Sometimes a GH3 is the right tool

Sandiegogram – GH3 POV cam. from Erik Naso on Vimeo.

Today I’m editing a promo that requires a bunch of iPhone pics, and the only elements we had to work with where pics taken with a iPhone app. Sorry to be so vague but that’s all I can say right now. The spot needed more. Pics are okay but it got old fast. I had an idea. What if I take a GoPro and do a POV shot with my arm and hand holding the phone. I could walk around and frame shots and give it some movement. The producers loved the idea. I started thinking about it some more and decided to not use the GoPro because it would be distracting to see the backgrounds so a more shallow depth of field look would be more interesting. Anyway I had to figure out a way to get the shot. Of course! The GH3! I want it to look like the camera was attached to my body but I don’t have a rig or the time to make one. This had to be shot in a day. I put the GH3 right around midway on my arm and used the Lumix 12-34 at 12mm and set the iris to f2.8. Dialed in the variable ND to get the exposure and it looked cool. Now I need to walk and pan my arm and frame up a shot in the iPhone. Another reason I used the GH3 was for monitoring. I dont have the LCD for my GoPro and I couldn’t hook a monitor up to this type of shot, and the GH3 has a excellent OLED monitor. I had to be able to frame the shot to get the look I wanted.

It took a few test runs and then I got it down. I ran around Balboa Park shooting with my home made arm cam! Ha! I love this stuff. I had a lady come up to me and she said  “Would you like me help you take your picture?” I laughed and told her thanks. Thats one crazy selfie.  People at the park thought I was crazy! It must have looked pretty funny.

The shots came out pretty good and the producers loved it! The shallow DOF makes the phone really pop. When the spots done I will share it so you get the picture. No pun intended. We have such great tools to use these days and I’m always looking for something a little different to get into my promos. I hope I inspire you to do the same.

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Filed in: DSLR • Featured Post • GH2 • GH3
Tagged with: GH2 • GH3 • Lumix • Lumix 12-35 • MFT • Micro 4/3 • Panasonic