Image Mechanics Expo - Collision Conference

Below is a preview of the article Lou Lesko wrote for the Collision Conference program.

When I walked into my office this morning my normally ebullient office mate was staring at his computer screen with the gaze of a doped up mental institution inmate.  “Why so glum?”  I asked.  He had his last cigarette on Friday night.  Just over forty-eight hours into his cold turkey dismissal of his smoking habit he was having trouble reconciling his old routine with his new routine.  The new routine being the old routine sans cigarette.  Determined to succeed, he vowed to look at his day in a different way and tried to avoid reacting to the triggers, like a phone call that he would take outside, that would typically send him reaching for his pack of smokes.  It is all about habit adjustment and perspective.  The photography industry is in the same boat as my office mate.  Wholly resistant to change,  even though it must change to survive and be healthy.

A few months ago I wrote an article entitled “Will Video Kill the Photography Star” for Digital Photo Pro magazine which, in part, inspired the Collision Conference that you’re sitting in today.  I received a lot of emails about the piece, but the one that struck me the most was; “Thank you for writing your article.  I thought it very well done, but since I don’t know the first thing about shooting video it freaked me out.  I soiled my pants.  I’m writing this from the laundromat.”

You Tube and the Ego Boost.  If you are at all hesitant about jumping into video, saunter on over to You Tube and select a random video to watch.  If the little voices in your head are saying things like “that video is crap, I can do better than that” then you have taken the first step to a greater plain.  Clients are not expecting a production driven by a screenplay.  They are expecting a stylized You Tube video that they can run on the web.  It’s technically very easy as long as you apply your existing knowledge of lighting, composition and story telling.  A moving version of what you already do.  If you’re concerned about editing, cop a squat in front of iMovie (the movie application that comes with Mac computer for free) and start playing around.  Your inherent talent will take you the rest of the way in less than an hour.

Read the rest of this article in the official Collision Conference Program.

Liam Finn – Writer, producer and director of the first HDSLR feature length movie REJOUER will show a "Sneak Peek" from his new feature REJOUER. The movie was shot on the Panasonic GH1 using cinema lenses and Hot Rod Camera's PL mount adapter created by REJOUER technical director, Illya Friedman. The team will discuss adapting cinema lenses for a still camera, format pros and cons, and compare sensor sizes to film formats. Take away how-to tricks for using this ground-breaking format and learn how to make a Big Movie on a Little Camera.

“The idea that a little camera can only make a little movie is dead. It’s true. I know for Indy filmmakers it’s a new day, and I’m really looking forward to see what effect the still photographers will have on the future of movie making.”

REJOUER Teaser from Liam Finn on Vimeo.

SmugMug Pro has generously agreed to sponsor a continuation of the current prices. From now until Aug 14th, you pay only the original price and they will pick up the difference!  All the early bird specials were about to expire today, raising the conference ticket prices by $50 across the board.  SmugMug Pro has really come through here to make this conference more affordable in such a tight economy.  They are also sponsoring Vincent Laforet's keynote address so be sure to stop by their booth and say thanks at the conference.