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Hybrid assignments-video, stills, and a client sans agenda
Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
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Powell | TN | USA | Posted: 11:11 AM on 09.04.09 |
->> My perfect assignment... I established a relationship with a young minister some years ago when I shot one of his friend's weddings doing the b&w PJ thing. We got along great, he liked my work, and eventually called me to shoot their college ministry's activities. There was no agenda, they directed me to do nothing but "do my thing." Total freedom on an assignment is a rarity for most of us and it's easy to get inspired and work really hard. I've always prided myself on shooting for me first, but to be honest, I'm getting old. I'll be 45 in a couple of months and while I still feel 22, I limp sometimes and my left wrist is often in a splint because of my addiction to riding my motorcycle too far and for too long.
It's pretty much a mega church. It's not like six flags over Jesus or anything like I've seen in Plano, but for a small southern town, it's mega for around here. They spend real money on lighting, sound reinforcement, programming, and they build huge churches that they pack with people week in and week out. They are radical in their approach and are serious about the Gospel. They are not afraid to spend money if they think it helps this end. When they hire me, they never give me direction of any kind; they simply tell me the date and what time to come by. I edit the slide-shows myself and they always like what they get.
Here is my latest new media from two nights ago. I walked in there with a black Domke bag, a 5DMII, and 4 lenses. I shot all available light (much of it at 128,000 ISO), and moved between stills and video whenever I felt one was better than the other at given moments. I have total access, can go where I want, can stay as long as I want, and they feed me. I am treated with an enormous amount of respect when I show up and they pay me fast. There are no rights issues, haggling, or contracts to sign. I never have to jockey for position, apply for credentials, and I can eat dinner with my family before the assignment starts (9pm). Newspapers are not the only avenue through which we can ply our skill sets as shooters, in fact, I think all print media right now is stuck in the mud. I'm looking for more clients like this one. I want to look for new ways to expand my personal vision and not be stuck in the brick and mortar print-based industry. If you haven't shot HD yet, get off your lazy butts and try it. It's basically medium format video and it's all eye candy and impressive to look at.
Let this thread be about new ideas, directions, and outlets for new media projects. I don't care if you shoot Canon or Nikon, only that you are relevant and making good imagery. Let's see what else is out there and help each other out.
Here is my last assignment: http://vimeo.com/6425008 |
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Max Lashin, Photographer, Assistant
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Fort Lauderdale | FL | United States | Posted: 11:34 AM on 09.04.09 |
->> "six flags over Jesus" greatest quote ive heard all week.
I actually freelance for the city I live in. Usually they hire me for big events going on in the city. The pay isnt always as much as I would want but they pay super quick and let me create my own images and ideas. They even have a decent set of canon gear that they allow me to use if I decide to not use my gear (nikon). |
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Gregg Riess, Photographer
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Overland Park | KS | USA | Posted: 7:27 PM on 09.04.09 |
->> PMR, I enjoyed your post. I enjoyed the video as well. It's a shame that Vimeo seems to have some struggles pushing HD over the Internet consistently...I use it for my multimedia projects as well.
I see a church that recognizes that it needs to reinvent itself so that it reaches a new audience. It's an audience that is growing, and perhaps under served. The church has to compete against a lot of other distractions to gain a voice. They use a lot of creative juices here: the laundry concept, as well as the music, lighting, etc. Looks like they're nailing it based on the numbers of people in the sanctuary as well as the look on their faces.
I also see a professional that also realizes it's time to reinvent so that you can reach a new audience, while leveraging technology and your superb creativity. You're combining music, the pastor's voice, ambient noise, still image, HD video, text and transitions. Looks like you're nailing it, too. Your work seems to match their vision. I bet that you're having fun, and I bet you're growing in your creative and technical skills every moment you're working with this client. You're getting paid for that.....Hmmm, that's a great gig, isn't it?
Great job. Thanks for the example. Thanks for the inspiration. And, thanks for the challenge. |
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Joe Andras, Photographer
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Orange County | CA | USA | Posted: 10:10 PM on 09.04.09 |
| ->> Nicely done! |
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Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
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Powell | TN | USA | Posted: 2:24 PM on 09.07.09 |
->> here is another one... http://vimeo.com/6469388
video is from a rebel T1i with a sigma 8mm... |
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Curtis Clegg, Photographer
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Sycamore | IL | USA | Posted: 3:16 PM on 09.07.09 |
->> Very cool Patrick (at least the parts I was able to watch and hear), thanks for sharing.
It sounds like the relationship that you have with the church is more of a partnership than a customer/client one. I have been thinking about developing partnerships recently since I read this interview with Stephen Mayes of VII Photo Agency last week:
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/features/pdn-online/e3i8b95ac5...
VII is stuck in the same media rut as everyone else but they are looking for new ways to position themselves.
"And hence you end up with these expanded partnerships where VII works with Human Rights Watch, VII works with the International Committee of the Red Cross, VII works with Time magazine and at the same time there’s a different value that we’re applying to each of them. We each share a common interest. I’m not selling something. There’s an ethical question at VII, and it may be different for a different agency or a different photographer. But with VII it has to be about believability, it has to be about partnering with the right people and not selling photographers down the line just to make money, but actually partnering them with people they believe they can work with to fulfill the things that those photographers believe in—and finding a commercial angle to them."
Your quote "I want to look for new ways to expand my personal vision and not be stuck in the brick and mortar print-based industry" is inspirational to me. I know I need to expand my vision and my skill set, and I know that may involve (gasp) doing some spec work or even (double gasp) doing some pro bono work for some local organizations until I can get a firm grip on exactly what that vision is. The days of being complacent and waiting for the phone to ring (at least for most of us) are long over. It's time to be proactive. |
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