real people - real life - real moments - real honest... Photos by Christopher Onstott
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I had a great shoot today in Seattle with my old college journalism buddy Shannon and her fiance Ben shooting engagement photos for the upcoming wedding.
And a quick snap of my photo assistant today, the world renound Dr. Scott Herzog, who toughed it out on the cold beach with Shannon, Ben and I.
We got our first snow of the year, Dec. 29th, so I put together a short video on my Canon 5DMii.
Scroll down to see some photos from the day as well.
Portland was surprised with some snow today. I was on a hike with Anna on the Oaks Bottom trail when the first flakes hit the ground, Then we took a trip into downtown to shoot some Halprin landscapes. I shot for a while as the snow fell, and decided to come back after dark and finish up with another series of late-night long exposures. I lucked out and got clear skies and fresh snow upon my return. The forecast called for late rain, so I had to take advantage of the snow when I could, in the event that it all might melt by morning.
While most people are Christmas shopping or watching the clock count down to their holiday vacation, some young boys are doing battle. Too young for the rank and file combat of modern war, but plenty old enough to battle with their dexterity among like-minded youth on the streets of PDX. I found them on 5th, breakdancing and flipping as white-collared overcoats passed by without even glancing up from their phones. Headphones replaced the 80′s ghetto blaster, and a flip video camera replaced a circling audience. I stopped and watched for a while, not knowing what to think. Then it dawned on me, I’m older now and this is the new generation. Filming videos for YouTube on flip video cameras, and talking about fashion and international cross-branding startup companies.
One boy caught my eye. Chances are it was his Kid N’ Play hair cut, but more than that, it was his fear. He looked scared, like a boy going to war. But it wasn’t war, it was a “battle.” The term used when two dancers challenge each other and face off in the street with nothing more than their rhythm and moves. This fear is synonymous for a generation of children faced with fighting tooth and nail for their place among an exponentially growing population of fiercely talented competitors.
There was a time when I would have shot lots of photos of kids dancing, trying to be clever and show off how interesting I can be with a camera. Now I’m trying to slow down and look beyond the flair or pretty pictures and find the honesty of simple moments that highlight a slice of the human experience.
I also slipped away to shoot some more images for my Halprin Landscape series.
I’ve been thinking about experimenting with time lapse video lately so I started doing some research. The consensus is that time-lapse is best done with a still camera, rather than a video camera, because of the 35mm depth of field and much higher resolution. The tool for the job, a tripod and the Canon TC-80N3 intervalometer trigger.
I picked one up from ProPhoto Supply here in Portland Friday and used it to produce a short series of time-lapse sequences. The TC-80N3 atomates the intervalometer function, clicking the camera shutter to an interval set by the user. For example, 1 photo every 6 seconds, for 10 minutes.
Here’s the video, which also includes a few video clips. All of the stills and video where shot with the Canon 5D Mark II, 16-35mm f2.8 and 85mm f1.4 lenses.
Direct link to video on Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/8337226
I was surprised how long it takes to shoot a short time-lapse sequence. Although it seems so obvious. But it’s a good way for me to practice my patience. Although next time I’m going to bring a second camera so I can walk around and do some shooting while the time-lapse is underway. Watching a camera shoot a time-lapse is like watching water boil, it feels like an eternity.
And a few photos from the day I took between setups.
This fellow was nice enough to let me shoot a short time-lapse sequence of him on his bike at the dock while telling me all about a great viewing spot for eagles in the spring (Bonus!).
I did a shoot today about an ethical butcher. We had the pleasure of shooting him as he prepared a whole pig for banquet.
And a photo series I built with still photos taken at 9 frames per second to be incorporated into a video.
Well not that thin, it was thick enough to skate on. I took a drive out the Kruger’s Farm on Sauvie Island today with Anna to shoot some B-roll video for a documentary film project we’re working on. We drove out to the far side of the farm to shoot a time lapse and bumped into farmer Don, the owner operator of Kruger Farms. And after a little walking and talking he invited us over to check out his frozen pond where his kids were ice skating.
Farmer Don on the ice
A duck decoy frozen in the ice
We did hear some cracking under the ice, but unfortunately for my pride I was the only one to freak out. Anna and Don found it a tad bit funny.
My video camera and tripod on the ice
The band Hotter Than A Crotch took to the stage last week at the Mt. Tabor pub. It just so happens that their show coincided with the much anticipated OSU v. UofO civil war football game. So needless to say it wasn’t a full house. So here are a few photos I took at the show that I think speak to the bands personality, and lack of fans.
Drummer
Hotter’s Fan, at the bar.
Some other guy texting.
Buck broke his second guitar sting during their 45min set.
Writing the set list before the show, Buck is one foot in one foot out.
I worked with my friend Garrett Davis, an LA wedding photographer, on a promo video for his website. I interviewed him in LA, then shot video of Garrett as he covered a wedding. I edited the piece together with some of his still photos to produce a fast paced vignette about why he loves his life as a wedding photographer.
