The Slanted Lens — Digital Photography and HD Video How to Lessons and Tips

May 11, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts / by theslantedlens

Understanding Octodomes/Octo Boxes: A Lighting Tutorial

In this Slanted Lens lesson we are going to take an in-depth look at 8 sided soft boxes or Octodomes. Each manufacturer has its own name; Octobox, OctaBox, Octa Softbox, Octa Bank, or Octodomes. I used Photoflex Octodomes to make all of the comparisons and demonstrations for this video so that will be our reference point http://www.photoflex.com/ . I wanted to explore what makes an Octodome different from a Soft Box. What is the area of coverage and quality of [...]

April 30, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts / by theslantedlens

Natural Window Light Portraits for Stills & Video: A Lighting Tutorial

In this video we will look at how to use natural window light as an effective light source to create portraits. Window light is a natural light source that can create beautiful light for portraits in video and stills. It’s a quick light source that is controlled by the size of the window and the proximity of the subject to the window or light source. Large windows give softer light with brighter backgrounds and smaller windows give harder light with [...]

April 13, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts / by theslantedlens

Turning Sunlight into Moonlight for Stills or Video: A Lighting Tutorial

In this Slanted Lens lighting tutorial we are going to show you how to change sunlight into moonlight for stills or video. This is not a post process, it’s an in camera technique using two different color temperatures in the same image. People ask me all the time, why worry about color in the camera when you can shoot raw and fix it when you process? That may be true to some extent but the reality is color balance can [...]

March 23, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts / by theslantedlens

Smoke, A Creative Tool: A Lighting Tutorial

In this Slanted Lens lighting tutorial we take a look at using smoke as a creative tool. I’m going to concentrate on using smoke to create a silhouette and to show sun-rays. When I shoot I often have a smoke machine on hand. When I shoot on location I always have one. Smoke gets me out of trouble if I have a background that needs to be covered up because it is too busy, boring or the wrong time period. [...]

March 9, 2012 / Posts / by Jay P. Morgan

Natural Light & Strobes on Location: A Lighting Lesson

By Jay P. Morgan In this Slanted Lens tutorial we look at the process of combining natural light and strobes on location. It’s hard to shoot video and stills on the same set-up unless you plan for it. We needed both a crane shot and stills from our Pioneer set-up. Using a Kessler Crane we shot the crane shot during the sweet light time at sunset and then used strobes as the light faded to get our still shots. Using [...]

February 24, 2012 / Posts / by Jay P. Morgan

HDSLR Basics Part 2 of 2: Camera Setup!

This is part 2 in a look at DSLR Basics. In this segment we look at camera setup. This will look at how to set your camera up to shoot for color correction. We take a look at frame rates and card space. With this second part you will have a good foundation to start shooting DSLR Video. I was at WPPI this week and held the Nikon D800. It looks like the best of the Canon 5D and 7D. [...]

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Recent Videos

Understanding Octodomes/Octo Boxes: A Lighting Tutorial

May 11, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts

In this Slanted Lens lesson we are going to take an in-depth look at 8 sided soft boxes or Octodomes. Each manufacturer has its own name; Octobox, OctaBox, Octa Softbox, Octa Bank, or Octodomes. I used Photoflex Octodomes to make all of the comparisons and demonstrations for this video so that will be our reference point http://www.photoflex.com/ . I wanted to explore what makes an Octodome different from a Soft Box. What is the area of coverage and quality of [...]

Continue reading »
Natural Window Light Portraits for Stills & Video: A Lighting Tutorial

April 30, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts

In this video we will look at how to use natural window light as an effective light source to create portraits. Window light is a natural light source that can create beautiful light for portraits in video and stills. It’s a quick light source that is controlled by the size of the window and the proximity of the subject to the window or light source. Large windows give softer light with brighter backgrounds and smaller windows give harder light with [...]

Continue reading »
Turning Sunlight into Moonlight for Stills or Video: A Lighting Tutorial

April 13, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts

In this Slanted Lens lighting tutorial we are going to show you how to change sunlight into moonlight for stills or video. This is not a post process, it’s an in camera technique using two different color temperatures in the same image. People ask me all the time, why worry about color in the camera when you can shoot raw and fix it when you process? That may be true to some extent but the reality is color balance can [...]

Continue reading »
Smoke, A Creative Tool: A Lighting Tutorial

March 23, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts

In this Slanted Lens lighting tutorial we take a look at using smoke as a creative tool. I’m going to concentrate on using smoke to create a silhouette and to show sun-rays. When I shoot I often have a smoke machine on hand. When I shoot on location I always have one. Smoke gets me out of trouble if I have a background that needs to be covered up because it is too busy, boring or the wrong time period. [...]

Continue reading »
Natural Light & Strobes on Location: A Lighting Lesson

March 9, 2012 / Posts

By Jay P. Morgan In this Slanted Lens tutorial we look at the process of combining natural light and strobes on location. It’s hard to shoot video and stills on the same set-up unless you plan for it. We needed both a crane shot and stills from our Pioneer set-up. Using a Kessler Crane we shot the crane shot during the sweet light time at sunset and then used strobes as the light faded to get our still shots. Using [...]

Continue reading »
HDSLR Basics Part 2 of 2: Camera Setup!

February 24, 2012 / Posts

This is part 2 in a look at DSLR Basics. In this segment we look at camera setup. This will look at how to set your camera up to shoot for color correction. We take a look at frame rates and card space. With this second part you will have a good foundation to start shooting DSLR Video. I was at WPPI this week and held the Nikon D800. It looks like the best of the Canon 5D and 7D. [...]

Continue reading »
DSLR Basics: Part 1 of 2 Camera Support

February 7, 2012 / Posts

By Jay P. Morgan. This is a look at DSLR basics as of today. Things have changed from the first month the 5D Mark 2 came out. Changed for the better as the industry has adapted and progressed with this explosive tool. Part one is a look at the basic way to set up and support the camera with the new tools that have evolved. All the basics are covered to get you started shooting video on a Canon 5D [...]

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Who am I?

February 6, 2012 / Jay P's Shorts

Scott Riley runs a historical academy that provides people with a first hand experience of what American Pioneers went through as they crossed the plains. He is a living historian portraying life in the eighteen hundreds. It was a lot of fun to shoot this biographical piece of him and his world. Hauling our equipment out on the trail had its challenges but proved to be well worth the trouble. There is so much production value in this piece with [...]

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Shooting Digital Black & White: A Lighting Tutorial

January 26, 2012 / Posts

The art of shooting Black and White Photography has changed with the introduction of digital cameras. Many people convert their images to Black and White in the post process but very few shoot with Black and White in mind from the beginning. This lesson focuses on shooting digital Black and White images, giving tips and ways to focus on that thought in the camera, not the computer. In the end, it is a conversion process in Photoshop or Silver Effects. [...]

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Combining Strobes and Reflectors: A Lighting Tutorial

January 10, 2012 / Behind the Scenes Tutorials, Posts

By Jay P. Morgan I enjoy using reflectors when shooting on location but I find it’s a bit restrictive. There are many things that can be done with a couple of reflectors alone but so many more options open up when you just add one strobe head. In this follow-up to last week’s lesson on “Reflectors”, The Slanted Lens will take a look at using one strobe head in addition to our reflectors. This is the way I like to [...]

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Reflectors: A Lighting Tutorial

December 30, 2011 / Posts

In this Slanted Lens lighting tutorial we take a look at the basics of reflectors and how to use them on location. This is a beginning look at reflectors, the different colors and practical application examples on how to use them. As a beginning photographer, using a reflector is an easy way to start to modify light and learn where to place the light source in relationship to your subject. Using reflectors and becoming good at placing them will teach [...]

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Creating Falling Snow: A Lighting Tutorial

December 13, 2011 / Posts

In this Slanted Lens tutorial we are going to show you how to build a snow falling rig and then how to light falling show. I have seen many snow falling rigs in Hollywood over the years and all of them were made by a special effect house. Its hard to find a set up at Wall Mart that will create a curtain of falling plastic snow 10 feet wide. Consequently I have built many of these over the years [...]

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