I started creating my own characters a year or so later, I got a feel for my camera by creating random episodes about the adventures Ernie would go on. Once he crash landed on a planet full of Mr. Potato Head's, another time he had to rescue an alien princess, and plenty of times he was simply lost in space.

I created scenes using everything from strings of Christmas lights, to old Star Wars toys, construction paper and poster board, and remote controls as spaceship consoles. The production value couldn't have been more bottom of the barrel, but the fact that I found ways to work in music, that I printed off my credits and taped them to the walls, and that I took the time to create miniature sets at least proved how much fun I was having. It was only '97 after all and it wasn't like I had a computer to edit on or a digital camera to make things easier.

I only really shared the ten or so episodes I created with my friends, and for the sake of preserving my nostalgia that's the way it's going to stay. Ernie the Spaceman is special only because it kicked off what I already knew I wanted to pursue as a kid. It was my amateur directorial and editing debut, and the work I put into those shorts really lit a fire in me that set everything else in motion.

Looking back at it now and thinking about the setups that I'd build in the basement makes me realize how formative those experiences really were. Without knowing it at the time I was exploring framing, composition, basic editing, and generally priming myself for the digital revolution that was just starting to hit. The fact that I'd share my creations and get to see everyone's reactions only boosted my confidence.

The results were a long way from perfect, and they were even more embarrassing to watch after I'd gone through puberty, but it's that imperfection that seems so meaningful to me now. I had no notions about how I was making something, it was nothing more than creative exploration. Fifteen years later though, through a film school education, having had my work screened at numerous international venues, having over a million video views online, and having edited for a handful of big name clients, it's a rush to be able to trace it all the way back to this.

Ernie's haphazard and clumsy adventures may have only been a blip on my timeline, but it sure felt epic in the moment. At the very least, it was an exercise in persistence.

The original title card from the Ernie the Spaceman episodes.

Lenovo Ideapad 32GB Review

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

So a few weekends ago I began doing some research about e-readers and inevitably found myself looking at tablets. Some will argue that an iPad is the clear front runner in this category, but on price point that's far from the truth. What I eventually decided on was the Lenovo Ideapad Tablet with 32GB and Wi-Fi. Here's why I came to that decision and what I've come to really like about my tablet in general.

1. Value for Money - A quick scan of tablets will show how competitively priced the Lenovo is (compared to other tablets and laptops). I ended up spending about $350 for a tablet with 32GB of memory, a 10.1" screen, a front and rear camera, a stylish design, and that is easily customizable in terms of the display, apps, what widgets go where, etc.

2. More Than an E-Reader - I was really just after an e-reader to begin with, but found it hard to pass up the ability to freely surf the web, watch YouTube, check facebook, download from the Amazon Kindle store, or scroll my emails (all at the same time). The point is that this tablet is a lot more versatile for not much more money.

3. Portable and Convenient - I found it cumbersome using my laptop in bed when I just wanted to check blogs or read web pages and a tablet is the answer to that. The Lenovo is comfortable to hold thanks to the rounded edges and although it may be a bit on the heavier side for tablets, I still find it quite light.

While I haven't taken it on the road with me yet, I also like the idea of having my maps downloaded and having a large screen to view them. Navigating maps on my iPod Touch hasn't always been the most convenient and now I don't necessarily need to bring my laptop on the road with me either to stay connected.

4. The Show-Me Factor - How often do you have someone over and end up talking about a funny YouTube video or webpage? The tablet is quick to launch and easy to pass around for moments just like that. It's also what makes the tablet a great presentation tool, and it was really convenient to pull up my portfolio and scroll the pages when I had people over.

5. Adaptability - What I love about my Lenovo Ideapad (and a tablet in general) is the way that you can continue to change it based on how you use it. There are plenty of apps to play with and explore, and the Lenovo Ideapad has 5 pages that you can flip through and customize however you want. I'm sure I'll continue to find more fun ways to use it as I play around a bit more.

In my personal opinion having used this product for a couple of weeks now (in addition to my regular PC, laptop, and iPod Touch) I'd give the Lenovo Ideapad a solid 8/10. The only areas that I'd really make improvements to would be the speaker, which could be a bit stronger. The tablet could also be a bit lighter, and I'd like to see more apps for Android products. For the time being though, this is a more than adequate product for a casual user like myself and it's exceeded my expectations.

For more specifics check out the review of this product on PC World.

Best Oscar

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago for one of my final projects in Art 30 we were tasked with creating something out of clay. Being the humble movie lover that I am, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to craft an Oscar for myself before leaving for film school in the fall. This was the result.

The top half and base were created and fired in the kiln separately, and I spray painted the top half gold and rubbed the base down with shoe polish for a really deep black. The two pieces were then attached with super glue, and it's held up ever since. For an art project that I had in my room in high school, in my various dorms, back in my parent's basement, and now in my own place, it's become a symbol of my own successes in moving forward with my own career.

I couldn't be more proud of this little art project, and it actually contributed to a real achievement at the time. I received a scholarship from the Art program at Hat High for having the highest mark in the program that year - which was actually more of a reflection of my willingness to experiment with every medium they'd let me try I think.

In any case, the nominations for the Academy Awards come out tomorrow and I'll be ready to check out as many of the films as I can before the broadcast. In the meantime I'm going to continue working at completing my faux E.G.O.T. A few months ago I found a gramophone statue at Value Village that looks just like a Grammy. Emmy and Tony here I come!

Life in the Age Booth

2012-01-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a small family gathering to celebrate my Mom's birthday. We had Chinese food and a treatzza pizza from DQ, and had fun shooting the breeze with one another. My aunt and uncle were also over, which was a nice surprise as we didn't get a chance to see them over the Christmas break. All around it was a fun evening.

As I've done for most of our family gatherings over the last year, I brought my iPod touch along to snap some pictures. One new addition however, was the Age Booth app that I purchased under the encouragement from my friend Tyler while I was visiting over the New Year's weekend. As it turns out, getting older can be pretty entertaining (if not a bit unflattering when done in 30 year intervals with the help of an app).

Me.

My Sister.

My Uncle.

My Dad.

Enough To Do Something

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

I saw the new movie, The Descendants starring George Clooney the other night. It was a great flick about embracing ones past and the future it presents, and there was a quote that stuck with me. When Clooney's character is discussing inheritance for his kids, he says something along the lines of, "I want to give them enough to do something, but not enough to do nothing".

That's a brilliant way to think about it.

These days (and as a goal for this year in fact) I find myself in want of doing and experiencing more things. I want to go places, see things, and I'm not even referring to grand vacations necessarily. I want to go to several museums in Alberta this year, I want to go to a car show, it looks like I'll be going to the Rockies a couple of times this summer too. The idea that we should be content to stick to a routine or adopt entirely predictable habits is a bad one.

Having enough money (or time in a lot of cases) to do something is just as important as the personal time to do nothing. However, the goal shouldn't really be to do nothing at all, the goal should be to have the freedom to do a bit of everything as you see fit. Rich or poor, it's easy to be lazy. Finding new ways to be passionate about life takes work.

The lesson perhaps, and what I took away from that quote, is that we should feel accountable to the decisions we make in the pursuit of our own happiness. We should feel a bit pressured to experience things while they're there to be experienced. Whether you realize it or not, your time is actually your own. And, it's enough to do something.

Flip Cam Wide Angle Lens

2012-01-18T08:00:00.001-07:00

Last Christmas I got my Flip Cam and was excited about the opportunity to shoot more home videos with it. I actually used the camera so much throughout the year that I began looking for ways to enhance it. I'd come across several wide angle lens adapters on Amazon, and this Christmas I finally got one.

The Rokinon lens comes with several adhesive magnetic rings that you can easily attach to your Flip Cam. The lens itself has a magnet in its base so attaching it is a breeze, and for any skeptics, the lens really does make a noticeable difference by increasing the field of view 0.45 times. The connection also feels very secure so there's really no fear of the lens coming off unless you want it to.

As far as simple upgrades for your video equipment are concerned, this is by far one of the most affordable options available for what's already a very consumer-friendly camera. Below I've posted a clip to give you a better idea of how the lens works and what the footage looks like. Pick up one of these lenses for a bit of added versatility when capturing your next home video.

Trainspotting

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

After our ride on the historic 2816, my Dad and I took the opportunity to check out one of the modern Canadian Pacific diesel trains on display in the rail yard. As common as they are to see throughout the prairies, this was the first time I'd ever been inside one.

Stumbling onto all of these great pictures that I shot in 2006 has me thinking that I should do a bit more digging. There are a lot of stories and photo sets that I've never really shared with anyone, and I like the idea of posting them for posterity instead of letting them waste away on CD. I love rediscovering experiences like this all over again.

Canadian Pacific 2816 Empress

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

My fascination with trains has been apparent since getting my first train set as a kid. My dad actually built a giant table in our basement with a paper mache mountain and tunnel for me to set it up with. Countless hours were spent playing there. There's obviously a big difference between those childhood memories and seeing the real thing however.

In August of 2006 the famed Canadian Pacific 2816 Empress came through Medicine Hat, Alberta and I went along for a ride with my folks. The train is a 4-6-4 H1b Hudson built in 1930, and has become a prestige project for the Canadian Pacific Railway ever since they spent over two million dollars to restore and debut it back in 2001.

I recently stumbled upon my ticket stub from the trip and was reminded of the pictures I shot. It's a shame that traveling by rail isn't very economical in western Canada anymore as it's a really cool way to see the prairie. Someday I'd like to travel through the Rocky Mountains by rail, or who knows, maybe return to Alaska to ride the White Pass & Yukon Railway again.

A Burger With a Side of Optimism

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last night my friend Keith and I went for supper at Local, one of my favorite hangouts. The two of us were childhood friends who grew up on the same street and since our time out of university we've tried to meet up at least once a year to touch base. It's always a kick to be reminded of just how much time has passed.

It was fun to catch up and our conversation eventually drifted towards what life has been like back in Medicine Hat. It's the kind of topic I love because I feel there's so much I still haven't resolved about it. The fact that I'm even here and able to edit for a living still surprises me, and for as much as I feel I've accomplished I'm still quick to admit that I haven't exactly put down my roots here yet.

I really do like it here. I'm able to afford a great place, I have family here, I like my work, and yet it was never part of my plan to come back. Funny how life takes you in different directions even when you've been so meticulous in constructing the path you thought you were on. I'm happy, I'm just not content to be comfortable yet - even despite the great burger place just around the corner.

Meeting up with old friends is always a reminder that growing up is a slow process, and that for as much as we change we still manage to stay the same. While it's convenient to think that the right moment will eventually present itself and I'll pack up and move on to what I believe are bigger and better things, that's obviously not the way it works. At least I feel optimistic. I know I'll always want more, even when things are good. It's one thing that I can't seem to grow out of.

ELMR: January '12

2012-01-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Editing Luke's Monthly Rehash: January 2012

To start off the new year I wanted to share some of the oldest footage I ever shot. It comes from a trip to Alaska in 1998. The edit posted below was done years later when I was able to edit on the computer instead of on VCR, but the rough cut I did of this footage as a teenager was one of the first projects I ever shared with my family.

Pinnacle DV Hub

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of the big problems with digital video is the rate at which it changes. For all of the benefits that this has delivered, it's also meant that I've had to look at new ways of keeping older projects and footage archived and accessible. I recently incorporated the Pinnacle DV hub into my setup, and so far it's been a great investment.

As an editor I'm constantly working with various formats between clients (and for my own videos) - from old VHS or D8 tapes, to Mini DV or DVDs, to HD content and everything else accessed over USB. When I upgraded my computer in the fall I wasn't surprised that it didn't come with firewire ports, what surprised me was that no one seemed to carry firewire in store anymore. You can still get them online of course, but this was just another clear sign that everything has gone to USB.

In my continued search the Pinnacle hub than seemed like the perfect option. Available on the Pinnacle website, the hub plugs in through USB and allows you to connect firewire (DV), S-Video, and RCA cables. It's also an attractive little piece of equipment that can sit right on your desktop, making it easy to connect your cameras. The Pinnacle DV hub has been a useful accessory so far, and I'm happy that it's made uploading different formats simple.

Newport Beach in 2004

2012-01-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like a long day at the beach. Check out the complete photo sets and edits from this trip in under the California 2004 tab.

Hollywood in 2004

2012-01-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

From downtown L.A. to the tourist lined sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard, the trip we took to California in 2004 left a lasting impression. For links to more of my original photo sets and edits, check out the California 2004 tab here.

Featured Posts: Volume 1

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

My portfolio at fandrix.com has been in swing for nearly a month now, and I thought it would be worthwhile to draw attention to my first round of featured blog posts. The goal with this page (and the basis for the design of the entire portfolio for that matter) has been to rotate content on a semi-regular basis. This is just a reminder to see what made the cut this first round. Visit my Featured Blog Post page to explore the links, and stay tuned for the next volume.

Roger Ebert Memoir and Autograph

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Back in October my friend Tyler discovered that Roger Ebert's new memoir, Life Itself was selling online and that he was going to sign and personalize each copy purchased over the week from this one particular book store. Having been a long time fan of watching Ebert and Roeper every Sunday night while in film school, I was easily convinced that it would be a cool souvenir and an interesting read.

Tyler hadn't been able to place his order in time, but I purchased it for him to give to him at Christmas. What makes this notable however, is that Roger Ebert personalized Tyler's book with a nickname that I regularly call him. It made the gift that much more unique (and hilarious) when he opened it and realized that Ebert had actually written "For Ty@@" (AKA Ty Tits) on the inside cover. We naturally had a good laugh about it (but maybe Tyler was just crying on the inside). Anyway, the ridiculousness seemed absolutely appropriate for a friend with a strange taste in autographs (really Suzanne Somers?) and bad jokes. If you can find anything at Tyler's place that he hasn't signed it's worth a fortune.

I've yet to read the memoir, but I hope to get just as much enjoyment out of what looks to be a really interesting collection of stories. As someone who writes about himself on a regular basis, this should provide some welcome inspiration.

Darwin and My iPod

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Over the New Year's weekend I got to spend some long awaited quality time with my honorary nephew, Darwin. In the course of snapping a bunch of pictures of the two of us it became pretty clear that Darwin was as fascinated by my iPod as I've been. Specifically, he loved the fact that he could see a live image of himself through the camera before a picture was taken.

Darwin was eager to reach for the screen and make faces. He even calmed down a couple of times when he was getting a bit fussy just by seeing himself on screen again. It was a lot of fun to play with him like this, and by the time our matching flat caps came out I was well on my way to having a complete album of the many faces of a 4.5 month old Darwin.

The fact that I don't get to see Darwin in person on a regular basis makes moments like this special, and it plays right into my documenting habits. I want him to know I've been around as he grows up, and who knows, it might be just the thing to convince me that I really want kids someday too. For now, I'm happy to have the pictures.

The Un-Christmas

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

It comes and goes so fast, and after all of the pomp of the holidays, taking down the Christmas decorations only emphasizes how bland January generally feels. There's a new year upon us, but keeping that surge of optimism alive for more than a couple of weeks is difficult as everything returns to normal. It's not that things are so bad either, it's just sad to see all of that celebrating come to an end. I suppose that's what keeps it special. For now, back to reality.

Cheers New Years!

2012-01-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

I rang in 2012 with good friends, good food, and some much needed optimism. The new year is always an excuse to take inventory of your life and your future goals. At this point, I think I've done as much as I could have to set myself up for another clean start to what is sure to be another ambitious year.

Although I spent years in Regina going to film school, this was the first time I was ever there for New Years. The drive was actually reminiscent of heading back to school after the Christmas break. The cold weather, the repetitive prairie scenery, and the bumpy roads were vastly improved by the fact that I'm now making the trip in my Jaguar. It reminded me that four Christmases have gone by since my days in uni. Things have changed so much in what seems like such a short time.

With Dave gone our group has evolved. This was my first trip back to Regina since his passing and I think all of us were eager to create some new memories while casually refreshing our nostalgia. I got into town on the 30th, and my friend Tyler and I headed out to Boston Pizza for dinner and drinks.

A few schooners in and the conversations came easy. Feeling that the night was still young we decided to go spend some one on one time with Wendy and Darwin (Dave's girlfriend and son). It was a great start to the weekend and I took full advantage of my chance to snap some pics of Darwin and I.

For New Year's Eve Tyler, Wendy, Mike, Erin and I all went out for dinner. We had a reservation at Moxie's, and the food and atmosphere were top notch. It was a nice precursor to the evening spent back at Wendy's place.

The remaining hours of 2011 were lively and entertaining. Drinks were had, photos were snapped, laughs were shared, and celebratory cigars were smoked (away from Darwin of course). It was a small gathering, but a meaningful one. This is a good sign for the return visits on the horizon and the new plans ahead.

So as everything gets back into swing, Happy New Year! Here's wishing you and yours all the best in 2012! Let's make it a good one!

Editing Luke in 2011

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Of all the years in recent memory, 2011 was undoubtedly a challenging one for me. It felt like a year of uphill battles, where every positive moment was directly followed by a heavier negative one. Coming off of what was an epic year of successes, I suppose that 2011 had the deck stacked against it to begin with. However, each year brings a new chapter to the story, and through all of the experiences I felt I discovered a lot more about myself and the people around me. In retrospect, I did do more than thought.

Here are a few of the things that defined 2011 for me:

January 24, 2011 - In the midst of edits piling up and car troubles, I wrote a post that would seem to echo in the months that followed it.

February 10, 2011 - One of the biggest projects I undertook early in the year was upgrading my edit suite. I incorporated new hard drives and reorganized all of my files. A few weeks later I went wireless for the sake of Netflix and my new PS3, and by March I was working with new software and wrote about Avid Studio. That review actually showed up at the top of Google searches and has already been viewed nearly 6000 times.

April 16, 2011 - One year to the day had passed, and I wrote one of my favorite posts of the year about an experience we had in Singapore.

May 10, 2011 - I added a new laptop to my editing arsenal.

May 18, 2011 - As my blog started gaining more traction, I wrote about why I think filmmakers should blog.

May 31, 2011 - Editing Luke celebrated 4 years.

June 10, 2011 - I launched my brand new blog, Jeeves and the Jaguar. You can check out my year end recap of that site here and the promo I made in June below.

June 28, 2011 - A family gathering became a memorable event with bubbles.

June 29, 2011 - I traveled up to Calgary for a Weddingstar photo shoot at the Opera House. I embraced living like a boss for a day, and showcased my photos on the Weddingstar blog for the release of the new magazine. The behind the scenes video I shot and edited debuted at the same time.

July 1, 2011 - I was away to Regina for the Canada Day long weekend to celebrate with friends. I practiced my bonfire penmanship and snapped a bit of Canadiana.

July 29, 2011 - One of the most memorable trips of the year was a day we spent on the South Saskatchewan River in the pouring rain. It was so uncomfortable we couldn't help but laugh (more so after the fact though).

August 5, 2011 - I spent an evening at the old Monarch Theatre with my folks.

August 29, 2011 - Some well intentioned time off resulted in a painful week of bad news. There were a few highlights at the beginning of the week though, like reuniting with friends from university at Daunean and Ian's wedding and seeing Dave and Wendy together before their baby was born.

September 12, 2011 - Without question the most difficult and emotional post I wrote this year was about losing one of my best friends, Dave. The experience was a total shock, and I was candid about my feelings leading up to the funeral, the process of making a memorial video for him, and what it was like after we said our last goodbyes. It's still tough to think about, and has changed the way I look at a lot of things.

October 7, 2011 - In keeping with the upgrade trend that started earlier in the year, I was forced to buy a brand new computer when my existing edit suite crapped out.

October 17, 2011 - As a welcome break from my busy schedule, my sister and I went to see Jerry Seinfeld live.

October 19, 2011 - I cut a new reel for Stream Media.

October 28, 2011 - For the second year in a row, I went out of my way to get a pumpkin purely for the sake of roasting the seeds. This time I made an effort to document the experience though.

November 7, 2011 - I released a teaser trailer for my project, Searching Salvation about a trip to Salvation Mountain with my friend Dave.

November 29, 2011 - At the end of the month both my Dad and Brother celebrated milestone birthdays, and so our family all traveled to Lethbridge to mark the occasion.

December 16, 2011 - My brand new portfolio site, Fandrix.com went live. I even designed new business cards to help promote it in the new year.

December 25, 2011 - I made a lot of posts about the holidays this year. I snapped pictures of my place, of what Christmas looked like downtown, and I uploaded a We Two Kings music video. We had a great Christmas this year and I shared a collage of highlights that I snapped throughout the weekend.

As 2011 comes to a close I'm anxious about what the new year has in store. If I've learnt anything this year it's that there's no shortage of surprises, but also that the bright spots are always there if you look hard enough. I wish you all the best ahead!

Scenes from a Holiday Weekend

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Our Christmas was decidedly relaxed this year, but wasn't without fun and excitement. Friends and family gathered at my folks place for Christmas eve where we upheld our ritual to eat, drink, and be merry. We spent hours playing Pictionary, dancing to a game on the PS3, and singing duets on American Idol on the Wii. A few drinks in and everyone is a world class entertainer.

Christmas morning came with plenty of presents and new distractions. What I wanted most that afternoon was a nap. However, by dinner the house smelt great and we embraced our comfortable surroundings. It was the first Christmas we had without any of our extended family and although it felt different, everyone was upbeat. Our traditions will undoubtedly continue to change as we get older and our families grow, but to me Christmas will always be special.

Scenes from a holiday weekend.

Christmas eve meets family game night.

Pictionary, PS3 dancing, and American Idol on Wii.

Christmas morning with presents galore.

A small feast for Christmas dinner.

Good Tidings and Mirth

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

And Christmas morning came just the same. This is a new edit, but very familiar footage if you've watched We Two Kings in the past. I opted to make a music video using some of my favorite footage from that shoot as a way to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Have an amazing day and go make some memories!

On the Eve of the Eve

2011-12-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

I scrambled yesterday to finish a last minute photo shoot, I uploaded a new Weddingstar video, I cleaned out boxes and boxes of product from my office and studio, and then I pulled an all-nighter to finish an edit for Stream Media. I'm exhausted, but things have pretty much gone to plan and I'm now on holidays until January without any work projects to occupy my time.

This is my favorite part of Christmas. All of the presents are wrapped, the decorations look great, and I don't have anything to do except enjoy the moment and savor the anticipation of all of the holiday plans ahead. On the eve of the eve for Christmas 2011, I've managed to do what has failed me for the last several years. I've made a clean break and set myself up to start fresh in the new year. After what has been an incredibly busy twelve months, this break feels well deserved.

Modern Inspired Photo Shoot

2011-12-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

This year was full of on-location photo shoots for Weddingstar, but things kicked off with vintage, sparkle, and modern themed shoots at the office. Each time the scope of the shoot became a bit more varied with more products and props. Truth be told, the videos were all secondary to the photographs which were to be used for ads in the UK, to enhance product pages, and for highlights on our blog.

The modern themed shoot was a bit more generic than those prior scenes, but instead of doing a traditional table setting we did a desert table and seating table. Here's another sneak peak of some of the products used in the shoot.