Ok.. I had fun playing around with the Blackmagic camera (which shoots amazing footage, but has HUGE files) and the Sony Ax1 4K footage was gorgeous as well. But after a lot of testing.. looking at the workflow, and what the market demands are. I decided to go back to where I started it all. With an amazing DSLR.
So back in 2009 I got the Canon 5D mk2. this was a ground breaking camera for filmmakers. But times have changed and so has technologies. I am now using my Sony A7S! I LOVE this camera.. it's really the best of both worlds. Small DSLR sized, but with a glorious full-sized sensor.. huge dynamic range. and can literally see in the  dark! Plus this camera is designed for the future and can record 4K images with an external recorder. SWEET!

 Along with the new A7s, I've switched edit systems from Final Cut Pro 7, to Adobe Premiere pro CC 2014!
This combo is made for each other!

I look forward to putting both of these new tools to work very soon!

Bill

Looking to the future.. I picked up a Sony FDR-Ax100 4k camera as a companion to my awesome hxr-nx3 HD camera! I'm currently shooting a profile piece for CNN using both cameras. I'm extremely happy with both cameras! You might wonder what happened to the blackmagic camera.. Due to manufacturing issues with the camera and lack of support from blackmagic.. I sold the camera..

Here's a screen shot of some interviews shot on the nx3 for my current project.

After finally getting my gear unpacked after the big move to LA I was talking to my friend make-up artist extraordinaire Creek Harris, and she mentioned that she was going to visit the set of our mutual friend and filmmaker Dave Barron. I had the day off so I decided to surprise Dave and show up to check out the shoot. Dave was thrilled! He said come on down to the beach and bring your Blackmagic! We had a great time! The location was beautiful! This was a music video shoot for Yogi Lonich, (guitarist for Buck Cherry and Chris Cornell) Yogi was great! I had the pleasure of talking with him while Dave and his crew was setting up. The shoot was a blast! check my facebook page for the finished video!

After some testing I'm putting the new camera to work on my new documentary short about extreme athlete Heather Williams. I'm also using my GoPro 3. It was an early morning at a motocross track in Shannon Georgia. Ben and Will from Yonder Blue Films also met us there with their GH3 and CineStar8. Check out their film here! It was a fun day of cameras, helicopters, And dirt bikes!

After a long wait.. The much anticipated Blackmagic Cinema Camera I ordered has been delivered! I called the usual suspects (Heather Williams) and she organized a day of riding dirt bikes. I brought my BMCC and GoPro 3 and spent hours at the motocross track up in Shannon, GA. Heather also brought her panny GH1 and 3 GoPros of her own! It was a dirt biking riding video extravaganza! The Bmcc was very easy to use! I decided to shoot in 12bit raw which is gorgeous! You van check out the video on my Vimeo and YouTube pages.
https://Vimeo.com/58744592

I was contacted by champion barefoot skiers Betsy Gilman and Chris Wakefield about shooting a video for their new website We all met at Chris's dock on lake Lanier at 7:30am.. It was a chilly 45 degrees! On this shoot I decided to use my 60d on-board the skiers boat.. And my xf100 on the chase boat. I also put my GoPro to good use! In addition to the main video, I was also asked to edit shorter individual videos for Betsy and Chris. It was a blast!! And they were amazing!!! I'll make sure to update this blog when their site is live. Until then you can check out the video I did for Betsy on my VIDEO page!

This has been one busy week... And it's not over! 

Last Friday a buddy asked me to help him out on a concert shoot.. It was a reunion show of the band "Insane Jane"

Sunday I shot a tutorial for work.. Fun!! (additional video shot Tuesday and it's in the can)

Monday I was out on lake Lanier shooting a barefoot waterskiing video. I put together a quick trailer.. but the main video will be edited in the next few weeks!

Thursday I'm wrapping up my roller derby shoot.. will edit next week! (I also have 2 shoots at work)

Friday I'm shooting an event for SAP. will fit in the edit when I'm able.. :)


Ohh I had my day Job too :)

I'm ready for next week and Golf!!

I've also ordered the BlackMagic Cinema Camera! I have my fingers crossed I'll get next week!

I was recently contacted by Sara Mazloumsaki, editor-in-chief of SARAjun magazine to shoot a behind the scenes video of her photo shoot for her upcoming issue. I decided to shoot this with my Canon EOS 60D since Sara had expressed interest in me teaching her to use her 7d to shoot video.. I had a blast at the shoot.. I decided to keep things simple and use my manfrotto mono-pod and trusty Letus LCD viewfinder., I've posted the final video on my 'Video' page here so check it out! Sara was very happy with the video! Which is what it's all about!

I got my new Canon XF100 and I've loaded up a few custom picture profiles.. I'll be testing and tweaking until that bad-boy is perfect and ready for action!

For those that are interested in the technical details of the camera.
1/3" CMOS 1920x1080 native chip (newest gen)
records up to 50Mbit/s XDCAM HD 4.2.2  .mxf
dual CF slots / single SDHD slot
Canon HD 30-300 f1.8 lens
built in intervalometer and Infra-red mode (white or green)
full XLR professional audio

Available Frame rates
1080/30p
1080/24p
1080/60i
720/variable up to 60p

built-in overcranking
shutter speed 1/30-1/2000
adjustable shutter angle
extremely customizable
etc.....

If you have been by williamrichfilms.com in awhile.. Check it out! I created a whole new site featuring separate video and behind the scenes pics that will be updated regularly!