Las Vegas at DVinfo.net

Steven Dempsey · April 22nd, 2008, 04:45 PM

This is about the most grip and rip thing I have shot. My visit to Vegas was not planned. I met my wife Linda in New Mexico to drive back to Washington with her and we stopped in Vegas along the way. We spent one night there and were on the road again early the next morning.

With the exception of the first shot, this is all handheld. The digital zoom in the first shot was inspired by a similar technique used by Phil Bloom in his Vegas piece.

Speaking of Phil Bloom, I met him quite by accident on the strip. He was surprised to see me for sure but it was good to finally meet. This piece is in stark contrast to the film Phil shot.

Enjoy it.

http://exposureroom.com/members/disj...05b5fe41895fe/

Trish Kerr · April 22nd, 2008, 05:02 PM

some great shots and editing - wow, you just keep getting better.

Trish

Greg Boston · April 22nd, 2008, 06:17 PM

Very cool, Steven. I like the colors in the shots. I loved opening it with the time lapse/zoom.

My only nitpick is the ending. I didn't feel like you took us out of the city as elegantly as you took us in. Another time lapse of dawn approaching or perhaps some rearview stuff as you left the city would IMHO have been a better finish.

Otherwise, great piece that gives a good slice of the vibe that is Vegas. Thanks for sharing.

-gb-

Steven Dempsey · April 22nd, 2008, 06:22 PM

Thanks for the comments...

Greg, the ending is a metaphor for the temptations in the city (drinking/sex/etc.) and the trap it can become...the addiction = no escape, as it were, so leaving the city is not an option. :)

That probably sounds hokey but it's the reason I put the ominous music in there.

Tom Roper · April 22nd, 2008, 07:52 PM

Very nice Steven, as always.

Makoto Schoppert · April 22nd, 2008, 09:28 PM

How did you get those trucking shots? Were they all a result of you standing on an escalator? A lot of them looked very smooth for being hand held.

Steven Dempsey · April 22nd, 2008, 09:47 PM

Yep, either escalators or moving platforms.

Nicholas Tran · April 22nd, 2008, 11:50 PM

I am a fan of your work Stephen, so please take this with a grain of salt.

While I did like the intro with the time lapse, I couldn't get past the fact that I was looking at a parking lot in the foreground. I'm sure this may have been from your hotel window, so can't harp on that too much.

The night shots were nice... though I've seen your composition stronger in other pieces. But again, I understand the handheld, run and gun, so comparing to your other work is kind of unfair.

The sad thing is that if it were anyone else, I would probably be all about it! I guess the best compliment is that you've set such a high precedence for yourself!

Steven Dempsey · April 23rd, 2008, 12:34 PM

It's all good, Nicholas :)

Lonnie Bell · April 24th, 2008, 04:06 AM

Wonderful colors, Steven - was this your Panalook 2 preset?

Lonnie

Ryan Postel · April 24th, 2008, 07:56 AM

Steven,

Did anyone have any problems with you filming the buildings or their casinos with a larger-than-consumer camera? I always seem to run into that issue carrying the A1 around.

Steven Dempsey · April 24th, 2008, 08:05 AM

Lonnie, yes this is the Panalook 2 setting...I pushed the colors and levels a little bit in post...this seems to work better than recording a more saturated image.

Ryan, I definitely got some hairy eyeball looks when I was walking through the areas with the slot machines. Mostly though, it wasn't a problem.

Greg Boston · April 24th, 2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Dempsey

Greg, the ending is a metaphor for the temptations in the city (drinking/sex/etc.) and the trap it can become...the addiction = no escape, as it were, so leaving the city is not an option. :)

That probably sounds hokey but it's the reason I put the ominous music in there.

Totally missed that angle. I'll watch it again.

-gb-

Tom Sherwood · April 24th, 2008, 10:45 PM

I really like the videos you put out and have to agree with Tran. The opening was cool is the zoom something you do in post? Wish your hotel room had a better view, something that related to the story, maybe a shot looking down the strip or the Welcome to las vegas sign. If it was a story about danny gans it would have been perfect.

Still pretty good video for a spur of the moment run and gun. Wish I had your skills.

Shiv Kumar · April 25th, 2008, 02:03 AM

Ryan,

I had that issue many times while I was in Vegas during NAB. During the nights I wasn't bothered, but during the day I had many security people asking me to pack up and leave. I'd go across the road and start again but then someone would be there in no time.

Shooting people (I mean with a camera :)) is not so bad, but I've had a security guy follow me around watching me, almost waiting for me to aim my camera towards one of the structures.

April 22nd, 2008, 04:45 PM	#1
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Las Vegas This is about the most grip and rip thing I have shot. My visit to Vegas was not planned. I met my wife Linda in New Mexico to drive back to Washington with her and we stopped in Vegas along the way. We spent one night there and were on the road again early the next morning. With the exception of the first shot, this is all handheld. The digital zoom in the first shot was inspired by a similar technique used by Phil Bloom in his Vegas piece. Speaking of Phil Bloom, I met him quite by accident on the strip. He was surprised to see me for sure but it was good to finally meet. This piece is in stark contrast to the film Phil shot. Enjoy it. http://exposureroom.com/members/disj...05b5fe41895fe/ __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

April 22nd, 2008, 06:22 PM	#4
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Thanks for the comments... Greg, the ending is a metaphor for the temptations in the city (drinking/sex/etc.) and the trap it can become...the addiction = no escape, as it were, so leaving the city is not an option. :) That probably sounds hokey but it's the reason I put the ominous music in there. __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

April 22nd, 2008, 09:47 PM	#7
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Yep, either escalators or moving platforms. __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

April 23rd, 2008, 12:34 PM	#9
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	It's all good, Nicholas :) __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

April 24th, 2008, 04:06 AM	#10
Lonnie Bell Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV United States Posts: 361	Wonderful colors, Steven - was this your Panalook 2 preset? Lonnie __________________ Lonnie Bell mamas boy productions Las Vegas, NV

April 22nd, 2008, 05:02 PM	#2
Trish Kerr Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 294	some great shots and editing - wow, you just keep getting better. Trish

April 22nd, 2008, 06:17 PM	#3
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Very cool, Steven. I like the colors in the shots. I loved opening it with the time lapse/zoom. My only nitpick is the ending. I didn't feel like you took us out of the city as elegantly as you took us in. Another time lapse of dawn approaching or perhaps some rearview stuff as you left the city would IMHO have been a better finish. Otherwise, great piece that gives a good slice of the vibe that is Vegas. Thanks for sharing. -gb-

April 22nd, 2008, 07:52 PM	#5
Tom Roper Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 1,891	Very nice Steven, as always.

April 22nd, 2008, 09:28 PM	#6
Makoto Schoppert New Boot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 16	How did you get those trucking shots? Were they all a result of you standing on an escalator? A lot of them looked very smooth for being hand held.

April 22nd, 2008, 11:50 PM	#8
Nicholas Tran Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 67	I am a fan of your work Stephen, so please take this with a grain of salt. While I did like the intro with the time lapse, I couldn't get past the fact that I was looking at a parking lot in the foreground. I'm sure this may have been from your hotel window, so can't harp on that too much. The night shots were nice... though I've seen your composition stronger in other pieces. But again, I understand the handheld, run and gun, so comparing to your other work is kind of unfair. The sad thing is that if it were anyone else, I would probably be all about it! I guess the best compliment is that you've set such a high precedence for yourself!

April 24th, 2008, 07:56 AM	#11
Ryan Postel Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 93	Steven, Did anyone have any problems with you filming the buildings or their casinos with a larger-than-consumer camera? I always seem to run into that issue carrying the A1 around.

April 24th, 2008, 08:05 AM	#12
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Lonnie, yes this is the Panalook 2 setting...I pushed the colors and levels a little bit in post...this seems to work better than recording a more saturated image. Ryan, I definitely got some hairy eyeball looks when I was walking through the areas with the slot machines. Mostly though, it wasn't a problem. __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

April 24th, 2008, 10:45 PM	#14
Tom Sherwood Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 83	I really like the videos you put out and have to agree with Tran. The opening was cool is the zoom something you do in post? Wish your hotel room had a better view, something that related to the story, maybe a shot looking down the strip or the Welcome to las vegas sign. If it was a story about danny gans it would have been perfect. Still pretty good video for a spur of the moment run and gun. Wish I had your skills.

April 25th, 2008, 02:03 AM	#15
Shiv Kumar Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gainesville, VA, USA Posts: 327	Ryan, I had that issue many times while I was in Vegas during NAB. During the nights I wasn't bothered, but during the day I had many security people asking me to pack up and leave. I'd go across the road and start again but then someone would be there in no time. Shooting people (I mean with a camera :)) is not so bad, but I've had a security guy follow me around watching me, almost waiting for me to aim my camera towards one of the structures. __________________ Canon XH-A1, Libec LS-55M, Letus Extreme, Steadicam Merlin, PPro CS3