Emulsion Transfer Process – A Special Artist’s Portfolio
Once upon a time in a land before digital photography there was this material called polaroid. The perfect media to create emulsion transfers.
Just the other week I saw a post on Facebook by, Hannah Rosenberg, an artist I had worked with in the mid the 90′s. She had found in storage a metal portfolio using emulsion transfers we had created. I photographed the wire metal sculpture chairs with a 4 x 5 Speed Graphic, which I still have and use. I shot using Type 59 polaroid, if my memory serves me correct. Then we took the 4 x 5 polaroids and transferred the polaroid emulsion onto metal sheets which then Hannah bound together to make a metal portfolio. The transfer process worked beautifully to highlight and emphasize these unique miniature chair sculptures. I’m amazed at how well the transfers have held up over the years.
Hannah Rosenberg is a highly multi talented artist. Hannah has always had a love of creating “something from nothing” and working with her hands. Her first love was creating artwork from a variety of media.
Click here for more info about sculptures by Hannah Rosenberg.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial video showing the emulsion transfer process. Quite easy to do. This video was created also in the mid 90′s. It would have been cool if they placed a sound track from A-Ha in the background. Hope you enjoy and get inspired to create your own works of art.
How To Create A Simple Music Video.
There are times when even simplicity can be stripped down to a simpler form. Is that too simple?
I work with many independent musicians to create music videos. Some want to create a linear storyline while others want an abstract visual. I enjoy both challenges however to create a music video down to it’s most basic form, well let’s just say this there is one question I always ask myself. “What can be taken out?” See most people want to keep adding on and adding on to try to make something better. In fact it works just the opposite. We’ve all heard the expression “Less is more.”. The hardest thing is to create a simple yet strong visual solution.
Steve Messina of Blow Up Hollywood and I have been working together since the inception of his band close to 10 years now. Over that time I’ve learned about the kind of visuals he prefers. When Steve contacted me about creating a video of just him performing in his apartment my mind started solving all the obstacles. The apartment environment how to stage it so it is visually appealing, lighting, am I gonna need multiple cameras and sound quality. These are concerns to tackle and the best solution is to simplify.
Here’s how I created the music video of Steve covering The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”.
Lighting
A single Lowell Pro-light 250 watt
Placed up high to the right of the subject. The key is to feather the light off the of the subject’s face towards the floor. Reason, I did not want to see the couch and to make the video have a darker vibe.
Camera
The Nikon P7000. That’s right a point and shoot digital camera. Why did I use this camera when I could have used my broadcast quality Nikon D800 instead? The first thing the Nikon P7000 is light making is highly mobile. Two I like the subtle exposure adjustments that automatically are created by the camera itself.
J Rig
This is an articulated arm to use as a steadicam. When you hold the camera directly you get more shake. The J Rig actually helps to reduce shake by steadying the camera. This example shows a Go Pro on the J Rig with Nikon P7000. I did not use the Go Pro for this video. However if you want to see what a music video looks like with the full J Rig in action go to this video I made for Risa Binder.
Sound
Of course having quality sound for a musician is super important. The microphone in the shot was just not there for visual purposes but fully functional. Gordon Davies is an excellent audio engineer. Davies mixed the track after the session and provided me with the audio that I synced to the video using Final Cut Pro X Synchronizing Clip feature.
Want to do a music video?
Let’s create.
Contact me.
Creating Stop Motion Animation Video with Aperture
Creating stop motion animation video with Aperture is fun and easy. “But Aperture is a digital asset management program not a video editing program.” you might say. Well you’re right however the slideshow feature in Aperture is a simple yet powerful tool that I used to create a stop motion animation music video. How do like them apples?
“The slideshow feature is key.”
See… the slideshow feature of Aperture allows you to adjust individual images for almost any specific time you set to show a frame or group of frames. This is perfect for timing the frames of the video so the stop motion animation will move with the beat of the music. Transitions can also be used between frames which will give a different feel and effect to your video.
“Make some popcorn and check out the presentation.”
Wanna learn the details…? Watch the Keynote presentation below.
Stop Motion Animation Music Video Using Aperture Presentation from Spencer Gordon on Vimeo.
Or watch the actual presentation from the New York Apple SOHO Theatre it’s in two parts. Yea YouTube only let’s me upload 15mins at a time.
Part 1
Part 2
Contact Spencer for any of your photography or video needs.
He’s a visual solutions specialist.
Spencer Gordon Shares Expert Aperture Tips at the Apple SOHO Store
Spencer Gordon will be sharing his expert tips using Aperture to create stop motion animation video.
Come to the Apple SOHO Store in New York on December 17th at 6pm.
103 Prince Street between Mercer St & Greene St in Manhattan
Spencer will share how he created the “What is Christmas?” music video, a single by Nadia Ackerman and Harvey Jones. You’ll meet a professor from M.I.T. Bring your handkerchief you may even shed a tear.
What Is Christmas? Written By Nadia Ackerman and Harvey Jones
Original drawings by Nadia Ackerman http://www.nadiaackerman.com
Stop animation music video by Spencer Gordon
See you on December 17th at 6pm!!!!
More info about the Apple SOHO Store event.
Risa Binder covers Taylor Swift’s “RED”
When Risa Binder contacted Spencer to shoot Taylor Swift’s single “RED” their goal was to make the music video fun. That’s what they did alright. From pillow fights to the elevator schtick behind the couch. “Risa has a bright playful quality making it great to work together. Even the guitarist Oscar Bautista got into the fun with his on camera humor. ” says Spencer.
Why did Binder want to cover Taylor Swift’s “RED”? Risa states “I wanted to cover her song ‘Red’ because I’ve been on the same love roller coaster ride, feeling all the colors she’s talking about…especially Red.”
Spencer and Risa have worked together before. Making a perfect collaborative team between taking direction and giving direction from both sides of the camera. “I like working with Risa she has creative ideas and is open to taking professional suggestions as well. I am an image solutions specialist taking my client’s ideas and bringing it to visual fruition. Many times when Risa and I work on a project I can expand and strengthen her creative idea in a way she did not even imagine.” comments Spencer.
The location of the shoot took place at 145 Antiques in Long Island City. A long time client of Gordon’s they too have collaborated on many videos. “Jerry and Jim the owners of 145 Antiques have an extensive inventory of exquisite vintage furniture and props. They were so accommodating for Risa’s shoot, being conscientious that we were actually recording sound live.” Spencer claims.
Binder released her debut album, “Paper Heart,” on Warehouse Records in February. The Brooklyn-based musician recorded the set in Nashville with producer Marshall Altman (Ingrid Michaelson, Natasha Bedingfield).
via Risa Binder Covers Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’: Video Premiere – Viral Videos | Billboard.
