From photography to film and video making part 1

This article, written by a photographer turned film maker (myself)is aimed at film makers and photographers who are considering moving from photography into video and film making.

More specifically, it’s aimed at photographers that like taking photographs from an unusual viewpoint or perspective.
The series of articles is linked to this video clip of a scene from a short film that was shot from an unusual viewpoint or perspective, and was almost certainly influenced by my photography.

Is it really worth shooting film and video clips and photographs from an unusual viewpoint or perspective?

Firstly, by way of a disclaimer, it isn’t really clear whether shooting video clips from an unusual perspective is actually worth the trouble.
It isn’t really clear whether the people that watch your short film or video will appreciate it. They might do, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Film ‘buffs,’ film and movie reviewers, might do, but they are a minority.
It isn’t clear whether the average person will even realise that you have shot some of the clips in your film video from an unusual perspective, let alone appreciate it.
Also, and this has to be said – some photographers are not interested in taking photos. from an unusual viewpoint or perspective. If you are that kind of photographer, this article isn’t for you.

My personal experience in photography of shooting photographs from an unusual viewpoint or perspective

On a personal note, I was a professional press photographer and wedding photographer before I turned to film making. At this level of photography, you are expected to be creative – you are expected to take photographs from an unusual viewpoint or perspective. Not always, but quite a lot of the time.
So in a way, I have been kind of disciplined, or self-disciplined, into being creative in this way.

Are you physically fit enough for this aspect of photography and film making?

Also, you have to be fairly physically fit to do this kind of film making, and of course you have to be fairly physically fit to do this kind of photography. Not super-fit maybe, but fit enough to get down on your knees, maybe crawl sometimes, and fit enough to climb heights – moderate heights.

Difference between shooting film, video and photographs from an unusual viewpoint or perspective and conventional photography

This is different to conventional photography and film making, where, let’s face it, the only physical requirements are that you can stand upright on two feet.
In wedding photography, for example, the majority of photographs are group photos, which basically consist of the photographer standing upright and taking photographs of groups of people.
Actually I used to vary my group wedding photos. by climbing on something and shooting from a moderate height. Similarly, press photographers, including myself, sometimes take their photos. from a moderate height, usually by taking a small step ladder with them on photo shoots.
In the next instalment of ‘From photography to film and video making’ to be published soon I explain the advantages of shooting video and film from an unusual viewpoint or perspective, both in film making and photography.