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Gearing Up Cheap – DSLR Video Gear Guide

What is the best DSLR for video?  What gear will give the most value and provide the most versatile production setup?  I’ve spent a lot of time researching and reviewing video equipment to find the best options – and the best deals.  This is my list of equipment choices for getting geared up on a tight budget – especially if you’re getting into DSLR video … Read more!

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Gearing Up Cheap – Getting Started In DSLR Video

In my last post, I talked about the three different options video professionals have for getting a versatile camera setup on a budget: renting high-end equipment, like a RED One; purchasing a mid-range professional camcorder, like the Canon XA10; or outfitting a DSLR – in my case, a Canon T3i – for pro video work.  After examining the costs and benefits of … Read more!

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Gearing Up Cheap – Rent, Buy, or Upgrade?

Video professionals today need to handle a wide variety of tasks.  Especially for small operations – like myself – having a diverse skill set is vitally important.  I market myself primarily as an animator and editor, but different projects may require me to script, shoot, composite, color correct, or tackle visual effects.  When I do work for a larger production company, they often already have … Read more!

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The Lure of Lambert Academic Publishing

For graduate students hoping to enter the world of professional academia, publishing is huge.  Having your work published in a respectable journal can be the deciding factor when applying for jobs, grants, or other programs.  It’s a competitive process, especially in today’s crowded job market, and one of the major stressors of the field.  On a more personal level, though, publishing can give a feeling … Read more!

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Advanced Photo Editing for Bucknell Basketball

Although I no longer live in Pennsylvania, I still do some freelance work for Bucknell University in Lewisburg.  Recently, I was able to help out with a video celebrating the success of this year’s men’s basketball team.  The team just clinched the Patriot League championship with a win against Lafayette this past Wednesday night – the video was prepared beforehand, with the final moments … Read more!

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The Delicate Task of Logo Animation

As a video editor and motion graphics artist, I am occasionally faced with the task of animating a corporate logo.  It’s a job that I always enjoy, because it carries unique challenges and creative possibilities, but it can definitely be intimidating.  People take logos very seriously – they are the most visible symbol of what a group or company stands for.  An immense amount of … Read more!

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Monarch Grove

This is a very brief video snapshot of the annual monarch butterfly migration to Pismo Beach, California.  There were around 30,000 butterflies in the grove on the day of filming, although the numbers can sometimes reach much higher than that.

Edited in Premiere Pro and graded in After Effects.  Music is “Gymnopedia No. 3″ by Erik Satie, performed by Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com.… Read more!

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New Commercial Content

I’ve been doing some catch-up work lately, trying to consolidate past projects into one place – namely, my Vimeo page.  The following five videos are all from 2012 and were previously floating around on either private websites or YouTube.  You can check them out below, in the Commercial section of the Portfolio, or on Vimeo directly.

Lewisburg Yoga

The Negro Leagues

We Are … Read more!

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Concept Images for a Secret Project

Because the world of animation is so vast and varied, it’s important to lock down a general “look” early in the process.  Should it be polished and slick?  Or jittery and handmade?  Will the characters and environments be exaggerated or realistic?    What is the primary color palette?  There are countless options to consider without even taking into consideration the particular technique being used and … Read more!

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From the Archives – Gramps’ Big Day in HD

A few months ago, I was preparing to deliver a presentation on stop-motion animation to students at Bucknell University.  I wanted to show a few clips from my 2005 short film Gramps’ Big Day, but when I pulled the video up on YouTube and Vimeo I was shocked to see how bad it looked.  Not because of the content – I have come to … Read more!