Today Vimeo released the first entries for the Beyond The Still film competition on their site.

Seeing these first videos coming in is a real pleasure - they are fantastically done!

I know quite a few of you are still busy at work on your entries.

For those of you that haven’t taken the plunge yet:

YOU HAVE FIVE DAYS LEFT TO ENTER

Relatively speaking - that’s an ETERNITY - so if you’re debating whether or not you should enter - go for it!

Relative to what?

Well I found out that the Canon 5D MKII existed on a Friday afternoon a little over a year ago…

By 4 p.m. I was walking out of the Canon HQ with a prototype that I had begged, borrowed and practically stolen from them.

The very next day - at almost precisely 4 p.m. - I called “Action” on the first shot of “Reverie.”

That’s 24 hours notice.

We shot the short over two nights and delivered it the next day fully edited.

72 hours start to finish…

With “Nocturne” - I had 72 hours notice from the time I received the camera - and the time I landed back in Los Angeles from Atlanta - and called “Action” with my two other co-directors Stu Maschwitz and David Nelson.

So as far as I’m concerned :  you guys have a LOT of time to still get into this.

Please go here to find out more.

If for some reason you can’t make it… you have 6 more chapters (and chances) to enter over the next 6 months.

But I don’t know about you - but sitting on my behind has never really ever gotten me anywhere…

Speaking of getting going - here is a quick video clip from this past week - using an awesome toy from the guys at Filmotechnic USA here in California. Shot with the Canon 1D MKIV - this is but one of a few dozen (hundreds!) of shots that day with the crane all over downtown Los Angeles -  more details to come on this shoot in the upcoming weeks!

Filmotechnic Collaboration from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

And a few more pix of the setup: (more…)

I wanted to make sure you knew of an upcoming workshop that I am preparing for in Dubai in a little over two weeks from now - The Gulf Photo Plus workshops.

I will be working with a group of students in and around Dubai to produce a series of short films/spec ads with the latest HDDSLR Cameras and accesories from March 1-6.  I’ll be bringing my entire bag of tricks (as much as I can get on a plane without getting killed with excess baggage charges!) in terms of gear - from RedRock Micro, Marshall Electronics, Viewfactor, Bogen, IDX, Microdolly, PortaJib, Zeiss and on and on…

I will be joining 11 international world class photographers who will be teaching photography and video workshops and delivering seminars during the 6 day event. Joe McNally,  David Hobby (The Strobist), Joey L, Melissa Rodwell, Zack Arias, Bobbi Lane and more more will be sharing their expertise in what promises to be a pretty awesome week.

For more information, visit http://www.gulfphotoplus.com

You can also read David Hobby’s post about the workshops here and learn a bit more about the workshops and what you can expect to experience there.

I’m very glad to announce the following:

From Canon USA & Vimeo:

“Canon USA and Vimeo are advocates and supporters of artists and artists’ rights. We would like to make it very clear that the creator of any submission in the Story Beyond The Still contest retains ownership of that submission – period. Canon USA does own the copyright in the final, combined video comprised of Vincent’s chapter and all winning chapters, however, each chapter itself is still owned by the user who submitted it (similar to a newspaper – the publisher owns a copyright in each full edition, but the specific articles could be owned by a number of different parties).

There has been some commentary on the contest forums and within message boards that claims that Canon USA and/or Vimeo are engaging in a “rights grab” of sorts with respect to contest submissions, and are taking ownership of users’ submissions. This is simply not true. It is no one’s intention to take ownership over any user’s submission.

Of course, in order to offer its services and operate the contest, both Vimeo and Canon USA need certain rights licensed to them - to accept, store and display video submissions, to use clips/stills to promote the contest, and to let other Vimeo users view and comment on the submissions - and efforts were taken to restrict the scope of the licenses as much as possible, keeping in mind the legal realities of conducting a contest like this one.

We want this to be a contest that celebrates creativity and collaborative film making. It is our goal that this is fun and engaging experience for all that participate.”

As you know - we win some (above) and we lose some (below) - that’s just the way life goes and I think Canon and Vimeo are doing a great thing with this contest  and it’s very important to remain focused on that fact. (more…)

The Canon & Vimeo contest page is live!

Please check it out - and see the videos as they come in

(You can enter NOW but have almost a month before we hit the first deadline.)

There is also a forum page for you to ask any questions and to share insights with others.

These the prizes that the winners will be able to choose from (total of 6 winners.)

So here are the rules…

And now let me translate them for you in plain english as best I can:

You can enter as of January 15th (now)  but there is no rush - you have just under a month to enter your submission for Chapter 2 - the first deadline is February 11, 2010  at 11:59.59 p.m. E.S.T…

Here’s how the competition works:

Canon gave me a still image to interpret into a short film.   My short film then ends on the still image below.

This image is your "starting point" for chapter 2 - your interpretation of it need not be exact or literal...

Now it’s YOUR turn to interpret the image above into your own 2-4 minute film- and end on YOUR still image… (more…)

I know a lot of your are waiting to find out a bit more about the rules to this Canon & Vimeo film contest - not to mention the deadlines etc.   For now - let me simply say:  stay tuned.   Once the rules and regulations do come out: you’ll have a few WEEKS to get your short film ready - fair enough?  (For now -consider the Jan 15th date to be the announcement date of future details - NOT your deadline.)

Now back to the more interesting topic of “Contests.”  I think it’s important for you to understand my philosophy on contests in general - for you all to have a better understanding of where I am trying to guide this next journey of ours.

When I was 15 - I entered my first photo contest at the local camera store named “Westside Camera” on 87th and Broadway in New York City … to this day I know people who once worked there (the camera store has since become a franchise…)

The contest rules were simple… (more…)

I think it’s safe to say we’re all adults and that we all know there is more than ONE camera company out there…  Most of your know I use Canon cameras for my HD DSLR filmmaking - and my buddy Chase Jarvis uses another camera company’s cameras…

BUT - this post is not about companies - it’s about finding and rewarding new talent - something that Chase and I have both shown an interest in helping to do.   So go here and take a few moments to vote and help award a lucky filmmaker $25,000 - only good can come of that!   Chase has helped to put together a great film festival of his own - and I want to throw my support his way.

Chase has been a pioneer in the world of photography blogs and has always taken the lead when it comes to sharing with others.  I wish him - and both the $25,000 audience choice winner, and the $100,000 grand prize winner -  the very best of luck!

In a little over a week it’ll be your turn to enter your short film in the Canon / Vimeo contest - details and rules etc. will be announced shortly on Vimeo’s site.

The Cabbie from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

When I was asked to interpret the still image of an abandoned teddy bear at an airport terminal - a thousand different interpretations flooded my mind.

I wanted to create a dynamic film that took the audience on a journey and showed off many of the strengths of this new breed of HD DSLR cameras.   This breed of cameras’ low light capabilities and light weight allow you to do things you’d never thing of trying with traditional cameras.    But almost more importantly:  I had to make sure that we made a film that both photographers brand new to filmmaking  as well as more seasoned filmmakers  felt that they could easily follow.

This project is about bringing EVERYONE into the fold - regardless of their prior experience or their access to “toys.”   We’re looking for a series of ORIGINAL films that spotlight your talent and creativity.

We are not asking anyone to try to make a polished Hollywood film… ideas always win in my book. The quality of execution always plays a role of course - but on this one contest it will take a clear back seat.

The Story Beyond the Still - Behind The Scenes from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Hey - let me be honest here for a moment:  I’ve always been a bit skeptical about the value of promoting oneself on one’s blog.  That probably is why I was more than a year late to both the blogging thing and then yet another year late to Twitter party…

That being said,  when you can harness the power of the web to either: a. share with others or  to b. even better, to help others - then I’m totally sold on the concept.

A few weeks ago someone I had just met called me out of the blue.  While we were far from longtime friends  - what she needed to share with me was clearly pretty heavy.  I’ve been a photojournalist for most of my life and I can tell pretty easily when someone is having a tough time sharing something with me - so I pretty much cut her off to try to ease the difficulty for both of us…

“What’s up?”  I interrupted…

“My ____ found out she has cancer and …”

“Ok - no problem” I interrupted ” How can I help?”

The best thing about the web and/or art - is that it can take on a much bigger meaning than you / your initial intent ever purported to do.  Art can exceed our intent as mere artists - and it can  (or perhaps other people’s interpretations can)  lead to things that we (as artists) never even dared to imagine.

I can say that one of the best parts of being an “artist” is to have a total stranger see something in what you (the artist) created, that you yourself never could have imagined or thought of yourself when you first engaged in the act of making the piece that they are interpreting.  And if that person themselves is not what some would consider to be “an artist” themselves - I’ll admit to finding this entire process even more fascinating… I’m not even sure I’m making any sense but here’s what I do know:

You know what’s better?  When that same piece of “art” (a.k.a.: your photograph) can somehow benefit someone else.

In short: please check out the following link: http://issuu.com/resourcemagonline/docs/onecase

Should you ( or anyone you know)  purchase a print, I can pretty much guarantee it will make a big difference in someone else’s life.

Literally.

So check it out - and share the link -  And help someone else get through a difficult period of their lives.

p.s.:  On a totally separate note:  I am extremely excited to help launch the Canon & Vimeo film contest in less than 48 hours from now.  The intent of this contest was pretty simple:  to find a way to let OTHER people partake in this crazy HD DSLR filmmaking thing.   I hope that you will appreciate the little video that I shot to launch the contest, and that more importantly:  you feel that you can push yourselves to take the contest and the following chapters to new heights.   The purpose of this contest is to help spread the excitement amongst all of YOU.   To make everyone feel like you/they/we  can partake in this technological paradigm shift.

To be clear: I think it’s safe to assume that these relatively new HD DSLRs cameras will likely NOT change Hollywood films overnight - BUT - they might just help make filmmaking more accessible to the future generations of filmmakers.  Hopefully we will find that the next generation of filmmakers will no longer be judged by their access to fancy Hollywood filmmaking toys - but instead that they will be judged by their ideas and vision (uninhibited by technological limitations.)

I’ll definitely admit to being a bit of an idealist, but I think that this new technology can help to level the playing field - and enable the yet  undiscovered talent to spread their wings - based on their creativity - and not their access to fancy toys…

I guess time will tell…

For now - check this out if you’re interested in any of what I’m sayin’.

© Gizmodo

I have two predictions on what 2010 will bring that I wanted to share with you as we are about to close the book on 2009:

1. 2010 will be coined the “Year of the Tablet” as different hardware and software companies offer a new platform and delivery system for the media.   This will happen only if print publishers get their act together (this would be a minor miracle given their total ineptitude to date) but I’m cautiously optimistic that we may just witness a noticeable revival of the print industry as it finds a way of delivery that is not dependent on decimating forests.

There have been many rumors, slipups of some of the major print powerhouses getting ready to provide content for an unnamed “Apple Tablet” or “iSlate” - I’ve heard rumblings from The New York Times, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Wired, GQ and others that their teams were approached by Apple more than 6 months ago…

Apple is not alone in getting tablets ready… Yet they are in a perfect position to capitalize on the print industry’s weakness right now - and become the GO TO provider for print content as they have done with the music industry (remember how they revitalized the ailing music industry?  When was the last time you purchased a CD?   I predict that they will do the same with print media and that we’ll be saying the same thing about purchasing a newspaper or magazine 3-5 years from now…) (more…)

I just wanted to point you to a cool series of posts from some notable photographers on Robert Hanashiro’s SportsShooter site that he’s been sucessfully publishing (and sharing generously) with others out there for a decade.

Here is an excerpt of my post:

I’ve always found it interesting to study how a career takes shape. It’s a very interesting mix of things you try to make happen, things that fail to happen, and a convergence of events often completely out of your control that many call luck.

When I was 15, I was naïve enough to send my work over to Cornel Capa at ICP to ask him for his advice on what to do with my career. He sent me a very kind handwritten letter basically telling me to keep at it – and that things would inevitably happen. I cherish the letter to this day.

At the age of 19 I was rejected thirteen consecutive times during my first round of internship applications. I then sent out a half-hearted application to the Reuters News Pictures Photo Desk in Washington DC – to work as an editor – at the behest of my placement counselor late in spring – only to have it turn out to be one of the most important internships of my career.

Many of the other breaks that have happened in my career were more picture-driven. I’ve made maybe a dozen images throughout my 20-year career that I am proud of, of which maybe 3-4 are sports images.

Most of them were a result of a very special secret formula that I have learned by watching many of the very best sports photographers out there…

Please continue to read this article on SportsShooter here.