Posted by ryanjackson on Aug 23, 2010 in photos, video
WAINWRIGHT, ALTA.: AUGUST 19, 2010 -- Left to right. Sgt. Francis Aquino, Lt. Wright Eruebi, Master Cpl. Tatyana Danylyshyn, and Master Cpl. Ian Millar walk past shooting targets during a training and selection camp for the Land Force Western Area's combat shooting team at CFB Wainwright in Wainwright, Alta. on August 19, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
WAINWRIGHT, ALTA.: AUGUST 19, 2010 -- A casing is ejected from 9mm Browning pistol during a training and selection camp for the Land Force Western Area's combat shooting team at CFB Wainwright in Wainwright, Alta. on August 19, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
WAINWRIGHT, ALTA.: AUGUST 19, 2010 -- Canadian Navy Master Seaman Mark Underhill cleans his C7A2 rifle during a training and selection camp for the Land Force Western Area's combat shooting team at CFB Wainwright in Wainwright, Alta. on August 19, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
WAINWRIGHT, ALTA.: AUGUST 19, 2010 -- Master Cpl. Tatyana Danylyshyn, 25, fires a C7A2 rifle during a training and selection camp for the Land Force Western Area's combat shooting team at CFB Wainwright in Wainwright, Alta. on August 19, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
WAINWRIGHT, ALTA.: AUGUST 19, 2010 -- Canadian Forces soldiers wait to start training and selection camp for the Land Force Western Area's combat shooting team at CFB Wainwright in Wainwright, Alta. on August 19, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
WAINWRIGHT, ALTA.: AUGUST 19, 2010 -- Master Cpl. Tatyana Danylyshyn, 25, fires a C7A2 rifle during a training and selection camp for the Land Force Western Area's combat shooting team at CFB Wainwright in Wainwright, Alta. on August 19, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
WAINWRIGHT, ALTA.: AUGUST 19, 2010 -- Cpl. Mack Murphy fires a C7A2 rifle during a training and selection camp for the Land Force Western Area's combat shooting team at CFB Wainwright in Wainwright, Alta. on August 19, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
We strapped a video camera to an intern and put her on the best rides at Capital Ex at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alta. Video by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Shiloh Baptist Church, western Canada’s oldest black Baptist church in Edmonton, Alberta is celebrating their 100th anniversary in July. Learn how and why the church was started in 1910 and what it meant to Edmonton’s black community. Video by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Here is how the story and photos looked in the paper. The whole project came together great! Read the story.
Some stills from the video shoot. 5D Mark-II with 85mm f1.8 @ f1.8.
95-year-old Gladys Leffler, the oldest member of Shiloh Baptist Church, the oldest black Baptist church in western Canada, poses for a photo in Edmonton on March 27, 2010. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
For this story I really wanted to challenge myself to get the best quality possible for the video and try out a slider for my second camera. A slider is basically a motorized track that the camera moves on so you get that cool slow movement in your video. The slider in the picture was my first version. I have since built a nicer slider that I will blog about later.
Below are some behind the scenes photos so you can see how I lit the video. I used two strip boxes with 200 watt equivalent CFL bulbs and a Canon 10watt halogen light for hair light. For one shoot I used two 5D Mark II’s with a 50mm and 85mm f1.8 lens. For the shoot with Gladys I used a 5D Mark-II and a Canon HV20 with a DOF adapter though I never used footage from that camera.
For sound I used my Olympus LS-10 PCM recorder with a Rode Video Mic on a boom. I synced the audio from the Olympus with my 5D video using the amazing program for Final Cut Pro Plural Eyes.
Posted by ryanjackson on Jul 12, 2010 in photos, video
Winston, a six-year-old English Bulldog cools off in a pool of water during the 18th annual Pets in the Park at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Edmonton on June 27, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Ninja the Jack Russell Terrier jumps for a disc thrown by Gord Donhou of the Alberta Redneck Furry Fliers during the 18th annual Pets in the Park at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Edmonton on June 27, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Frodo the six-year-old French Bulldog smiles during the 18th annual Pets in the Park at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Edmonton on June 27, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Chi Chi the Chihuahua during the 18th annual Pets in the Park at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Edmonton on June 27, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Left to right. Mia, Sophie and Coco the short-haired daschunds pose for a photo during the 18th annual Pets in the Park at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Edmonton on June 27, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Rocko the Chihuahua meets Thunder the Boxer during the 18th annual Pets in the Park at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Edmonton on June 27, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Marc Chomin has Eclipse the baby Boa constrictor in his front pocket during the 18th annual Pets in the Park at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Edmonton on June 27, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Bailey the four-year-old standard poodle sports Journal photographer Ryan Jackson’s video camera during the 18th annual Pets in the Park at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Edmonton on June 27, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
To make the above video I simply strapped a Hero Cam around a dogs neck and hit record. Needless to say it was a shaky barf fest editing all the video down to 1:43.
Posted by ryanjackson on Apr 29, 2010 in photos, video
Wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Hinton, Alta. Recruits learn to rappel from helicopters into the brush, find water sources and put out wildfires. Video by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Tim Denbok, left, and Alan Huber run water hose through the woods during a timed hose and pump exercise for wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Hinton, Alta. on April 23, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Alan Huber runs water hose through the woods during a timed hose and pump exercise for wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Hinton, Alta. on April 23, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Students wait to start their pump and hose exercises during wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Hinton, Alta. on April 23, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Patrick O’Callaghan does pushups as punishment after making a mistake during rappelling exercises in Hinton, Alta. on April 23, 2010. Students practice on a tower used to simulate rappelling from a helicopter into a forest during wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Students wait to start their pump and hose exercises during wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Hinton, Alta. on April 23, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
A student rappels from a helicopter during wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Hinton, Alta. on April 23, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Students wait to start their pump and hose exercises during wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Hinton, Alta. on April 23, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
A student rappels from a helicopter during wildland firefighting training at the Hinton Training Centre run by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Hinton, Alta. on April 23, 2010. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
This was a really fun assignment and my first time using the 5D Mark-II in the field on a news assignment. The entire video was shot with the 5D Mark-II, 16-35L, 70-200 f2.8 and a 4-stop ND filter. For sound I placed an Olympus LS-10 in each person’s front pocket. I used the Final CutPro plug-in Plural Eyes to automatically sync the audio tracks. HUGE time saver.
Finally, the picture above of the guy doing push-ups as well as the fish-eye shot are both frame grabs from video. Can you tell?
The Edmonton Paralympic Sports Association has been providing recreation and sports programs for Edmontonians of all ages and all disabilities for over 40 years. Sports include sledge hockey, wheelchair floor hockey, wheelchair square dancing, swimming, soccer, curling and more. Video by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
DockDog at the Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen’s Show which runs March 18-21 at the Edmonton Expo Centre. Anyone can enter their dog to compete in multiple jumping events. Winner goes on to the worlds. Video by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Posted by ryanjackson on Mar 19, 2010 in photos, video
Head animal trainer Marcel Vasseur takes Baghera the South American black jaguar for a walk around Rexall place during setup for the 62nd annual Al Shamal Shrine Circus at Rexall Place in Edmonton on March 11, 2010. The circus runs from March 12-14. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Edmonton Oil Kings players (left to right) Stephane Legault, Travis Ewanyk, Laurent Brossolt, Klarc Wilson, and T.J. Foster check out Limba the Asian elephant during setup for the 62nd annual Al Shamal Shrine Circus at Rexall Place in Edmonton on March 11, 2010. The circus runs from March 12-14. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Head animal trainer Marcel Vasseur takes Alph the Hamadryous baboon for a walk during setup for the 62nd annual Al Shamal Shrine Circus at Rexall Place in Edmonton on March 11, 2010. The circus runs from March 12-14. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Sebastian Duval, left, and Ronald Gagne from Montreal practice their routines during setup for the 62nd annual Al Shamal Shrine Circus at Rexall Place in Edmonton on March 11, 2010. The circus runs from March 12-14. (Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Watch Rexall Place transition over 48 hours from a hockey rink to the Shrine Circus in March 2010. Time Lapse video by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Posted by ryanjackson on Feb 5, 2010 in photos, video
1,200 students, staff and faculty at the University of Alberta unofficially smash the Guinness World Record for most players in a single dodgeball game at the Universiade Pavilion better known as “The Butterdome” in Edmonton, Alta. on February 5, 2010. The former record was 450. The event was organized by the U of A students’ union. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Watch a time lapse in 360-degree Video ….that’s right…a 360-degree video panorama! Click on the image to the left.
Watch a time lapse of the Murder of Crows sound exhibit being set up at the Art Gallery of Alberta. 98 speakers are set up over a two week period. Time progresses all around you as you click and move your mouse to look all around.Video by Ryan Jackson /Edmonton Journal.
To build make this 360-video I had to build a special rig with three cameras. I used this before for my Indy Panoramas back in the summer. The rig consists of three old Canon 1D d-SLRs with three Peleng 8mm fisheye lenses in a 120-degree offset pattern. The three cameras are wired together to be triggered by an intervalometer. The rig is super heavy and annoying because triple cameras means triple the things to go wrong. If the shutter speed or focus or anything is wrong on one off the cameras then the whole panorama is ruined.
The 1D cameras can only handle 2GB Compact Flash cards which is around 2000 images. I set the intervalometer to trigger the cameras every two minutes which meant I had to change the cards every two days. In total nearly 30,000 images were taken (10,000 per camera).
For post-processing the images, I used Photo Mechanic to organize the images by time taken. I had set the clocks on the cameras to be 1-second apart so when Photo Mechanic sorted the images by time taken, they would go 1st camera, 2nd camera, 3rd, camera, etc.
I then renamed all the images so the files went 0001, 0002, 0003, etc.
I use PTgui to stitch all my panoramas together. It has a great batch process where you can setup a template for your first panorama and then it will auto stitch the rest of the panoramas in file order. This meant that (0001, 0002, 0003)–>Panorama1.jpg , (0004, 0005, 0006)–>Panorama2.jpg
Needless to say this took HOURS and HOURS to process but I just let my laptop chug away overnight for three nights until I had a folder filled with thousands of stitched panoramas.
I then looked through that folder of panos with Photo Mechanic and removed all the boring images where nothing is moving or being installed (ie. at night time, during lunch break, days off, etc).
I then took the folder of usable panorama images and put them into a video using Quicktime Pro’s “open image sequence.”
I set the frame rate to 12fps so that 1606 images would become a 2-min:13-second video.
I then told Quicktime Pro to export the video and I used the Adobe Flash Video Encoder Plug-in to export the video as an .flv Flash video file using On2 compression, 2000×1000 resolution, 12fps, 1200kB/s bitrate. This made about a 20MB video file.
I purchased the panorama player krpano which supports video. I only had to alter a little bit of the .xml code to add a full-screen button and a play/pause/stop button. I plunked the krpano files on a server and embedded it in an iframe in a story page.
The whole project was pretty cool. I hope to use this camera more in the future but as you can see, it is A LOT of work. There are other, far easier methods of doing 360-video but you have to buy expensive cameras and lenses. For this setup I only had to buy a couple more 8mm lenses and use The Journal’s old 1D’s. My rig only shoots stills and you have to make them into a video… for real video check out CNN’s 360-degree video from Haiti. Pretty crazy!
Here are the images of my DIY 360-degree video panorama camera.
