One of the most important accessories that you can purchase to help you get better results with the video from your Canon 5D MKII is an external LCD monitor (a video assist monitor.)   

The Canon 5D MKII was designed as a still camera first, therefore when you shoot video you will often find that the placement of the LCD screen, not to mention the ergonomics of the camera body itself are not ideally suited to shooting video.  Being able to hold the camera below your eye-line (or any angle for that matter) become quite important when shooting video vs stills.

I’ve had a chance to play with a variety of monitors out there - and for now Marshall Electronics’ V-LCD70P-HDMI is the clear standout both for the quality of the image it displays, as well as all of the extra features it offers.  This is a 7″ lightweight monitor that comes in at just over a pound, and offers an 800X480 resolution image.   I was able to work with a prototype of this monitor in January for 3 weeks of the Jamie O’Brien shoot and it was simply fantastic.  I should also mention that I am also testing out Ikan’s V5600 5.6″ TFT LCD Monitor and will write about that at some point as well - it’s small size may be very attractive to some. (I’ve yet to put it through it’s paces, but I plan to do so in the upcoming weeks.) (more…)

 Today Life.com and Getty Images “joined forces to provide you instant access to millions of breathtaking photographs - for free.”  … “When you find a photo you like, you’ll be able to share it, print it, and sometimes even buy it.”

I was a bit surprised at first when I heard of this - after all the Time Life collection has always been highly regarded in the photography world as one of the most important historical collections of the 20th Century.  

I think that it’s great to allow people to enjoy it - to view the images that are all too often inaccessible or hidden away and decaying in dusty filing cabinets. Yet there always has been a certain cache to these photographs - in fact I bought a limited edition Margaret Bourke Wife print a few years ago as a gift for my wife.   Now if anyone can legally print and share these images online for free - I do have to wonder: does this move lessen the inherent value of these images? (Granted making a low resolution print off of a web gallery doesn’t equate the value of a true black and white enlargement - but as we disseminate more an more of our content online (and no longer in “printed” form) I think the distinction between the two will become less relevant.)   However, does making them available “for free” to some in effect “cheapen them.”  Will people intrinsically value the use of an image a bit less now? (more…)

Los Angeles ©Vincent Laforet

Well it looks like I finally made one of my dreams come true.  After months of being pulled to the west coast for various projects - I’ve decided to become bi-coastal and to move my family to Los Angeles.  This summer we will officially have a base in Manhattan, as well as Manhattan Beach!  

My wife and I have decided that raising babies on the sand is more enticing than being cooped up in the dead of winter.   Please understand one thing: my love affair with New York City and the way it photographs from above is far from over - we will be maintaining a “pied a terre” as well as an office space here in the city and I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself working here more than I do now!

I’m very excited to continue branching out into the film/video/commercial world and finding new ways to implement the new DSLR technologies and digital cinema cameras in upcoming projects.  This expansion will give me a much greater chance of working with pioneers in that industry - I’ve certainly racked up my fair share of frequent flyer miles flying out west this year. 

Now you can probably understand why I’ve been relatively quiet since posting the Jamie O’Brien project - we’ve been busy working out all of the details of this move - not to mention that we’re expecting our second child within the next few weeks!  I have a lot of ideas and posts that I’ve been holding back amidst all of these changes along with my crazy travel schedule  - I hope to be able to share more with you in the next few days.

As crazy as these times may be - I think that taking a chance with change keeps the creative fluids flowing!  It makes me feel like I’m 34 - not 64… the last big change I made was leaving my staff job at The New York Times a little over 3 years ago - and what a ride it’s been!

(P.S.: Not one person mention a single thing about traffic!  Or you’ll burst my little bubble… Manhattan Beach is a little over 10 minutes away from LAX - so this is definitely thought out… I can hear the laughter from afar… )