Blue Screen Photography at Samsung at Crufts 2011

We recently worked for Samsung at Crufts Dog Show. It was physically and technically one of the most demanding jobs we've done, but also the best organised and the most enjoyable.

Our brief was to work with AMC Europe and the stand designers to setup a chromakey studio in one section of the stand to shoot dogs, owners and visitors on a variety of backdrops. Then we were to print and frame each photograph instantly. The best photograph each day would win a Samsung digital camera.

The calm before the storm...waiting for the show to open.

 The stand was immense with a huge central area where various displays were organised each day to attract the visitors. Around the edge of the main area were various pods where visitors could relax and try out Samsungs excellent products including Galaxy Tablets, Andoid phone, Video Cameras and of course Still cameras.

Everything was displayed on Samsung flat screen TV's, with a huge screen hovering over the stand.

 There were free face-painting areas, a kitchen of the future with celebrity chef Peter Osbourne cooking dog treats, free ID tag engraving, an internet access area and of course us. Upstairs was a VIP area and viewing area where we were treated to food and drinks all day,  when we had time which was rare as we were so busy.

We used the latest Samsung NX-10 micro 4/3rds  SLR camera with the Samsung flash on top, bounced upwards to prevent red-eye. Although we had brought every available type of lighting with us including the latest flat panel led banks, we actually didn't use anything! The photo area was so popular an attraction that we quickly realised lighting wasn't practical as people and dogs would be knocking over any studio lights.

Peter Osbourne (aka The Big Chef) in the kitchen

 
 When we helped design the area we made use of the lighting above us to cast an even glow on the photo area. We went for blue screen rather than green screen as this matched Samsung's corporate colours and looked in keeping with the design. The floor and back wall were painted with special Chromakey blue paint like we used in our Elstree Film Studio days.

Blue Screen Photography Area

In the photos you can see the led lighting panels, but they weren't actually used. usually we shoot with pro Nikon gear but were suprised by how good the little Samsung NX-10 camera actually was. We mainly used the 20mm pancake lens as that has excellent low light capacity, it's fixed at f2.8 which really helped. For some shots we switched to a second camera using a 18-55mm zoom, mainly when we needed to get a bit closer to teeny dogs to avoid distortion.

Elaine at work!

To avoid cabling and swapping memory cards we used the excellent eye-fi 4mb X2 sd card which is actually a wireless transmitter. We set this up to connect to our own hub, linked to a really nice Samsung I5 17" notebook which had ample power for the job. We used our own software and the pre-approved backdrops we had designed for Samsung to quickly handle the work flow.

Dog training demo from the VIP area above.

Initially we had some teething trouble as the wireless kept dropping out but when we connected to the Samsung network it all worked perfectly. This was because Samsung had an extremely powerful transmitter covering the stand which knocked ours out, changing channels solved the problem.

We shot a variety of different photos, from close-ups of teeny dogs to large groups of people with their dogs, and many just of visitors to the show. Never work with animals or children is the adage, but we are happy with either or both!

Paul shooting with Korean TV filming!

To cope with the huge throughput of visitors we needed a fast printer. So Systems Insight in Southampton got us the latest Mitsubishi CP-D707 photo lab as soon as it was launched. Their help was invaluable, we were originally

briefed to produce 5" x  7" photographs and all the templates were setup to that size. During setup day before the show we tested the printer which uniquely has two decks, so both were loaded with 5" wide paper and ribbon ready to go. When the frames arrived we realised  that they were 5" x 7", but the photos needed to be 6" x 4" in size. We didn't have any media of this size and couldn't get any delivered until the next day which was cutting things a bit fine.

The winning photo on Day One....cute!

But Paul realised Systems Insight were at the Focus on Imaging show which was ending that day also at the NEC. So a quick phone call and a sprint the whole length of the NEC exhibition Centre saw him return triumphantly with a box of 6x4 media. Thanks to Stuart at System Insight, we also received a delivery of four more boxes at our hotel the next day. 

Live previews on the Samsung LED.

The Mitsubishi CP-D707 is a beast! It can produce TEN 6x4 photographs in a minute using both decks, and it never faltered once in the whole five days. The quality of the images is faultless, very crisp and sharp, and the extremely low running costs are essential when producing so many photographs at an event.

We linked the laptop up to a DVI splitter and had the images displayed live as we worked on them on the stand on Samsung lcd screens. This was great as when we did get a small queue they could watch as we played with the images.

Every day we shot, green screened, printed and framed over 200 photographs. On the Sunday which is always the busiest we did 300. We stopped whenever there was a live event on the stand but no-one ever waited more than ten minutes during the whole show.

World Champion Richard Curtis with Betty the Chihuahua

Workflow is everything on such a busy stand, we had example backdrops printed and on display so people could choose the effect they wanted before we posed them.

Sending the photos wirelessly to the system is also a necessity, as is having a fast printer like the Mitsubishi D707, and a fast operator like Elaine.

Everyone was delighted with their photographs, and we learned a lot about the different breeds and temperaments. Some dogs react to a squeaky toy, some ignore it, some attack it! Getting to the dogs eye level is essential to get a great shot, and black dogs are trickier to capture than white ones:)

The winning photo on the left was a popular background for the kids, they all wanted to be in the dog sled. You can see all the photos at www.fullframeevents.co.uk under galleries.

Here's a few more examples showing some of the backdrops we used.

Clifford Chance

 

A thank you to Clifford Chance for using us for two days at their Xmas party.

Getting the gear up 30 floors in Canary Wharf was actually easy thanks to Kevin who organised the whole event.

The setting was incredible and we were kept busy green screening everyone all night on both nights.

The most popular backdrop was our magazine cover themed to match the Jack Frost styling.

 Click below to see the thank you video we made for Kevin


Clifford Chance

Green Screen photography at the Chronicles of Narnia premiere

Another interesting green screen job for us. We were invited to cover the opening of Sky's new Screen 11 at the O2 arena. This is the biggest 3D cinema screen in Europe and is absolutely stunning!

We were setup in the VIP area with our green screen studio and instant printing kit. We had worked with 20th Century Fox on the original posters of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader as this film is titled. They provided us with layered artwork and we set it all up so we could put kids into the main ship or the smaller boat.

We automated the whole process for speed using a batch file to combine the layers into a composite image. This gave a great effect and the kids were amazed to see photographs of themselves on the Dawn Treader or in the smaller boat with the actors!

The whole process was so fast we didn't even have a queue so we were getting people from the face painting and magician queues and photographing them. Again brilliantly organised by Tania and Emma. We even had time for a meal at the O2 before packing up and getting home.

Capital Radio Jingle Bell Ball

A very busy weekend at the Capital radio Jingle Bell Ball sponsored by Microsoft Windows 7 at the O2 arena. We had to provide two pods to entertain guests before and during the concert. So one was set up for Green Screen, the other for Video.

Early start Saturday as I had the scarey job of photographing the stage. Scarey because I had the whole arean watching me and had to direct the lighting and get the big screens fired up to show Windows 7 and Capital FM's logos. Those screen refresh slowly so it was a tricky shoot in low light but the Nikon D700 coped as usual by cranking up the ISO, didnt even use a tripod! 

On the Green Screen pod we had a huge dressing up box and a couple of electric guitars. We photographed kids and sometimes parents in front of the Green Screen, then dropped them onto the concert stage with an overlay of a cheering crowd. Then we printed and mounted a photograph for each of them. These will be up at www.capitalradio/windows7.

The video pod was to celebrate MSN's 15th birthday, we filmed guests dressed up again in all manner of weird costumes wishing MSN a happy birthday. The best one gets to be featured in their advertising. It was a hard weekend, but great fun and well organised by Jeremy, Tania and Emma.

On the Sunday evening our crew were all allowed in to watch the concert whilst I volunteered to guard the equipment.

Cirque Du Sony Ericsson

Made this purely as a thank you for everyone who attended the FMI Group party

Cirque Du Sony Ericsson

Green Screen Photography in a tight space!

We attended a brilliant party organised by FMI Group for Sony Ericcson to treat the Carphone Warehouse group as a thank you for their work. The party was at the Circus bar in Covent Garden. We had a very small space to work in but managed to put up a small green screen and floor. Lighting was tricky, no room either side for the usual shoot through umbrellas to light the green screen, so we had to position wireless flash guns on the floor lighting up the screen. We shot the guests using a softbox with another wirless flash inside, all driven by the built-in commander flash on the Nikon D700.

We managed to get a viewing station set up on a counter, with the Mitsubishi Click system powering a 9550 photolab. We shoot wirelessly using a Nikon D700 with a low light 24-70mm f2.8 pro lens linked by a WT-4 to a hub. As we shoot photos are sent to the viewing station. Guests choose the pose they like then the images are sent to the Click system. Elaine was operating the Click's green screen software. We had designed a selection of Circus themed backdrops all branded with Sony's logos.

The most popular by far was the Tiger in the cage, followed by a circle of fire, then a more subdued harlequin backdrop to match the Circus theme. There was entertainment all night, Burlesque dancers, trapeze artistes, Hula dancers and stilt walkers, who all performed on the stage which is right in the centre of the venue. But we were by far the most popular attraction, absolutely mobbed all night, and by the end of the evening 280 large 9"x 6" photographs had been shot, editted, green screened, printed and framed!

Caroline & Martins wedding

Just to prove you don't have to spend thousands to get great wedding photos and a video of the photos set to music!

 

Had a good time at St Leonards Church in Flamsted, very interesting and ancient place, dates back to the Saxons, so no flash allowed. Sun was in and out and I had to move all around the Church using secret doors shown me by the friendly Verger and Vicar. I was allowed onto the High Altar and got some lovely shots of the Rood Screen and Stained Glass.

Anyway, have a look, thanks Caroline and Martin for letting me enjoy your wedding. And thanks for the message from Sunny Barbados saying you loved the photos and the video. For all the photographers who claim it takes weeks, these were all editted and on the website for the couple to view on honeymoon the next day. And the video was finished and up too, even though we went straight to a Masonic Masked ball after the wedding.

Special thanks to nikon for the D700's low light capabilities and the gorgeous f2.8 24-70mm lens. Did use the SB-900 outside for fill though, when the sun came out it was real winter sun!

Click here to see the video


Caroline

Masonic Ball Event Photos

Had a lovely early start for a Sunday morning, photographing the youngsters swimming and running in the CoSTa Aquathlon this morning. Photos are up at www.fullframeevents.co.uk, here's a link to the video we made for them for fun.

Caroline

here's a video I've just finished for Caroline and Sarah. I shot their Civil partnership today and although I only got back at 6pm all the photos are editted and up on the website at www.fullframeevents.co.uk under galleries, and I've made the video as well. Guess this proves that if you get the photos right in the camera you don't need to spend days post proeccesing them :)


Caroline

Naked women covered in food?

Got your attention! We had a cracking day out with Eventwise rewarding the hard working employees of Frank PR. They are the most innovative PR company around with the most amazingly designed website www.frankpr.it, well worth a look.

So when we were asked to do something different to help make their day out memorable we were happy to help. Emily (Frank PR) and Oliver (Eventwise) had organised a Roman themed day with gladiator battles, toga making, a huge feast with the afore-mentioned naked ladies covered in fruit (well, not for long!) and somehow arranged sunshine.

We were there to capture the action, and then in the evening we opened our green screen studio to the Pimmed up workers. Two original swords from Gladiator and a choice of a dozen different themed backdrops soon had the photolab going flat out as we took, editted, printed and framed nearly 200 nine inch by six inch photos.

Ok, here's the naked lady....
if you ever want your employees to get their five a day this would work judging by the speed the guys from Frank undressed her. I shoot at 8 frames a second but by the time I had got there and focussed only the Ivy was left!

So thanks to everyone for a great day out, here's the video we made as a souvenir of the day, just for fun. I'll facebook it so you can share it around.

www.fullframeevents.co.uk

Made a sample video showing what we do. Animoto is great for this kind of thing, easy to use.

Have a look here

www.fullframeevents.co.uk

Bishop Stopford Prom

So straight after Kevin & B's wedding it was off to Bishop Stopford's prom. Had a problem with the Lastolite Hi-Light, whoever put it away last time hadn't folded it properly, so the spring steel inside was twisted! Always carry a Leatherman tool, the pliers did the job much to our relief! Next problem, all the viewing stations had been used at home so had to reset all the IP adresses. Then we realised we hadn't set up the new event in Graham's excellent Event pro software. That only took a couple of minutes as we were only charging £5 a photo mounted with no other options and only one photographer, me! Elaine was running the viewing stations and the Click printing system, plus handling all the sales and mounting the photos.

Then the Click switched itself off! This is an ultra-reliable piece of kit, but it wouldn't reboot. I could hear the fans struggling so decided to give it 30 mins to cool down as the sun had gone in and we were outside. I started shooting the tables and the presentations inside the event. As that drew to a close I went out and checked settings etc and prepared for the rush! I restarted the Click but was swamped by eager year 11's in some magnificent outfits wanting to give it some attitude on the White screen studio. I explained to them as I shot that the pictures would be on the website but not available on the night. When I had a few spare seconds I glanced over at Elaine and could see surrounded 20 deep by eager customers, and clear bags with mounted photos in were being proudly displayed, so I knew it had decided to work!

So from 10 pm til 12am we worked flat out and produced nearly 200 framed photos between 2 of us! That's down to experience, excellent kit, and very willing participants who knew value when they saw it. We get close to Studio quality photos at 9"x 6" in seconds using the same gear as in the Studio, but we work faster,

So thank you everyone at Bishops, and here's your free video as a thank you! Click the link below, then use the HQ button!



Bishop Stopford Prom

Kevin

Ok, I didn't really want to do weddings as I can't bear the thought of something going wrong and letting a couple down on their big day! But Kevin called me and when I explained my concerns he told me not to worry as he had other people with cameras. So I took THREE cameras with me, six memeory cards and six pare batteries, plus spares for the flash guns:) I called the St Albans registry office the day before and cjecked on restrictions for photographers etc.

I arrived almost two hours ahead of the wedding in case my ultra reliable car broke down so I would have time to get a taxi :) I met the Registrar and she was lovely and helpful. I took some practice shots but pretty much nailed the lighting straight away, really easy with the D700 and SB-900 combo. I decide to shoot RAW just in case.

Everything went really well, got Kevin and B arriving, shot reportage style with some artistic shots of the Canon, Rings, Flowers etc to pop in the video. I had agreed a fixed price with Kevin for all the images on DVD as no-one else would. Can't believe one guy asked for over £5k just to cover a one hour civil ceremony! I made this video as a present to Kevin and B for such a pleasant day. I certainly will do weddings now as it was enjoyable and rewarding. They are very happy and that's what counts! Here's the low res version on the video i made for them, there is a high res version being blown onto DVD as we speak.

Kevin

Putney Park School

Great night at Putney Park School. We shot their charity fashion show which was very well organised and all the kids had great fun. then we moved into the green screen studio and put the girls onto various magazine covers. Here's a link to the video we made for them. We raised a lot for their cause, and the girls went home with stunning photos printed instantly and frmaed while they watched. We were flat out but enjoyed the night.


Putney Park School

Nurses

This version shows the funnier shots in the studio, and the whole crowd having a great time. This was also at the Nurses and Engineers Ball (see below) and shows how we manage to capture the atmosphere of the night. That's why we bring two photographers :)

Nurses

Nurses

This is a short video of some of the photos we took at the Nurses and Engineers Ball at Chilcott Hall in Southampton. This is the parent friendly version showing the arrivals and shots in our white screen high key studio. A great night, we were flat out shooting and printing, the students took full advantage of the crazy pricing we offered, and the area we had to work in was perfect.

Nurses

Joe Hussain Trophy

A video of some of the photos taken at New Hall School whilst we were covering their Joe Hussain Trophy competition. Yes, that's Nasser Hussain awarding the prizes. His late father Joe taught Cricket and this day was in his memory.

Joe Hussain Trophy

Lucy-May's 18th Party

Lucy-May's 18th Party

Do you really need two photographers to cover an event?

Well, you do if you want to keep your customers happy! We managed ok with charity balls and school proms as most of work is done in the portable studio. When we are shooting Hi Key, Green Screen or Black Screen the guests come to us, aided and abetted by announcements from the DJ, adverts in the program, and a mention on any social networking sites set up for the event.

When we get a quiet moment (doesn't always happen) or when the evening is getting towards the end, we switch the SB-900 on the D700 off commander mode (it controls all our studio lights) and into manual back curtain mode with a diffuser. Then with a f1.4 lens and lots of creamy high ISO we hit the dance floor:)

We have usually managed a semi reportage style as well as the formal poses, but now the Spring has sprung and the Summer is coming, it was finally time to get more cameras. We have magaed with a mixture of Nikon and Canon semi pro cameras, but needed long range wireless.

We have a lot of bookings for Cricket tournaments, Football seven a sides, and Aquathlon/Biathlon/Triathlon evemts that definitely need two or sometimes three photographers as the action is on multiple pitches or spread over different venues.

The Nikon D-700 was favourite, but then we realised as it was mainly sporting events we were covering the extra range of a crop factor sensor would be a benefit in costs and coverage so added some D300's with 70-300mm VR lenses. This gives us a reach of 480mm, almost the same as the Sigma 150-500mm we use on the full frame cameras.

A sneaky purchase of some 1.4 extenders takes that even higher on all the cameras, in fact the Sigma 150-500mm on the D300 with a 1.4 extender gives us over 1000mm reach, and we still get sharp f8 apertures with 1/500th shutters in reasonable light with no noise!

So now we can field a team of three photographers, all with WT-4 wireless transmitters fitted with www.byteitcornwall.co.uk directional antennas sending back to a highly boosted receiver (cheers matthew)!

All of this is controlled by the excellent Event Pro software running on three viewing stations supplied by Graham Russell at www.emmalexsolutions.com

I will write a separate blog about this amazing software soon, it has made a huge difference to how we work and how our customers choose their photos. Brilliant!

So yes you need more than one photographer if you have multiple areas that need coverage. And no, it need not cost a fortune to kit them out or train them! In fact if there are any photography students out there who fancy a (paid!) summer job and don't mind long hours and travel, get in touch!