38 At The Garden Camera Test
Open Studio
November 20th we had open studio in which all the artists in the space open pull back the curtains of their operation and let any and everyone check out what they have going on. In our studio we did some screen tests and some photos. Loved how they turned out.
THIS IS JUST A TEST
Well, actually, it's not. I say that so there is no expectation, a free-of-judgment area, an extra credit on the quiz.
When someone gets photographed by, the guesswork is already taken care of. I spent a few hours planning the lighting and composition, So the seat was already warmed up to get their pictures. 70% of the time, the test shot ends up being THE shot. In preparation for open studio, I spent a couple of days in the studio testing and making sure things looked halfway decent. Sometimes when I prep, the image looks different from what I initially thought, so it takes a few tries to get it right. After a few hours of finetuning, I had my good friend Aaron sit in. Within five minutes of the test, we got these two images which I love! Sometimes the test is the real test, not the shoot day.
Slate 7
Came across this slate a few weeks back. I thought the idea of it was incredible. A slate that can be programmed to anything you need on the fly. I could see myself using this for multi-camera productions or shoots with multiple sets.
From the site.
“ TRIBE7 CONTINUES TO INNOVATE WITH A NEW ADDITION TO THE BLACKWING7 FAMILY – SLATE. THE SLATE CONCEPT IS AN INDUSTRY FIRST – A UNIQUELY RE-USEABLE, DIGITALLY RECONFIGURABLE CLAPPERBOARD THAT REQUIRES NO CHARGING OR EXTERNAL POWER TO OPERATE.
SLATE HONOURS THE TRADITIONAL PROCESS OF “SLATING A TAKE” WITH STICKS THAT CLAP AND A BOARD TO WRITE ON, BUT ENHANCES EASE OF USE, FLEXIBILITY AND ERGONOMICS THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF E-PAPER DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY AS A CONTEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE TO THE BOARD.”
The Benefit of Setting The Bar High
The Benefit of Setting The Bar High
In 2004, my Sophomore year in high school, I had this thought in my mind “ I will play Division 1 basketball”. I wasn’t ranked or had any interests from Colleges, only a short insert in @washingtonposts “ players to watch”. By my senior year I had played on one of the top 5 AAU teams in the country ( DC Assault ), was in the Montgomery County All-Star game but 0 D1 offers. I still had this idea in my head “ D1…D1…D1”. I was offered a glimmer of hope to be a preferred walk-on at Ball State. “ I did it” So I thought. Within two months of Summer School our coach left and I was now back in the no interests phase. So I worked out everyday and mirrored the teams schedule. When try-outs came, I gave it all and got cut. There wasn’t anything in the world I wanted to do more than play D1 Basketball. So with little hope, I just trained harder until one day I get a call into coach’s office and I was told I was on the practice team. A month later, I was asked my shoe size and given a Jersey. October 2007, I got to suit up for the Georgetown game. As I ran out the tunnel it felt like every sports movie wrapped in a box and handed to me by Rocky himself. I was told it was not practical, I was too short, I should stick to school but the bar being so high made me try that much harder to attain it. When you truly love/want something just being close to it is enough to fill you cup. And it filled mine, I didn’t need to put on the jersey or get pictures, all I needed was a ball and a hoop.
(My point)
When we set the bar low and consistently overachieve we are only telling ourselves we can do more but we choose to be safe. By setting the bar high it keeps us sharp over time and forces us to be diligent in our pursuits. If you tried to looks 20 pounds in 1 day you will quit but in 8 months you will find a good pace and structure. How many of you start something too fast or “too hard” and stop because it was too much? I know I have but what happens when we start something hard and focus on consistency not immediate gratification. I mean slow and steady does win the race. #team #school #sports #love #like
38 At The Garden | Official Trailer
38 AT THE GARDEN QUALIFIED FOR OSCAR CONSIDERATION
Portraits
Due to some health issues,I have taken past few months off production work. In an attempt to “get out there” my friend Allison and I did a shoot in the parking lot of my apartment complex. Yes a parking lot lol. It brings me back to 2010 when I first picked up a camera. I would see photographers doing shoots in parking lots and more urban spots like train tracks and abandoned buildings. If you do happen to live in the DC area, most of those abandoned buildings are now apartments, really nice apartments at that. Anyway I loved the way these images turned out.
38 AT THE GARDEN TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
The domino effect of divine intervention is nothing short of amazing. Frank and I met as part of the Apple Storymakers Festival , we instantly clicked over sneakers, art and just plain human connection. Fast forward to 2021, Frank had an idea to re-tell the story of Linsanity but through the his eye and the unique lens of current events. After a quick postproduction turn around and acquisition from HBO we premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. It has always been a dream of mine to have a film premiere at a festival. Better yet a film in one of the top film festivals. All and all I am thankful for the whole team.
5 lessons I learned while being out for the past 3 months
Work will always be there - I thought that if I start missing projects or that if I was not available that there would be a domino effect of not being hired. Not the case.
Health is ACTUALLY IMPORTANT - Your body needs to be nurtured in order to function properly. I was more likely to purchase some gear than to purchase clean food or spend money on my health.
Work is not everything - Imagine seeing a marathon runner that spent all their free time on the treadmill. Eventually they will tap out and not be able to run properly. There needs to be separation.
You don't witness your career you reflect on it - ( From Kari Hollend’s interview with AlterCine) putting $20 in your savings every month seems small until it accumulates over 30/40 years.
Community matters - You need people to cry with and celebrate with in real life. Not everyone will care about you falling wayside. You will get some encouraging comments but your community pulls up in one way or another. Build lasting connections with your peeps.
2022 was going to be my year...So I thought. I was going to do " this" type of work, work on " these" types of projects, with said companies and connect with communities. I even got a white board to map it all out. Had a speech and presentation for the team and everything. In February, my wife and I flew to LA to premiere a film we produced. The event went well, the film looked great and I felt a second wind to go out and create. little did I know this would be the last time I would be " outside". I would be confined to my apartment with a barrage of symptoms going from specialist to specialist thinking to myself " What's going to happen to my work?". I have been on the treadmill for so long and now I pressed the big red "STOP" button. The first 1.5 months I tried sneaking on the treadmill only to find that the plug was removed but still I "tried to" rise. Running on the powerless treadmill as it moved like a snail with no obligations, I was not willing to rest. By month 2 I had accepted my timeout, got into God's word and began to rest. I am now in month 3 looking forward to seeing what this season is in the grand scheme of things.
Two Equals One BTS
I had the pleasure of working on videos for Jimmy & Irene over at Two Equals one. Photos by Dorian Gray
Dulens 43mm
“ Lenses are your camera’s eyes”. Different lenses offer a different perspective. Different isn’t always good but in this case different is great. These Dulens APO’s found their way onto my rader in the form of a facebook post announcing a new modern/vintage lens. I put my name on the list August 2020 and in August 2021 I was of the first to test them out. So far so good, love the flaring and the overall look of these lenses
Niantic Supply
I had the pleasure of working with Advoc8 to capture images for the Niantic Supply webstore. It was an amazing experience. Grateful to the team for this one.
MGM Diablo 30 Seconds
We shot this Ad a couple weeks before my wedding ( 7.14.21 Hi Mrs. Banaci ) and loved how it came out. This was the first commercial project I got to use the Monstro on. For glass we used a Zeiss CPs and DZO 20-55mm with no filtration. We also used the RED Komodo on a gimbal operated by @yilmazjon . We were curious to see how they would cut together and I have concluded that the #komodo punches above its class. In terms of personal taste I've grown to love the #redmonstro image more than the others.
Crew
Director | Othello Banaci
Producer | @nr12_media
Camera | Othello Banaci @samsonbinutu @yilmazjon
Gaffer + Grip | @vandtfilms
MUA | @lolasbeautymark
Talent | @mikalamcrae @onegoldn_flower @_carperdiem_ @vidaalimi
2021 McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration® Gospel Tour
I had the wonderful pleasure of being the Director of Photography one the Howard University segment of the 2021 McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration® Gospel Tour. Our segment was directed by Sir The Baptists and produced by his team at Tymple. I thought this would be a good shoot to test out some Sigma Cine glass so we shot all sigma with the exception of C camera ( 😅 I left the PL mount at home ). We shot on the RED Monstro Gemini & Komodo.
Self Portrait
PENTAX 645Z
This camera is a weird camera and though it takes the boxes it's a very clunky camera that's hard to use. I think that's why most photographers pass this camera over. With the lack of auto focus points, sync speed and screen quality it makes for a hard sell. It’s strength lies in the sensor ( which is currently in the top 3 of all digital cameras). The images when exposed correctly are stunning. I am still figuring out exposure but I am starting yo get the hang of it. 20 shoots with this thing and I will feel like a Canon.
After taking it with me to my wedding I am really growing to like the images coming out of this camera. There images were all shot in Palm Springs, CA
Red Monstro in Studio (BTS)
The homies pulled up to the studio to create some magic. Trivell and I did some large format testing with the #redmonstro and #mavolf. 📸 Trivell Miller
Below from : Ciara Dawn
RED Monstro
I have been time testing out the new #redmonstro over the past few months. Loving the image.
Model | Mikayla McRae
MUA | Lola
Gaffer | Daniel Peoples
Shot in our D.C Studio
Red Monstro Frame
Red Monstro Frame
Red Monstro Frame