Bob Crum

Have I mentioned that photojournalism is fraught with hardships and hazards? I ran into more of the same the past weekend at the May Festival parade. The plan: Shoot still photos and video. I thought I had it figured out. I didn't! I should have have killed the plan the second it was conceived. Or at least had a glass of Merlot before the parade started.

I decided to try to shoot some video because a still photo of a marching band lacked oompah oompah! Isn't a photo of a marching band in a parade without oompah like pizza without flavor?

I hand-held the camera to shoot the still photo then quickly mount the camera on the tripod... switch the camera to video – focus - check the composition - press the record button and pan the camera to follow the parade participant. Then remove the camera from the tripod – compose - shoot a still photo of the next parade participant. Then quickly remount the camera on the tripod - switch the camera over to video – focus - check the composition - press the record button and pan to follow the parade participant. Then remove the camera... well, got the idea?

Another problem was that even the slow moving parade participants moved too fast!!! I needed roller skates and wheels on the tripod to keep up. Politely speaking, it was frustrating. Remember that my specialty is mermaid boudoir photography. Shooting video with my dSLR camera is a new process.

Even though my Canon 7D MKII shoots excellent quality video, the physical form factor is terrible. It's easier to pull teeth from a hippopotamus. There is no button to push for zooming the lens, no follow focus when zooming and other issues. Everything has to be done quickly. But my hands just don't do quickly so quickly these days.

Forget the video for a moment and let's get back to 'still' photos. Remember, composition rules. A photo exhibiting good composition reflects a story told by the photograph! Great composition is testament to a great story! To execute the plan, I used my Tamron 16-300mm lens. For the hand-held photos I could shoot from a afar and zoom in, compose and shoot. That supposedly would give me time to mount the camera on the tripod to shoot video of the oncoming parade participant so long as they don't move too fast. Accordingly, I could crop the image later when post processing the stills. Splendid concept... execution not so much. I need clemency!

Regardless of the obvious challenges learning to shoot video, I persevere because it seems appropriate that moving people warrant motion pictures... so to speak. In the meantime, you get to witness my metamorphosis, as it were, from shooting just still photos to still photos and video. It'll probably be a tad messy initially so I hope that you don't become too distraught before I get proficient. Your indulgence will be appreciated as I dilly dally with video. BTW, when was the last time you dilly dallied at anything? You should, it's fun! I do it a lot!

Happy photoing.

Send your comments, questions or suggestions to bob@fillmoregazette.com