The National Association of Broadcasters, NAB 2015 Las Vegas is an humongous international event. It overwhelms. My series of masterclass sessions for Australian camera support leaders Miller Tripods went nicely and there was abundant nearby entertainment coming from another great Australian company, Atomos. In the face of girls clad in body paint, wheel of fortune style give-aways resulting a fun carnival-like atmosphere at the Atomos stand, I still had more than a decent rollup for each of my 12 x 30 minute sessions over the four days of the show.
It was full throttle and I delivered twelve cinematography talks to NAB visitors from around the world. Good to see so many Aussies stopping by.
I’ve taken PDV video training to Wyangla near Cowra NSW this week. The sessions are being staged in the old shearers quarters of the historic property, Riverslea. This is an initiative of the Upper Lachlan Landcare in conjunction with The Corridor Project for a group of local indigenous filmmakers. Aside from our location shoots on the bank of the Lachlan River just less than a hundred meters away, There was a stunning view of the classic wool shed from my verandah this morning.
Shooting continues for the documentary "Women in Blues". From Austin Texas, Ruthie Foster is a featured singer/guitarist and I recently went to the Byron Bay Blues Festival to film a few sequences with her. Director Lisa Eismen U n Me Films and myself will hopefully be back in Chicago, Mississippi, Louisiana and a grab bag of other locations mid-year to follow her on the US tour. I took this photo mid performance on my Sony A7s 10,000 ISO with the Sony 70-200mm f4 zoom.
She is an extraordinary entertainer, singer and guitarist from Austin Texas seen here in a very Aussie setting at the Byron Bay Blues Festival. Thanks Ruthie Foster for a brilliant interview and a very personal insight into your life for our documentary "Women in Blues"
For those fortunate to be heading to Las Vegas for the 2015 National Association of Broadcasters show this April 13-16, I would like to remind you that I will be conducting a series of cinematography talks at the Miller Tripods exhibit. There will be the top team from Miller Australia and USA showing their latest and greatest in camera support. We'll be right opposite popular Atomos stand - two fabulous Aussie companies in the one area, how good is that? If you’re passing by, come and say G'day or better still, sit in on one of my sessions - it will be an open seating area and very casual. You can catch some of the following topics and they're free! But wait, there's more....Click here for all the details
Topics for each of the 30 minute talks will be:
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Finding Good Angles in Bad Locations
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Following Movement—Handheld on the Tripod
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Selective Focus: Large and Small-Sensor Cameras
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Pre-Shoot Preparation and Avoiding Common Shooting mistakes
Chicago. It's just so easy to get caught up in the excitement of this great American city and the excitement of this documentary. Clear crisp spring days photographing stunning architecture - filming the finest blues artists in the late of the night. Shooting continues on "Women in Blues". 
I am shooting this production using two of the newer Sony digital video cameras. The Sony PXW-FS7 is being used as the principle camera and the Sony A7s as a second camera for our performance scenes. The FS7 comes into its own for the handheld cinematography, largely in the blues clubs at night. This camera is a joy to use, fitting so snug on my shoulder. Location audio is being recorded by Tammi Veriga-Glover using the Sennheiser MKH 418S microphone encoded in Mid-Side (MS) Stereo connected to a Tascam multi-track digital location recorder.
We have more to do. Produer and Director Lisa Eismen and myself intend to travel back to Chicago and the Mississippi Delta for the next leg of the shoot. On this recent stint, all of the filming took place in Chicago - there's enough going on there to keep us busy for a while. You will find out a lot more about this fantasic documentary right here
This week I presented a camera and post update for Foxtel's production team at the ACS Headquarters, North Sydney. With an emphasis on 4K, I brought in an array of video production cameras including the Canon C500, Sony PXW-X70, Canon 1Dc plus Sony's popular PXW-FS7 and A7s 4K models. Thank you Lemac Film and Digital and VA Digital Hire for providing some of the camera packages.
The group of fifteen Associate and Senior Producers, Production Supervisors, Production Co-ordinators was headed by Duane Hatherly, General Manager LifeStyle Channels and Director of Production at Foxtel. Duane below, and a few producers get a feel for the handheld charms of the FS7.
Typically at this time of the year, between training and shooting schedules, I am invited by US based Italian boutique cruise line
Silversea to join one of their immaculate ships to deliver talks and screen examples of my work for the guests. This time on the Silver Spirit; a life on the sea for weeks at a time in some nice locations. These images were taken on an iPhone6 using a limited panorama sweep.
On this most recent voyage, I was able to catch up with good friend and colleague Judith Curran, a senior producer at NHNZ in Dunedin New Zealand. Below is our early morning sail into Port Chalmers the port servicing Dunedin New Zealand.
In between two international shoots, I’m running One-on-One training in North Sydney each day this week. Kicking off with Yaelle Naidoo from 3RDiCreative. The training is adding to her many existing cinematography skills.
I have been on shooting on the Tahitian islands of Moorea and Bora Bora. Working in 4k with the Sony PXW-FS7 combined with Sony/Zeiss lenses, it gives a new lease of life to standard (Full) HD and I've discovered some excellent post options.
I’ve combined this trip with a Silversea cruise lecture series, presenting a number of cinematography talks and screenings on the luxurious Silversea cruise liner, the Silver Whisper in place of flying back to Australia. So thank you Silversea, guests and crew for an enjoyable couple of weeks on the Pacific high seas.
There were ten presenters onboard P&O's Bucket List CruiseBreak. A few days of fun with bow to stern workshop events - I delivered two, including my Top Ten GoPro Camera Tips - "how to mount, shoot and wow"
This image taken on my iPhone between talks. The nicest time to observe the ocean.
October and November has seen busy times at PDV Digital Cinema. Plenty of video shooters leaving with new skills.
So much colour and action here at the two-day Morobe Show in Papua New Guinea. I could not wish for a better event to run a location practice shoot for my students at Ahi Media, Lae. 3 x GoPro Heros+, a Sony FS700 at running at 400fps, Sony NX5, Canon 5DM3 - I shot these images with one of my favourite cameras, the Sony A7s.
Part of the training that I’m delivering here concerns Slow Motion cinematography. Shooting on a Sony FS700 at 400 frames per second, I've captured Aussie FMX rider Matt Schubring doing an impersonation of Superman at last weekends’ Morobe Province show.
Why not join the final CAMERA, STORY and LIGHT weekend workshop for the year? The video camera training is designed for anyone with a desire to get beyond menus and dials and is suited to users of DSLR and conventional video cameras alike. If can't make it for the two days, then just come along on Saturday - there is still lots you'll learn.
Course details and bookings
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"Pieter's workshop was brilliant. By the end of the weekend I walked away with more confidence and faith that I can communication great stories using film and with renewed inspiration to produce outstanding work for my clients.
If there is a passionate filmmaker in you that is bursting to break out Pieter de Vries workshops are a must!'
Ralph Barba Creative director - Four Diegos Media Melbourne - September
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"I really enjoyed your weekend workshop. Thank you so much. It was friendly, fun and I learnt some great techniques to improve my video skills"
Therese Woolnough, pro photographer Wagga - September
"Pieter has clearly done it all over many years so you can be assured investing in his training is money well spent because you'll be learning from one of Australia's most accomplished cinematographers"
Greg Dyett, Journalist SBS Television Melbourne - September
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