Sunrise over East Coast of Singapore

For me… traveling to Singapore has become like slipping into my favorite pair of shoes. Comfortable. It’s become my favorite city to visit – metropolitan, diverse people, great food and they speak English. I’ve also grown somewhat accustomed to the long trip – almost 24 hours to get there. From New York it’s about 14 hours to Tokyo. Then another 7 hours to Singapore. Not that I’m advocating drugs… but self medication is a must to help pass the time quickly.

For this trip I was lucky to have the use of a Kessler Pocket Dolly thanks to my friend Mike Sutton (@mns1974 on Twitter). When I travel I like to pack light. The Kessler Pocket Dolly is the perfect size to slide right into your one checked bag along with shirts, pants and undergarments. All used as extra padding. A few shots here and there with the Kessler Pocket Dolly adds nice production value to any film. Since I packed the slider, I left my sticks home, instead going for my trusty Gorillapod. It saves space and added weight from your luggage. I’ve really become adept at finding new ways to use it on DSLR shoots.

Running with the Monster Cam

As a TV photojournalist I’m big on the handheld run and gun style of shooting. Especially with these small cameras. Much easier than the huge monster Sony XDCam 700 I shoulder at CBS Boston. For the Singapore film I used creative handheld methods like slow rocking on my feet to get a fluid look as well as finding level surfaces to place either a camera or the Pocket Dolly. The subtle side to side or pushing in and out rocking shots look much better than trying to handhold a camera perfectly still. You will always see those tiny vibrations that way.

I brought two cameras with me tucked safely in my carry on backpack along with my carry on 15″ Macbook Pro laptop bag (where I keep my meds stashed). I used a Canon 60D and my new GoPro Hero 2. For lenses I was packing my lovely Canon 50mm f1.4, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 and my run and gun fav – the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8.

I got some surprisingly good timelapse stuff with the GoPro, although I had to crop in during the edit to lose the exaggerated fisheye perspective. I left a few of those shots “as is” for the effect. During the morning sunrise timelapse a huge crow landed right next to the GoPro and tried to grab it. Lucky for me I was standing right there or we would have had another “Seagull Stole GoPro” type episode!

GoPro and Tokina 11-16 on 60D timelapsing city

I also did some timelapse work with the 60D and the Tokina 11-16mm lens because the GoPro does not hold up well once the sun goes down. The GoPro has too much gain noise from the auto settings.

Most night shots were done with the 50mm f1.4 as those extra stops become precious on a shoot like this! I tried to “find the light” when I could. That lens also has great bokeh.

Nice 50mm f1.4 bokeh

More 50mm at night

As for audio, I have discovered with DSLR one man band travel shoots, nothing beats the Rode VideoMic Pro plugged directly into the camera. It packs well. Setup is fast and it’s not complicated to operate. The key to success is manual settings in the camera menu so there’s no auto gain (AGC) issues. It’s a must. Check your levels and you’ve got a nice shock mounted mic for great nat sound. Just don’t fiddle with the camera when recording and make sure you keep an eye on the cable connection. If you move around a lot it can come loose.

Here’s a great example of good nat sound captured with the Rode mic:

11-11-11 One Day on Earth

Finally, this time I wanted to add narration to the film to give it more of a mini doc feel or Henry Hill feel from “Goodfellas”. So I asked two of my Singaporean friends, Rosa Selamat (@rosarecruits) and her husband Rizalie Mohamed (@LambchopMojo) to donate their services, again using my Rode mic to gather the sound.

Rosa at MBS

Jojo at cafe

To do this correctly you must do the interviews in a controlled, quiet location and you have to get the mic in very close to your subject. If you are doing on camera interviews it helps to use a portrait lens like a 50mm or 85mm on a tripod. For my film, since I was planning only to use their audio for narration over b-roll of them, I just handheld the camera and did the interviews off camera. If I had more time and gear I would ideally have lit a room or found some good natural light and done their interviews in front of the lens. However, because of their work schedules, location logistics and my vacation I decided this would be the best choice. Besides, I like the style of not seeing a talking head on the screen. Sometimes that’s just darn refreshing.

Singapore Chili Crab

This blog was originally featured on DSLR News Shooter. Thanks to photojournalist and DSLR shooter Dan Chung for his support.

Healing Hands

I had the pleasure of shooting a promotional film for the Natural Living Expo presented by Spirit of Change magazine. It takes place in Sturbridge, MA. and it’s the largest Holistic event of its kind in New England.

Shot on Canon 60D and Sony EX1

For more info please visit their website: Natural Living Expo

You can also like them on facebook: Natural Living Expo on Facebook

Natural Living Expo

Sunset on the Charles River

Up until the final moments before sunset I still had no idea what I was going to do for One Day on Earth this year. As a matter of fact, I had been so busy working all day, I was about to blow the whole thing off and head home… until I saw the sun setting across the street from the TV studio along the Charles River, a place where only a few weeks ago had been the staging area for the world famous Head of the Charles Regatta. I hustled over there with my gear and slogged through soaking wet grass and 3 inches of mud to get to the river just in time to set up my sticks as the sun was going down. At the time I had no clue that I was about to be surrounded by flocks of geese that probably come to the very spot in which I was currently encroaching upon at dusk every day. I suddenly found myself in the midst of them, flying around me and landing right next to me. I was so still while documenting them, I think they saw that I wasn’t a threat to them so they stayed within reach of my lens. I got lucky on this one and I was glad that I had thrown my gear bag and sticks in the car when I left the house for work in this morning!

In for the Night

Politely All in a Row

Watching the Flock Come Home

Cinematographer/Editor: Rick Macomber
Camera: Canon 60D
Lens: Tamron 17-50mm f2.8
Cutting Tools: FCP 7
Soundtrack: Parting of the Ways by Kevin MacLeod

Prism Student

This is the extended version of the promotional film for Northeastern University’s Math Department. It includes information from professors and students about the Prism Program, the Coop Program and the Reaserch and Graduate Studies Programs.
Special thanks to Brian Sullivan for shooting the interviews with the former co-op students at John Hancock.

Math Professor

In class.

Camera: Sony EX1 and Canon 60D
Cutting Tool: FCP 7
Grading: MBL

Guests arrive in the rain

The day began with rain showers as Lisa and Chris recited their vows at St. Mary’s Church in Melrose, MA.

Lisa waits in the limo

Best men

But as their ceremony ended the weather cleared just in time for for a champagne toast outside the church and then off to a lovely reception at Topsfield Commons where Chris surprised his bride with a special dance to a with a song he wrote for her. We hope you enjoy this wedding trailer from Macomber Productions.

A kiss after the ceremony

Recessional

Cake details

First Dance

A moment in the hall

Toast glass

The rings

Cinematography: Rick Macomber, Chris Loughran
Editing: Marin Misoda
Cameras: Canon 60D, Panasonic AF100

Soundtrack: “True Companion” by Marc Cohen
available on itunes

Ben Ekstein bedazzled by light

So… what do you do when you are invited to hang at a lens test party with a bunch of cinematographers slinging cool gear and a promise of free food? A sort of lingerie party for guys? You shoot a BTS short film of course! And that’s exactly what I did as DPs Ben Eckstein, Chris Loughran and the gang scrutinized a plethora of lenses ranging in price from $350 to $20,000 on a Panasonic AG-AF100. But not before consuming some big beefy burgers and washing them down with ice cold beer.

The meat of the story

Where are the lens and bottle caps?

Chris Loughran and Ben Ekstein comparing shots.

Ki Pro Mini set to ProRes 422

Loughran slapped a Ki Pro Mini compact field recorder set to ProRes 422 on the AF100 rig while the rest of us assisted Eckstein lighting the set – his kitchen. Well actually they helped while I documented with my Canon 60D and Tamron f2.8 17-50mm lens. I told the boys to go easy on the Tamron putdowns, but you can scrutinize this BTS film here for yourselves. It’s not a bad piece of glass for run and gun work… and I picked it up on CL for $350.

Chris handles the Cooke lens with kid gloves.

Focus is looking good with minimal lens breathing.

Chris sets up the monitor.

The set was lit flat with no dramatic effect and had minimal shadows. And although the test did not include any low light conditions or blown out white levels, each lens saw the exact same short scene with no changes made in the room.

Keith Wasserman does some banana shtick.

Brandon Vincent playing it straight.

Keith Wasserman was hilarious as 1st banana repeatedly ad-libbing his way through each take and lens swap with 2nd banana Brandon Vincent acting as droll straight man. Michael Murie and Matt Stapleton also shot some footage of the event while Ben Pender-Cudlip was drafted for iPad FilmSlate duty. Even Eckstein’s dog Schnitzel made a cameo appearance in my BTS short.

Schnitzel waits for a burger???

Michael Murie shoots some footage for his BTS film.

Ben Pender-Cudlip slating the scene.

Matt Stapleton adds another camera to the mix.

The results? Besides the belching and a few random SBDs… here’s the full report from Ben Ekstein: benjamineckstein.com/​2011/​09/​the-big-ole-lens-test-party/​

Lens lineup

The Lenses:

Cooke S4 35mm
Zeiss CP2 35mm
Zeiss Superspeed 35mm
Nikon 17-35mm
Olympus 14-35mm
Canon 17-55mm
Tamron 17-50mm
Sigma 30mm

Most of the lenses were provided by Rule Boston Camera.

Music by Kevin MacLeod “Scheming Weasel”
incompetech.com

More BTS fun from Michael Murie: youtube.com/​watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kYpk94BIIGg#!

Malay Family

Beef Rendang and Curry Dish

Singapore. It keeps calling me. Small – but big. A bustling metropolis – but super clean. People have asked me if the rumors about chewing gum being illegal there are true.  In a way… yes. Gum was banned in Singapore in 1992. The importing or sale of gum was banned as well. That’s one of the reasons the city stays so spotless. So it may not be a good idea to smuggle any Bazooka or Trident Spearmint into Singapore please. Unless you would like to risk a fine.

This trip to Singapore was planned for a while. I wanted to be there for Hari Raya this time. Everyone told me it was a must for a photographer or cinematographer. Or for anyone who likes to eat exotic food. Hmmm… I’m there buddy.

After fasting for the month of Ramadan, Muslims in Singapore celebrate Hari Raya by savoring spicy foods like beef rendang, ketupat, nasi padang and curry puffs, donning brand new colorful clothing and paying respect to their elders.

Geylang Woman

Malay Elderly Gent

On the eve of Hari Raya I checked out an area in Singapore known as Geylang, a festive neighborhood where Malay people crowd into sweaty tents to browse bazaars and pick out a last minute baju melayu, the traditional cotton outfit worn during the holiday. From the periphery of the tents the smell of Malay food beckons. Once inside you become immersed in a world of colorful flashing lights, bold cloth material and street hawkers selling food on bullhorns. It’s hot. It’s humid. And it’s a total trip.

Geylang Street Hawker

Geylang Food Market

Geylang Teen

Geylang Market

Baju Melayu

Colorful Clothing

Nora, Selly and Jali show off their Baju Melayu Clothing

After many days of trekking through the city streets and riding the MRT, I just had to relax with some good ol’ fashioned foot reflexology (which I of course had to document).

Foot Reflexology

Smelly Feet?

Singapore MRT

I must add that this city has one of the cleanest, most modern and efficient Mass Rapid Transit systems in the world.

Camera: Canon T2i w 17-50mm f2.8 lens
Cutting tool: Final Cut Pro
Soundtrack: “Fragment One… And I Kept Hearing”
by The Kenneth Bager Experience

on itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fragment-one-…and-i-kept/id339118919

Sara + Matt Rings

Sara + Matt

Such a happy couple in love, Sara + Matt were a joy to work with on this perfect day at Castle Hill in Newport, RI. The operatic duet at the beginning of this trailer was performed live at the church.

Sara and Mom prep

Sara + Matt at Castle Hill Lighthouse

Reflections of Sara

Sara + Matt at the Lighthouse

After the ceremony at Salve Regina, we did some creative shots at the Castle Hill Lighthouse on scenic Ocean Drive with photographer James Hazelwood. That was lots of fun.

Head Table

Sara and her Dad

Matt and his Mom

Toward the end of the evening, Sara’s dad rocked the house with Boston band Beantown, when he sat in as special guest drummer! It was in fact… a good day for Sara + Matt and for Macomber Productions.

I want to thank cinematographer Chris Loughran for helping out on 2nd camera for this event.

Cinematography: Rick Macomber, Chris Loughran
Editing: Rick Macomber
Cameras: Canon 60D + Panasonic AF100
Cutting Tools: FCP 7
Grading: MBL

A Good Day

Soundtrack: “A Good Day” by Priscilla Ahn
Purchase on itunes: itunes.apple.com/​us/​album/​a-good-day/​id388262747

Arianne in the Mirror

On the Balcony

Arianne + Rogelio

Macomber Productions presents this wonderful couple, Arianne + Rogelio, who got married on June 11, 2011 at Hamilton Hall in Salem, MA. Bride prep was at Salem Waterfront Hotel. Special thanks to cinematographers Ron Risman and Matt Stapleton for the professional job they did on this wedding and to Ron for editing together this highlight film. More on this blog to come. Stay tuned.

Waving Goodbye

Cinematography: Ron Risman, Matt Stapleton
Wedding Planner: Christina Doucette
Music: Closer to Love by Matt Kearney
Band and DJ: Chevere Productions

Tekka Wet Market Fish

Mangosteen Fruit

Back in Singapore again. I’ve pretty much seen most of this tiny island by now, even if it keeps evolving each time I come back. The Chinese are pumping money into the economy and the current commercial construction here would make your head spin. One of my facebook friends said it best when viewing the photo of Marina Bay Center I posted below: “What planet are you visiting?”

Marina Bay Center

Little India Singapore

Since I’ve already done all the tourist locations, I wanted to make a short film about something really local this time. Something not so pretty, but that would still tell an interesting story from the perspective of my camera.

Blue Flower Crab

So I took the advice of one of my friends from Singapore, Ana Luis, who now lives in San Diego. She said I should check out Tekka Wet Market in Little India where I would find a huge enclosed warehouse with row after row of stalls filled with local people, exotic fresh seafood, prime cuts of meat, fragrant Indian spices and fresh fruits and vegetables. The name “wet market” btw… comes from the constant wetting or spraying down the stalls and floors around the fish and poultry. It can get nasty in there!

Tekka Wet Market Fish Stalls

Tekka Wet Market Stalls from Above

Tekka Market Fragrant Indian Spices

Tekka Market Worker

Rosalita Selamat

I met my friend and assistant for the shoot, Rosalita Selamat on location early in the morning and began shooting almost immediately. The smells of the Indian spices and the stink of some of the fish was enough to wake me out of whatever jet lag stupor I may have been experiencing as I entered the building! Rosa had a good chuckle when I kept leaning too far into the fish stalls and dragging my camera strap through the fish. Man, that strap was stinky after that! I’ll also mention it was very hot and humid in there!

Colorful Fish at Tekka Wet Market

Big Fish at Tekka Wet Market

For this DSLR film I used a Canon 60D utilizing a mix of handheld shots, some slides and static shots with a small tripod. The 60D flip LCD came in handy for the run and gun style of shooting I prefer on these types of shoots where there’s no time to set things up as the action is happening so fast. I had tweeted some friends before the shoot about proper shutter speeds to use when filming with indoor 50 kHz fluorescent lights in Asia. I wanted to avoid that nasty flicker you tend to get if you are not careful. I ended up varying those shutter speeds from 50 – 100 depending on where I was shooting in the building. It seemed to take care of the problem. I used an H4n for audio but the room was really loud and bustling for interviewing.

Little India Shoppers

I enjoyed doing this short film at Tekka Wet Market and couldn’t wait to get the trailer edited while still here on vacation. The complete version will be finished sometime soon (although I shot a friend’s Malay wedding while here as well and have not even started that edit yet! It will be a very colorful film with lots of Malay costumes so I’ll save that for another blog!

Rosa enjoys lunch after our shoot

Fish Masala and Roti Chapati

After a long and sweaty shoot I was rewarded with a nice lunch at the Hawker Food Center (in the same building) consisting of fresh boneless fish masala, roti chapati and a nice hot cup of famous pulled Indian tea with my friend and assistant on this shoot, Rosalita Selamat. Rosa is a talented photographer who lives in Singapore. I want to thank her for her time and for keeping the shoot happy with her infectious laugh and smile.

Rosa above the Singapore skyline on The Pinnacles at Duxton Skywalk