Two Worlds Collide: Zack Arias on Digital Rev
Wasn't planning on doing a post today, but this "cheap camera challenge" from DigitalRev combines two things of which I am a very big fan:
1. DigitalRev's Kai Wong, and
2. Watching Zack Arias sweat.
Normally we have to wait until Gulf Photo Plus to watch Zack sweat out an improv shoot like this. And we still wouldn't get Kai and DigitalRev in the bargain.
The main problem (other than the POS P&S) is that Zack's Cantonese is about as good as his subjects' English. Which is to say, not very. (Dude, at least learn how to say please and thank you in the local language.) Fortunately, Alamby was there to pick up the linguistic pieces.
Fun to watch, but I am noticing a disturbing trend with DigitalRev and visiting photographers. Getting a little worried about my trip to Hong Kong next winter…
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Posted at 1:45 PM.
33 Comments:
Loved this video with Zack. Have a lot of respect for what he was able to produce with what he had. Really inspirational.
Would love to see how you'd approach the Pro Tog, Cheap Camera challenge :)
Yeah David would love to see you in the streets of Hong Kong with a cheap camera.
It's interesting to see how different Pros approach the challenge.
Ciao Björn
Amazing....
Amazing....
Great seeing Zack sweat it out on the challenge! The results were excellent though, well done Zack. Can't wait to see your challenge David, no pressure!
Great to see Zack in this challenge, it's been a while since Chase Jarvis had the Lego camera. The results were excellent, proof it's not camera but the photographer that makes a great photo. Can't wait for your challenge David, no pressure!
"The best camera is the one you left at home" =) Very funny video David, thank you for sharing it!
Big fan of Digital Rev and these challenges are really fun to watch. I just love the enthusiasm.
I agree, well said.
I agree, well said
Challenges are challenging and I love this video. It would be more touched when I hear this music in a luxury Mercedes. :)
Language or not, Zack is my hero. Watching him work with people of any culture, and the photos he produces, I'm inspired to pick up my camera every time!
Thanks for posting David!
I was really impressed by the result of the "young chinese boy that went somewhere dark with Zack". Cool composition, pose & background.
May I suggest your equipment for this challenge :
* 5DMkII
* Some funky lens : super-telephoto, fisheye or tilt-shift
* Old Manual flash set to full power, on camera
David, get two steps ahead of the game... if approached by Kai in Hong Kong, don't take his P&S, pull out your own (make sure it is even crappier than his, maybe a holga or something digital that is along the lines of the Lego P&S), and proceed to take it to the next level... LOL!
I suggest the crappy P&S... but high end studio lights or something. ;-)
David, get two steps ahead of the game... if approached by Kai in Hong Kong, don't take his P&S, pull out your own (make sure it is even crappier than his, maybe a holga or something digital that is along the lines of the Lego P&S), and proceed to take it to the next level... LOL!
I suggest the crappy P&S... but high end studio lights or something. ;-)
I loved this vid, and was good to see Zack crank out some good stuff regardless of the equipment and language barrier. Smiles are the international language.
I hope Kai tries to burn you, in a cool way of course! ;)
Thank you for sharing this was fun!
I love Zach for his honesty, and for wearing his heart on his sleeve. I've learned an enormous amount from both Zack and David (and not just about photography). It's nice to see him starting to get the success he so richly deserves.
Love the video... but I don't understand how he got the camera and flash to sync. Any ideas?
'Twould be great to do the reverse - amateur photog (like me) with a D4 ;-)
They probably synched with a built-in slave on the flash, ala Sb-26.
LOVE these challenges! Kai is such a goof too which makes the Digital Rev stuff so fun to watch. Anyone notice that the music seemed to be a Cantonese version of the one light DVD music?:)
David, totally cool that you'll be doing this as well.
So impressed how well he seemed to get along with people! And the smart a.. comments crack me up.
Have Digital Rev bookmarked but haven't seen it yet. Thanks for posting!
Respect to Zack, he's awesome no doubt. But really, c'mon does every second line in the video have to have some sort of sexual overtones and cheap references to anatomy? I mean c'mon...this is a role model I look up to. Am I in the minority who found this a tad unsettling? Or have we all been de-sensitized so much that this is now fully acceptable on youtube videos? Ok I'll stop.
That'd be Kai for you. He is always like that. And generally pretty funny IMO.
David, if I am still around here I would love to buy you a beer when you arrive. Most of us aren't that bad in English we're just slower to express ourselves as we think in Chinese then translate.
I am a bit better because I am Canadian and I don't shoot Canon's..
It is the photogrspher's eye and the lens, Not the camera...I CHALLENGE any of these hot shots... and I won't even use light meter... I shot 15 years in Formula One Grand Prix and usually never used a meter..Not necessary...MANUAL EXPOSURE...Know what the light is doing...
Studio give me a simple Sekonic incident light meter and I'll get the pic...Outside..You NEVER Need one if you know your light...That is to say the sun... John Blakemore
How did he trigger the external flash with the point and shoot camera?
Have you seen the video? The Flash has an internal sensor which reacts to the flash of the cam. many nikon&Canon flashes do that. and you can buy a hotshoe-assessory to plug your normal flash into such a sensor. but it doesn't work too good outdoors, and you easily hide the sensor with your fingers.
@bulee I'm guessing SU-4 mode (generic flash trigger) on the speedlight.
It would be really really awesome to see you on DigitalRev. :D
How did he not blow out the photos on that point and shoot with an off camera flash? The camera wouldn't have compensated and the flash... a lot of trial and error?
How did he not blow out the photos with an off camera flash and a horrible non-compensating point and shoot? Was it a lot of trial and error to adjust the flash to his will or ? There seems to be a lot more going on than just trying to get the off camera flash to light.
Can anyone suggest any old flash models that have a built-in sensor to sync with a p&s? I'd love to use a setup like that for p&s shooting but don't know any models that do this. Preferrably an old model which one could pick up from a used ad for cheap.
I have even older Kodak point and shoot camera made 2003, i think there is a flash button to switch the flash mode. I also trigger my YN560 using optical mode. ;D
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