This is not a philosophical question, more of a practical expose.
I have said it out loud and so I guess it is real.
“I can shoot stills and video at the same time”.
I can, but of course it needs some planning.
Video for the paper consisted of a quick couple of minutes of audio, several short B-roll clips or “cut aways” and a quick and dirty edit.
Lay down the base track, cut it as needed, mark any remaining movement points (I would often zoom or shift the camera mid interview, making sure my sound was consistent), then cover up the nasties with (hopefully) relevantly timed cut away clips or stills.
When it worked it looked pretty pro, especially considering the time frame was 30 mins all up, when it did not, it was still better than nothing or most single dimensional phone grabs.
Stills were shot either by flicking the camera to photo before or after the interview (sometimes in the middle if there was a break, a boring bit or I knew I had enough), sometimes with a second camera if I had the luxury of a tripod, or very occasionally in my other hand which might sound like bragging, but never underestimate the power of touch-focus-and-shoot on a silent M43 camera and the excellent stabiliser on a G9 Mk1 in the other (and any wobbles could be covered up).
At the school, I have more time, can take more gear, often have more idea what is wanted and fewer time constraints. There is also little pressure on me to get video, but that also went for the paper. I made video a personal challenge at the paper, but sometimes I wondered why I bothered*.
An example of the next level the school offers is this:
Today I am covering the staff choir.
My plan is to setup a camera on a tripod (S5 with 35mm cine lens), a second hand held camera (G9II with Sirui 24 or 12mm cine lens depending on space) and a couple of stills cameras, one with a long, one with a wide lens.
If I had more time and making a movie was a direct request, there would be a second static angle (second S5-still coming or a G9). Finally I would possibly use the OSMO up high and spend less time worrying about stills.
The first cam will be tripod mounted on one side and high, allowing me to move on the front and opposite side and still obey the 180 degree rule for video, but mix it up for stills.
I will hit play on both video cams and leave the G9II running even when shooting stills, so I can overlay the synched track (not confident yet in that space), then cut out all the junk, but change angles, try focus transitions etc as I go.
I will take stills also as I go, putting the G9II to one side or resting it somewhere as I shoot (this can be fun).
Sound will be a single Lewitt LCT 240 above the static cam through an AMS-24 to the camera and the G9II’s excellent mics will allow for synching. I would sometimes also use a backup, but it is not critical today.
Superior sound for video, adequate sound even for a purist.
One tripod, one stand a top handle for the G9 anf two stills cams on straps.
To be honest, many gigs like this are tough to get enthousiasti about when photo opportunities are creatively and physically limited and you have an entire hour to kill. Get your location shots, then portraits-of basically everyone, the creatives, then…….. repeat until it ends.
Sometimes, you can get those elusive images of reluctant subjects, but often with dual duties, you have plenty to do.
Video gives me another thing to do and think about, but the balance is fine. My biggest issue is sometimes forgetting to do my stills! My video journey actually started with a third consecutive performance of a dress rehearsal at the school production a few years ago. I thought, no, I do not need more images after two times through, but maybe some video? It started something I am grateful for, but still have a long way to go.
Ed.
So, back from the event, my processes were sound, my opportunities and execution fell short. late to the gig thanks to the one before running over, I was pushed and then realised I had to shift into a poor location.
Even a 20mm failed to bet more than three quarters of the room.
The group were at an early “exploration” stage of the process, so tight form and function were replaced by relaxed apathy and no single piece was performed to any level of completion. I will keep the footage (all 50gb) as possible before-clips for a bigger project, experiments and to explore.
*Before I left we were closing in on 954k views a year and aiming for 1 million from internally made content (i.e. local and relevant).