Video

Recent work for The Wall Street Journal: The Lobotomy Files

Multimedia, My work, photojournalism, Published work, Still photography, Video

A month or two ago, The Wall Street Journal had me illustrate portions a very powerful story by reporter Michael M. Phillips called The Lobotomy Files, which was finally published over this past week in three different chapters. The story received great play both in print and online, with beautiful layout, design, and interactive online features. Michael did an incredible job with the reporting, too. It was an honor to be a part of this project and to help tell this important story. Please take a look at the full project online, and see my contributions below. I did the filming for two short videos in addition to doing portraiture and other relevant still photography. This was my first time on the front page of WSJ, which was great.

Video:

Photos:

Frances Malzahn sits for a portrait in her home in Granger, Washington on October 15, 2013. Malzahn’s uncle, Emil Kauzlarich, was a Coast Guard veteran and was lobotomized in 1951. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

Frances Malzahn is pictured in her home in Granger, Washington on October 15, 2013. Malzahn’s uncle, Emil Kauzlarich, was a Coast Guard veteran and was lobotomized in 1951. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

Pictured in her Granger, Washington home on October 15, 2013, Frances Malzahn holds a flag used in the 1984 funeral of her uncle, Emil Kauzlarich. Kauzlarich was a Coast Guard veteran and was lobotomized in 1951. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

Frances Malzahn holds an undated photograph of a young Emil Kauzlarich, a Coast Guard veteran who was her uncle. Kauzlarich, who passed away in 1984, was lobotomized in 1951. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

Photographs of Emil Kauzlarich (left, in both images) in his Coast Guard uniform are seen at the home of Frances Malzahn, who is his niece. Kauzlarich, a Coast Guard veteran who passed away in 1984, was lobotomized in 1951. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

Edna Schauer sits for a portrait in her home in Port Orchard, Washington on October 14, 2013. Schauer’s brother, Eugene Kainulainen, was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran and was lobotomized in 1953. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

Edna Schauer sits for a portrait in her home in Port Orchard, Washington on October 14, 2013. Schauer’s brother, Eugene Kainulainen, was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran and was lobotomized in 1953. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

Pictured in her Port Orchard, Washington home on October 14, 2013, Edna Schauer holds two mugs made by her brother, Eugene Kainulainen, after his lobotomy. He dreamt of attending art school, and these mugs are some of the only reminders Schauer still has of her brother. Kainulainen, now deceased, was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran and was lobotomized in 1953. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

Edna Schauer reads a magazine about flowers and birds in her kitchen in Port Orchard, Washington on October 14, 2013. Schauer’s brother, Eugene Kainulainen, was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran and was lobotomized in 1953. CREDIT: David Ryder for The Wall Street Journal

 

The front page of The Wall Street Journal weekend edition, Dec. 14/15:

 

Edna Schauer’s interview video as it looked on the WSJ.com home page:

 

Recent Video Work: Man Who Has Sex With Cars

Multimedia, My work, Published work, Video

 

I recently met Edward Smith, 63, of Yelm, Washington, a man who says he has had sex with 1,000 cars. On assignment for Barcroft Media, I spent some time interviewing him and meeting his main squeeze, Vanilla, a white Volkswagen Beetle. Below is the final video piece about him, filmed by me and edited by Barcroft, which was featured on TIME.com, among other outlets.

 

Hawaiki Color Plugin for FCPX Review

Gear, Multimedia, software, Tech stuff, Video

Hawaiki Color is a color grading plugin for Final Cut Pro X that is relatively powerful, easy to use, and costs a mere $50. (Tokyo Productions and Lawn Road provided me a copy for review.) In this Hawaiki Color review I’ll give you some pros and cons so that you can get a feel for the plugin before considering making a purchase.
 

(Above: Hawaiki Color’s own tutorial video)

 

First off, the layout is clean and easy to use. You’ll find three large color wheels and a series of sliders for color temperature, exposure, saturation, and hue/contrast/blur/sharpness. I love having quick access to these basic tools.

 

 

To use the Hawaiki Color plugin for Final Cut Pro X, first simply select which clip you’d like to adjust. Then in the effects tab at the lower right of your screen, double click on Hawaiki Color. It’s that easy. You can then begin to adjust the sliders and the color wheels.

 

 

Pros and Cons:

Cons:

  • The only feature I’m missing is selective color – the ability to selectively reduce or increase the saturation of single colors. It would be great to select cyan or yellow, for instance, and adjust the saturation of that specific color.

Pros:

  • Everything about Hawaiki Color is pretty quick, clean, and easy.
  • The quick sliders for contrast, sharpness, and exposure are very handy and either are better than the built in functions of Final Cut Pro X or do not even come standard with Final Cut Pro X.
  • The color wheels are standard and easy to use.
  • The sliders are accurate for fine tuning, especially when selecting specifically for lows, mids, or highs.

Thanks for looking and I hope this Hawaiki Color review is useful for you.

 

Recent work for UW Bothell

Education, Multimedia, My work, Published work, University, University of Washington, UW Bothell, Video

I recently produced the latest installment in the series of 12 videos I’m creating for the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington Bothell. This video highlights the American Studies major. Take a look in case you don’t know what American Studies is!

Video: UW Bothell Commencement

Education, Multimedia, My work, Published work, University of Washington, UW Bothell, Video

Recent video work for the University of Washington Bothell – Commencement 2013.

Commencement is always a big day full of emotion and excited students, and it was great to be able to be there to shoot it again this year. Have a look at the video below. Thanks to Daniel Berman, second shooter on this project.

Adorama Flashpoint Matte Box System II Review

Gear, Multimedia, Tech stuff, Video

Camera and electronics retailer Adorama has created its own line of pro and consumer video gear under the name Flashpoint, and recently invited me to do an Adorama Flashpoint Matte Box System II review. At a retail price of $250 (plus the current $60 instant rebate), the Flashpoint Matte Box is reasonably priced. It is best for DSLR’s, but can be used with other digital video cameras as well. As with all DSLR video accessories, this piece of kit is not cheap but it is relatively competitively priced, given the features.

 

So what does it do? Of course, first and foremost the Flashpoint Matte Box System II prevents lens flares by blocking glare/reflections. The three big blades are easily adjustable to block unwanted light from natural and artificial sources. The kit also comes with two filter trays so that you can use a neutral density filter or other filter to make your video look exactly how you want it to, so you can save time on post-production.

The filter trays are plastic, which is fine, as is the body of the matte box itself. The matte box is lightweight and does seem study, although I am left wondering how it would take a fall on a hard surface. The large blades are lightweight metal, which is very nice. The whole kit feels light, which is really important to someone like me who likes the run-and-gun approach. I also travel a lot and need something lightweight. The Flashpoint Matte Box System II can be disassembled in just a minute and folds pretty flat so that it can be packed for travel.

 

(Above: Adorama’s video for the Flashpoint Matte Box System II and other accessories)

 

The final accessory included is a set of three rubbery donuts that fit around the end of your lens (see below). You just select one that fits your lens and slide it on to help keep light out. You then attach your camera to whatever video rig you have, and lightly press the end of the donut to the back of your Flashpoint Matte Box System II. Reviews I’ve read haven’t mentioned how easy these little guys are to use, and although I will probably lose them in about three days … it is these simple little additions to kits that make life so much easier.

 

Anyways, thanks for checking out this Adorama Flashpoint Matte Box System II review and I hope it helps you out. If you are shopping and are ready to upgrade your DSLR video kit to a rig with a matte box and other accessories, I would recommend that you consider the Flashpoint Matte Box System II.

Recent work for UW Bothell

Multimedia, My work, Published work, Travel, University of Washington, UW Bothell, Video

Have a look at a short video I recently shot and produced for the University of Washington Bothell and learn about the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences’ undergraduate major in Global Studies.
 

Recent work for WWISH

Diversity, My work, Seattle, Video

Women’s Wellness and Integrated Social Health is doing great work for women in crisis and transition, many of whom are incarcerated or transitioning from prison. Founded by Laura Pavlou, WWISH first crossed my path thanks to friend and former classmate Hillary U, the Director of Operations at WWISH. It’s an impressive organization to work with and I am truly inspired by the work they do and the women they serve. Have a look below at a promotional piece I recently produced for WWISH and learn a little bit more about them. Thanks for looking.