Peter Lik...

[James Brundige]

I've listened to Peter talk about what he is doing and why... very thoughtful stuff. I am impressed at the lengths he goes to to get what he envisions. He grades like Fincher. He is one of the few that won't give up his Light-Jet because it is still the best printer on the planet. Plus he is delightfully quirky and almost has as many personality disorders as I do. That's saying' something.

Jim

I stand corrected; no HDRx. I guess that evening light was nice and even, but the grade has played with the shadows seriously. Any hints? And what is grading like Fincher?

 

[Jeffr Walters]

Alright. I thought about this, but now I feel even more sure.

I feel this was shot by a Scarlet. I don't disagree Peter owns an Epic, but why bring Jim...? I feel Jim came to let him use the beautiful Scarlet to get this footage. Why post a handwritten note next to the Nov. 3rd announcement? Why have a 10' print of this at the Scarlet event?

There could be many reasons, but I feel we have just witnessed Scarlet test footage.

Anyone else feel this?

The same thought occurred to me too - wouldn't be surprised. We'll find out on Nov. 3rd.

 

[Tony Warrilow]

No I reckon an Epic. As stated

"Peter Lik shoots landscapes. Peter, Mick (his right hand) and I rented a room at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas with a balcony to try EPIC's hand at a "highly detailed shot". Stitching is a part of the landscape world, so this shot is stitched and graded just like a movie would be."

THat would be pretty misleading.

 

[Evan Starkey]

[Side note: Evan… being an educator.... and with ADD being on the rise it must be an increasing challenge to get “kids” to really pay attention these day? Getting people to see beyond the superficial and obvious must cause endless frustration I would imagine…]

im in the arts so more a mad experience / education where whats happening here is a fantastic topic and exciting to think that this technology could be in our grubby little hands. to give you an idea of scale we build our own crains out of school tables and crude motion control rigs from car windscreen wiper motors so no ADD never a dull moment.

Cheers

Ev

 

[Eric Lange]

im in the arts so more a mad experience / education where whats happening here is a fantastic topic and exciting to think that this technology could be in our grubby little hands. to give you an idea of scale we build our own crains out of school tables and crude motion control rigs from car windscreen wiper motors so no ADD never a dull moment.

Cheers

Ev

Evan,

After poking around a little bit I see that some of the real life things you do are extremely worthwhile. (That's an understatement!). Although my old man pretty much almost forbade us (me and my brother) to go into the film business, he always tried to hire new and up and coming young talent. He was always about what you could do, your portfolio and what you could potentially achieve, but was never about WHO you knew.

The fact that you foster such young talent and give them real inspiration to know that they can do just about anything (if they put their mind to it) is probably the most important and valuable thing that anyone can give (genuinely). Even though you can “Hacket” together a good crane from ”Obtanium” it’s SOOOOO important to have young talent working with the BEST tools you can possibly put in their (as you say) “grubby little hands”. In other words it’s a precious “ember” that has to be carefully started and then from there we can start a raging fire… (in terms of talent and of course super awesome AND accessible RED tools, that will have your “young ones” blazing a trail. It all starts with a spark and then an ember…

I think ultimately we have waaaaay to much to talk about and in common, (looking forward to such a opportunity to do that)…, I think that my thinking may still be a little wonky regarding a rather extreme and fanciful if not somewhat sarcastic camera reference…; maybe I go back and re-trace some steps…


Nice One (again!)

Eric


I wonder how many people Scarlet has killed allready?

 

[Chris Gustafson]

The same thought occurred to me too - wouldn't be surprised. We'll find out on Nov. 3rd.

And me as well..... That said... If Scarlet is really producing that image.... pretty much all my questions are answered, and "sign me up"... Nov, 3.5 my deposit is down Specially if thats the "fixed lens".... "Oh good night !

 

[Pierce Cook]

The point is that you can use an EPIC to make images that exceed a Phase One back. Or you can shoot The Hobbit. Or you can shoot an Indie film. And you can afford to own one. Plus we will be here for you.

It is not much more complicated than that.

Jim

This.

 

[Samuel Haskell]

BTW... we shot several lenses, including Canon. The 50mm RPP was by far and away the best. That was the lens used in this shot.

Jim

amazing...DSMC and all of RED technology is so innovative and magnificent

 

[Jeff Lower]

I visited two of Peter's galleries in Vegas this year, and his stuff is amazing. Most of his work seems to be displayed rather large, and I'd love to see this one at a similar size. Absolutely amazing shot.

 

[Evan Starkey]

Nice One (again!)

Eric

lost for words imagine that..... Thanks man

Ev

 

[Eric Lange]

Breakfast at Eric’s.

‘You know I’m just not seeing the build quality that everyone keeps talking about…pass the salt please!”

 

[Evan Starkey]

I have heard of canons back firing lol

Nice one

 

[Eric Lange]

If I myself were an enthusiastic billionaire (or move the slider anywhere between enthusiastic to megalomaniac)… I would like to completely re-think the Hassleblad idea. Victor Hasselblad originally got the idea from a captured German Aerial survey camera during WWII that he was ordered to reverse engineer and improve. I think today Hassleblad lost the plot with a lot of rubbery and plasticky looking elements that make the camera look like a design hang over from the late eighties. If I was in control of the universe I would revise the Hasselblad design to a sort of “Hassleblad-X” that would have very pure and clean lines and space grade finishes. The concept being that the lenses and body are very clean cut metal but with a modern look. I.e. getting back to the original idea of Hasselblad that folks originally appreciated. I think they, (Hassy) really lost the plot.

The EPIC is a different idea design wise but to my eye seems very cinematic… (that’s what we all adjust and become familiar with now).

With Leica especially with their digital rangefinders what people are buying into is perceived quality. The lenses are almost too good but are very much more expensive than they are good, but the camera bodies are NOT on the inside what people imagine them to be. It’s not the Swiss watch on the inside, instead crude cottage craft production techniques (almost); the bodies don’t match the engineering and precision of the lenses (no-where close). [If you don’t believe me grab a screw driver and start taking your Leica apart!..he, he].

It’s interesting to think what is a camera these days? Especially as so much functionality is from the sensor or camera back and associated electronics (particularly for Medium Format). [obviously some one will post “RED DSMC” in answer to that (somewhat rhetorical) question.

If you don’t need the prism, mirror box, shutter mechanism etc etc. then like a lot of higher end pro systems the Camera becomes a “plate” i.e. it’s not even a box anymore.. (i.e. the literal meaning of the word camera box/chamber). A Camera is in some cases just an interface between sensor and lens.

The medium Format manufacturers are going to ever higher MP and larger sensor sizes. My fear is that they disappear up the mountain and discover when they get there that there is not much room at the peak and there is no helicopter that is going to rescue them if they all get stuck up there. There are many real world applications that REALLY require a large piece of silicon but I am fearful that one or two of the MF manufacturer’s (not all) may become unnecessarily rarefied and therefore unwittingly become extinct. There are Many advantages for a large sensor even at lower MP even at the 21MP mark (but generally I am thinking from 30-60MP), but for some reason MF manufacturer’s don’t see the merit in implementing more innovative camera designs that could function superbly and really get in the swim slightly lower down or laterally in the “market space”. Price is one thing but actual value is another thing all together, and I think that’s what people are really looking for.

Issues of sensitivity are another dimension too of course.

I like my pixels* and silicon BIG!!!

But I like the fact that RED really has absolutely pushed the capabilities and frontiers of what a smaller sensor can really achieve, (in photographic terms). Year on year the MF guys are getting nibbled and gnawed away on several different fronts. I’ll be honest I don’t want to see these types of systems and devices disappear as they are (for certain applications VERY useful indeed).

Cheers

Eric

*"photo sites".

 

[Eric Lange]

I have heard of canons back firing lol

Nice one

That's a good one... (excellent quip..)

 

[Jon Chema]

Good luck with that.... =)

I was talking about posting the Raw, as in unprocessed image...not the actual RAW file

 

[Jannard]

Nothing will ever get posted other than what we have... Peter isn't into sharing.

Jim

I was talking about posting the Raw, as in unprocessed image...not the actual RAW file

 

[Jon Chema]

Nothing will ever get posted other than what we have... Peter isn't into sharing.

Jim

What a shame I love the image and the grade- I'm just curious to see the unprocessed version. I'm sure everyone else would agree as well. The motion that this camera captures is already stunning- as a photographer as well I'm really looking into how it handles stills.

 

[Detlev Eller]

... as an artist, it is also wise to keep some secrets ...

Nothing will ever get posted other than what we have... Peter isn't into sharing.

Jim

What a shame ...

... hmm. sharing high quality end result like the one in this thread, should be applauded ...
as it provides inspiration for our own testing ...

Thank you guys!

... although that move alone, may be risky for an artists unique market position ...
copy cats, everywhere.


Guess its also the nature of creativity. inspire and be inspired. delicate balance act.

 

[Antony M]

I can't tell what Peter used but I've had great luck with Photishop CS5's Photomerge featue.

I agree. A big improvement even over CS4.

I use it regularly.

 

[Marc Fisher]

This turned out to be an expensive thread - my wife has ordered a couple of Peter Lik's works. We knew of him, but had no idea how talented he was.
I was sceptical at first, but from what I have read/watched and seen in the past few days, there are no flies on Peter.
His endorsement of the Epic is about as high as it gets from a stills guy. If you haven't checked-out his work. I strongly recommend you do.
I wasn't a big fan of the grade on the image posted, but its very much in keeping with his style and in that context it really is awesome.

Marc

ps: My request for a link to the original was very naive with hindsight. If it remains one of a kind, that image is priceless.