Keeping it raw

Sometimes you want lots of control, to be able to tweak, post-process and color correct every single image or shot until it's exactly how it needs to be. Sometimes it's nice to keep things raw. And I don't mean shooting RAW files. Au contraire, I've been experimenting with shooting video using the Canon 5D mark II's picture styles, allowing you to bake a certain look into your shot.

Whereas you would normally shoot using relatively "flat" low contrast settings, I dialed in a harsh, high contrast black and white look. This severely limits the possibilities in post production, but that's the whole point. There's some creative satisfaction to be had from just creating things in-camera and working with what you have.

Another nice side effect is that the image on the display of the camera will give a pretty good impresssion of what the shot is going to look like, which might in turn affect the way you're shooting, lighting etc. The above still gives a first glimpse of the results. I'm still editing the video and will post it here as soon as it's done.

Working this way with fast, spontaneous and with dramatic in-camera styles might not lend itself to every type of production - it's probably more suitable for personal projects than large commercial gigs - but it keeps things very fresh and well... raw.

On that same note, check out the below video by Mike Kobal, shot in one hour, with one camera, one lens, one subject and only natural light. Pretty cool if you ask me, especially since it tells a little story in under 1 minute.