USING THE BEST TOOL TO ACHIEVE STEADY FOOTAGE
We were hired to film a retreat recap video for Mar de Jade, a beautiful yoga retreat center located in Chacala, Mexico. After talking with the retreat coordinator, she recommended I pack very light and be prepared to explore several different conditions and terrains...
THE CHALLENGE
While having the pre-production meeting with my team back in Chicago, we discussed the importance of having a light-weight setup that could capture what we envisioned, but not slow the group down. I was not checking any bags, so everything had to meet the Southwest carry-on standards. In other words, this was a “run and gun” style production.
THE PLAN
As a team, we decided the best option was to use our handheld crane I-Kan EC-1 a 3-axis stabilizer, paired with a Sony A7Sii and a 24-70mm lens. Our DJI Mavic Pro + 15” MacBook Pro tagged along as well. I was prepped and ready. I spent my last day in Chicago balancing the EC-1 and preparing it for the week-long shoot. I practiced the shooting options it offers and even utilized a monopod to give it more of a “jib” feel. The footage looked great but appeared a bit bouncy when dropping into Adobe Premiere. I was slightly concerned but went along with it.
THE EXPERIENCE
When I arrived in Mexico, the warm air and tropical atmosphere instantly put me in the mood to capture it! After settling in, I prepped my camera and hit the resort for some exterior shots. It was day one and I was immediately immersed in capturing the palm trees, pathways, people walking around, the sun, and the waves crashing on the beach. On camera everything looked amazing, I was energized and feeling the good vibes! When I got back into my room, I instantly started offloading media to put into Adobe Premiere. Since I shot a majority of the footage in 60fps, I went ahead and started interpreting the footage from 59.976 to 23.976. After importing the footage, I went ahead and rendered my favorite selects on the timeline. When I pressed play my jaw dropped...
THE PROBLEM
Although the footage seemed to look smooth on camera, the playback showed differently... Since the crane has three motors, there are tiny micro-adjustments occurring to stabilize the shots. I spent the next three hours researching how I can fine-tune the adjustments. When I put the camera back on to test it again, I kept experiencing microvibrations in my clips.
At this point, I was on day two of the trip and felt defeated. I doubted myself and was angry I brought the handheld crane. I put the camera down and was about to let the client know I was facing some technical difficulties with my gear. I went outside and took a couple of deep breaths and cleared my mind to find a solution. After 10 minutes, it hit me! I don’t need an electronic tool to ensure I get the best shots. I just needed one thing...my breath!
THE SOLUTION
At this point I made the decision to shoot handheld for the rest of my trip with the intention of staying mindful to my breath. Crazy right? After all I was at a meditation and yoga retreat, it only seemed fitting.
Once I dedicated myself to this, I had the flexibility to capture anything I wanted without the limitations of having to calibrate a stabilizer. I was simply just capturing raw moments without worrying about technology failing me. I kept the camera in my backpack at all times and when a moment presented itself, I was there to capture it in its full essence. I pushed myself to get creative, I used my arms as extensions like a jib and my legs to adjust height like a tripod. I was ready to capture any moment freely, from the intense hikes, to trips to the organic farm, wood shop, school, market, and yoga classes. I was there, shooting cinematically, with my hands.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1) Mastering breath is an extremely important skill you can learn as a cinematographer.
2) The best tool is the tool you feel most comfortable with.
3) You don’t always need fancy equipment to capture cinematic shots.
4) There is always a creative solution.
5) Push yourself even when all odds are against you.
