Movie competition anyone?

[Mr Bump]

With most new digital cameras featuring a movie mode, and some even being used by professional film makers, can PhotoRadar and its forum members forsee competitions for very short movies? 'Short' would clearly be defined by acceptable download times and, until BT and others live up to their promised broadband speeds, would presently be far less than a minute. That could be part of the challenge, though - to make something of very short length but of great interest and creativity.

What is the feeling about this? Does this forum see a future place for mini-movie competitions alongside the traditional still image competitions or is this considered to be something for others elsewhere? Would age play a part in this, with older members being anti and younger members being in favour?

Note that this is where web-based 'magazines' could have an advantage over traditional paper publications.

Incidentally, my D200 does not even have a movie mode so I am not raising this out of personal ambition, just curiousity.

[PolaroidSky]

I have a D200 too but wow this is a great idea! If I had the gear to do it - I would in a second!

[HinFrance]

Can I use a video camera? If you want a 60 second film of grey rain, I'm your man.

[Mr C]

I'd HAVE to use my video camera, my DSLR doesn't have video mode

I'd be in, maybe every fortnight or month though, give me an excuse to get the ol' camera out of it's cobweb-covered dusty old bag !

[Eyeayen]

It's a perfectly valid point Mr Bump, and one that is bound to come out more down the line if it isn't acted on sooner.

Me personally I'm not interested. While my little bridge camera does shoot movies and it might be fun to get some moving images a long with the stills I've taken I'm not really a film maker and it doesn't really hold enough interest for me to join in. I imagine plenty would though, it's just not for me.

[Mr Bump]

Well, this is interesting: After two days since posting and over 60 views there are only four comments. I must say I expected several of the "I'm not really interested in using movie mode" type but I am slightly surprised by the apparent indifference.

Despite being introduced to many serious DSLRs/MSCs in the past two years I suspect that movie mode is still regarded as an unsolicited novelty by the majority of traditional stills photographers - something that might be used for the occasional scenic pan or the like.

A well-respected artist friend produces work which uses 3-dimensional artwork in combination with stills photography, video, prose and poetry. His projects work as a whole, with each facet being of equal importance. Similarly, I can see the future creative use of movie mode being integral to photographic projects. PolaroidSky recognises the potential and quite likely the first truly creative examples will come out of photographic colleges.

For the majority of enthusiast photographers concentrating on the compositional and technical perfection of formulaic images perhaps there is no immediate appeal, but those keen to explore the creative boundaries of photography may well recognise opportunities. We'll see.

[PolaroidSky]

No need to disheartened by general apathy!

You're right to point out pro's being interested in video, most pro photo journalists shoot HD video alonside stills for stories or carry sound equipment to record interviews.

You made a valid point with suggesting the idea of a movie competition - it being in tandem with a still image project I feel would be the format for it to work best and I for one see the still image evolving with other mediums - if it enhances a story or study in no way does it devalue a still image rather more it compliments it and I for one hope to see some platform enabling projects to be appreciated that are dealt with via a range of mediums sometime really soon!... maybe a monthly competition for self generated projects that can be presented via still, video and slideshow to be voted on by staff and forum members alike, say 10 images and either a slideshow with sound or a 2 min movie to get the ball rolling?

[Cathus]

I'd certainly be interested in learning more about shooting video with my DSLRs.

I took some video footage on my summer holiday this year but so far have been so busy with general photography that I've not done anything with it, and of course there is the whole problem of learning how to use editing software, which, so far I've not found time to do.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by Cathus

... and of course there is the whole problem of learning how to use editing software, which, so far I've not found time to do.

Valid point Cathus. There would be an initial steep learning curve but this is just the time of year for it, with all the dark winter evenings

[PolaroidSky]

I'd certainly be happy having a dslr that shot HD = )