High-tech Lighting Techniques Bring Incredible Sharpness And Clarity To Images

Many people ask us just how we get our photos so incredibly sharp and lifelike. We use a system called "Enhanced Lighting Compression" or ELC, which is a group of technologies that we've developed over the last 5 years here at PrimeImage. Part of the system involves a process called HDR, a technique that has been in use for over 150 years.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, specifically High Dynamic Range Imagery. Basically, it's a digital technique that allows you to bring out the brightest brights and darkest darks in an image to accurately represent the intensity of light.

By capturing multiple images of varying exposures almost simultaneously, the entire light spectrum is captured. Then, using special software, the images are combined into one seamlessly developed picture.

What makes it even more interesting is that this technology was actually used back in the mid-19th century when Gustave Le Gray famously made seascapes showing the sky and the sea. Because the range of light was too great to capture with standard techniques at the time, Le Gray actually used two different negatives, one of the sky and one of the sea, and then combined them together to create the single picture.

However, it wasn’t until the early 1990’s that HDR took off among amateur and professional photographers. Thanks to the constant fall in price and rise in demand of consumer and prosumer level cameras, HDR is now something that almost anyone with a camera can achieve.

Although HDR video has been researched since the late 1980’s, it wasn’t until the early 2000’s that true attempts at it were made. In 2010, the independent film studio Soviet Montage released footage of HDR video created using a beam-splitter and two cameras. The effects are almost haunting, with the result resting in the uncanny valley of reality.

At PrimeImage, we took the basis of HDR and pioneered a type of imaging called Enhanced Lighting Compression (ELC) photography. Like HDR, ELC uses shots of multiple exposures to capture the varying light intensities of a scene. However, ELC also uses custom software algorithms and special techniques to bring incredible sharpness and clarity to images that can’t be attained with standard HDR. This custom technology helps to bring out the details that the human eye sees that are unable to be captured with other methods. Although ELC has been formerly used in both the medical and military fields, PrimeImage is one of the first companies to use ELC for real estate.

It will be interesting to see where HDR goes in the future. As technology progresses, what new forms of lighting compression will we see researched and developed? If you’d like to use ELC images for your business, drop us a line at 480.240.9270

Discover Real Estate Secrets with the Top Women in Real Estate

We recently had a shoot in Phoenix for the up-coming Real Estate site, TopWomenInRealEstate.com.

Created by Carrie Love and Tara Revel, the website discusses industry and trade secrets for all members of the real estate community, from people just getting their feet wet to experienced brokers.

The women were having a photo shoot, and they wanted us to film a "behind-the-scenes" video for their website.

Because we're used to being the ones with all the equipment, it was definitely an experience working around another photography crew. It’s always great to work with other crews though to exchange ideas and thoughts.

Using our trusty tripod and dolly, we were able to set up great shots while keeping the camera moving smoothly. On the dolly, you’re able to lock the wheels in a certain direction so that when moving it, you can lock it to keep it turning at a set angle. This is particularly helpful when rotating the camera around a steady subject.

When we wanted to get mobile, we used our hand-held steadicam, the GlideCam. Amazingly, it gets some very smooth shots for being hand-held. It’s definitely been a great acquisition for our company.

Besides getting those shots, they also wanted to do a short video of them speaking about the service. This will go on their website when they get it up and running.

If you’d like to make a video for your website, drop us a line at 480.240.9270

Neo-Fight: The Technology Show for the Not-So-Geeky!

Love technology, but not technology minded?

Do the technical specs discussed in reviews mean nothing to you?

If so, check out Neo-Fight, the technology show for the not-so-geeky!

Created by PrimeImage Media owner and producer Ben Freedman, the show has been in production for over five years, with almost 350 episodes. Along with Ben, the show is also hosted by Heather Driscoll.

Each episode is broken up into segments in which various technological gadgets and gizmos are reviewed. Ben offers his perspective as a techno-geek while Heather counters with her perspective as a casual technology user.

Released weekly, we film a month's worth of shows at a time in our Mesa studio.

On one of the episodes we shot this month, we reviewed several rugged cameras, designed for underwater use as well as outdoor activities such as mountain biking and off-roading.

We also reviewed the Micro Hornet remote controlled helicopter. Weighing only half an ounce, the Micro Hornet can be used for indoor flight with a flight time of about five minutes.

Along with those items, we reviewed the iRig Mic for the iPhone, a mouse, a color calibrator for computer monitors and more. You’ll have to check out the latest episodes to see everything we reviewed!

Be sure to check out Neo-fight at neo-fight.tv and give us a call at 480.240.9270 if you have an idea for a web show you’d like to get produced.

TesTeachers: The Virtual Classroom Experience

In 2006, TesTeachers Online became the first online class to use video technology to fully recreate the classroom experience.

In 2011, they came to us to help make those videos.

TesTeachers is an online preparation course for insurance and securities exams. With eight securities courses and twenty insurance courses, TesTeachers provides a valuable alternative to classroom-based learning.

This shoot, containing over eighteen hours of footage, took us three days in our Mesa studio to complete.

Using a specially modified television, the instructor is able to “write” on it like a whiteboard, and using a program called Camtasia, the contents of the board are stored and can be used in editing to show what was written on the board, without showing the instructor in the way of it.

The total length of the course we shot was about eighteen hours, so each day we shot six hours of footage. Once the shot starts, our job is fairly simple. The instructor simply teaches to the camera as if they are teaching to a class full of students, with occasional breaks.

Now that we have all of our footage, we’ll sit down and edit it together into manageable chunks for the students, which will then be distributed to the students of the class.

If you’d like to use state of the art video technology for your company or class, contact us at 480.240.9270

Visiting Dr. Aldo Guerra

We recently headed to the office of Doctor Aldo Guerra, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Scottsdale, Arizona. Specializing in cosmetic plastic surgery, Dr. Guerra works with patients wishing to enhance their physical appearance and well-being.

After pulling up to his office, we immediately got to work unloading our truck full of equipment. For this shoot we used a tripod, dolly, three lights, a microphone, and other various gadgets.

One of the main pieces of footage we were shooting was a testimonial by a woman coming in for a procedure for a “before-and-after” segment. We converted a small consultation office into a studio, packing a full set of equipment into the room. We used a standard three-light set up, using our new LED lights, which produce virtually no heat.

After the interview, we went to various locations in the office to get action shots. Some of these shots included the client entering the office and being greeted at the front desk, Dr. Guerra discussing the procedure, and general shots of the office staff.

Using the tripod with a dolly (basically wheels for the tripod) underneath, we were able to achieve some slow, smooth shots.

If you’d like us to shoot a video for your business, drop us a line at 480.240.9270

Go Green, the Essante Way

Essante Worldwide, a company known for their organic and natural alternatives to many popular products, recently came to us to produce a new video advertisement for them.

Founded in 2009, Essante Worldwide has quickly become an industry leader in natural products, offering a wide range of chemical-free household items to consumers.

For this shoot, we used two hosts: Sandy Kim, a local actress, and Kim Gregory, an actor from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Our Scottsdale office served as the backdrop for this shoot. This was our first time using our new 500- and 1000-LED lights. The greatest benefit of these lights is that they produce virtually no heat, which, especially in Phoenix during the summer, is a huge benefit.

We also used an attachable teleprompter. This piece of equipment attaches onto the lens of the camera, reflecting the text on a piece of paper onto glass in front of the lens. Because this is simply a reflection, the camera does not pick it up, but you can read it perfectly from in front of the camera.

We had twelve on-screen portions that we needed to film, along with several lines of voice-over. To start off, we filmed the portions where both personalities were on-screen. Kim and Sandy had great chemistry together, making their portions together both easy and fun.

Ben decided to play chemist and filled a beaker with anti-freeze to use as a prop.

After filming their two scenes together, we recorded just Sandy’s on-camera scenes…

…with Ben stepping in to give her direction.

After we finished Sandy’s few on-camera shots, Kim stepped up to deliver his.

The last part of the shoot was recording the voice-over segments. Using the same setup as the on-camera scenes, we recorded the talent reading their lines as video, and will then extract the audio from those to use in the final product.

If you’d like us to produce state of the art video advertising for your product or company that will be seen by thousands of online viewers, drop us a line at 480.240.9270

Forest Highlands

We recently returned from the beautiful golf community of Forest Highlands, located in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Forest Highlands is a 1,100 acre community featuring two golf courses and clubhouses. This was one of our several trips up to the community to get footage for a video for their website. While Scott and Jerry got footage on the ground, Ben was soaring up above in a helicopter getting some beautiful aerial shots.

Scott and Jerry started off the shoot by getting shots at a children’s golf camp that was occurring. For this specific shot, we used a piece of equipment called a jib. When mounted on a tripod, the jib works like a crane and is able to smoothly move up and down while keeping the focus of the shot the same.

We also used a piece of equipment called a slider. Once the camera is mounted on it, it is able to move slowly and smoothly from side to side, creating a really sleek effect.

After getting some more outdoor shots, we returned to the sales office to film interaction between a customer and a realtor, before heading to the clubhouse to shoot our testimonial. We interviewed the CFO of Forest Highlands using a double-camera setup to allow us to create more interest when we edit the final the product.

One of the most exciting parts of the shoot was heading out onto the golf course to get some fantastic action shots. Using the jib once again, we were able to get some incredible shots of golfers teeing off on one of the community's most magnificent holes.

On the green of the same hole, we used the slider to get some shots of the golfers putting.

After we were done on the course, we drove over to the clubhouse to get some shots of the many delicious meals offered there. The chef was kind enough to cook up some food for us to use, and we spent some time dabbling in culinary photography.

We’re headed back up to Forest Highlands to get some more footage at their Fourth of July festivities, and we’re excited to see how the final video turns out.

If you have real estate that you'd like to capture on video, drop us a line at 480.240.9270

A Visit to Show Low

We just got back from a fantastic two-day shoot in beautiful Show Low, Arizona. Our client was Laurie McCain, one of northern Arizona’s top realtors, who was looking to provide some videos on her websites to highlight both herself and the area she sells in.

We started our trip at the vivacious private golf community of Torreon. Located just outside of Show Low, this 13-year old development is built right into the forest, offering views of the trees as far as the eye can see. The community is highlighted by its two golf courses, expansive clubhouse, and a wide range of amenities including a pool, family center, and equestrian center, among many others.

Laurie was an absolute delight to work with. Upon first entering her dual-purpose office and house, we immediately felt perfectly at home. Her staff was also fantastic, doing everything they could to do what was best for both us and them.

We filmed Laurie’s on-camera portions, featuring her discussing both Torreon and the White Mountains area along with some words about her own business history.

Next, we visited one of the people we would be using for a testimonial. Using the fantastic trees-as-far-as-the-eye-can-see view from her backyard, the shot came out great.

After that, we hopped in Laurie’s golf cart for a full tour of Torreon. She drove us up and down every road with Ben and Scott stopping often to hop out and grab a few pictures.

The next morning, we headed out to Torreon before the wind picked up to get some aerial photographs with the Draganflyer X6 drone helicopter. Designed as an unmanned aerial photography drone, the X6 is capable of taking photo and video remotely and wirelessly.

After cruising around the community, and stopping many times along the way to get aerial footage, we were almost done for the day. Our final stop was later that evening, at the Orchard at Charlie Clark’s steakhouse, where we got footage of an old-fashioned cowboy party.

Currently, the footage is being edited together and the project is making good progress. The trip was great, and we can’t wait to have the final product completed.

If you have real estate that you'd like to capture on video, drop us a line at 480.240.9270

To see more pictures from the shoot, be sure to check out our Facebook page.

DAC 2011 Was The Place To Be!

This past weekend, we traveled to sunny San Diego to film a video for the Design Automation Conference (DAC). For the past 48 years, DAC has been the premier event for the design of circuits, electronic design automation, and silicon solutions.

We started the trip by capturing shots of the Dodge Rock n’ Roll Marathon, an event with many DAC participants.

The next day, we woke up at the crack of dawn to drive to the beautiful San Diego Convention Center to spend the day filming the conference.

One of the highlights for us was using a new piece of equipment called the Glidecam HD. Unlike most camera stabilizers, the Glidecam HD is not harnessed to the body and is completely hand held. Because of the extra mobility that this provides, it is possible to achieve a much wider range of motion than traditional stabilizers.

We spent the morning getting a mix of footage from the showroom floor, educational sessions, and interviews with both exhibitors and attendees of the conference.

After a full day of shooting, we got right to work editing the video for presentation at the keynote address the following morning. As the crowd filed into the hall, our video was shown on the main screen. Altogether, it was a great trip and a great shoot.

If you have an event that you'd like to capture on video, drop us a line at 480.240.9270

Check out the video here: http://vimeo.com/25006852