< BIG DREAMS > and <SUMMERS>
Bucharest, Romania, shortly before leaving the country for best time of my life.
August, 2011.
What doesn’t kill you, it definitely makes you stronger.
Still image from the first short I did this year called
”Father’s asleep in the bathroom”.
I rarely see my friends and when I see them, I take pictures of them, even if they don’t know.
Kodak Plux X, Canon camera, train moving, two years ago.
Last hours of my 23 years old age.
Taken in Budapest with Canon camera.
a sample of a higher frame per second rate via youtube.
This was taken the first time I ever saw Taxi Driver at the cinema, shown from a new and graded film print of the movie. I remember it was a cold day and I loved to see Michael Chapman’s work on the big screen.
Kodak T-Max 400 ISO and D-76 developer.
KODAK Film School Cinematography Competition 2011 Winners
I’m the Romanian winner, with the 16 mm film “Smoking may kill”, director Millo Simulov.
It’s the second time this made me happy and it definitely made my day. This gives me the impulse to keep shooting, enjoy the film-making experience and grow creatively.
I have deep respect for the work of the cinematographer and wish to show that by doing good work.
It’s nice to see that film-makers nowadays still use film and, moreover, understand it doesn’t serve only as a recording medium, but it actually helps you achieve a look that becomes part of the story. “In camera” featured a piece on a small and rather silly video for band Rooney. Director offered as visual reference, the picture “Help” about the band Beatles. To get the look they wanted, the cinematographer chose the “old film work flow”, which is shoot the negative, process and print on positive film. Rating the grainy 16 mm 200 T ASA sensitive vision 3 emulsion at 100 ASA, the dp lowered contrast and color saturation, that together with 1T pull processing on the negative, rendered colors warmer, blacks less rich and skin tones a bit yellowish. The 60’s look without really going for the entire DI suite. Even though contrast was lowered, the print saved the milky look. The positive print was put through telecine for color correction.
I say it’s pretty smart and creative, using the qualities of film at its best. It succeeds in giving the impression it was actually shot in those days. I also believe that the color palette was chosen wisely to go hand in hand with the warm, low contrast quality of the film; what helped in creating the true 60’s feel was also the shooting location.
You can watch the video, called “Holdin’ On”, here.
Little tree of love
My awesome 2012 starts with this picture.
This year I’m taking my photography to a new level and hopefully, to a new format.
I wish a great year to all my visitors and friends!
