So while I was cleaning my room, I was looking through some old folders on my hard disk and found some old LOTC songs that we recorded back in college. And as I was listening to one, I realized it actually matched what’s been going on in my life, and how I’ve been feeling so I quickly recorded an acoustic version of it to share w/ y’all. Scroll to the bottom of the post to give it a good listen.
|
Anyway, so I decided to try to record it on my new Canon 7d, but with now flip around LCD, it’s super hard to focus on yourself. I ended up throwing on my super cheap 18-55 f/3.5 - 5.6 lens, just ’cause I needed a wide angle shot to fit in the frame. I really think I’m gonna spring for that f/2.8 lens though…
|
I didn’t even play through the song before recording it so there’s definitely a couple of points where i was guessing and hoping I’d play the right chord… afterall, I haven’t played the song since 2005!
|
Anyway, check out the make-shift tripod i set up on my desk:
|
|
Note that I used my floor samples (to outfit the theoretical basement in my theoretical house) in addition to a computer game (Quake Wars if you must know) and my postsecret books.
|
Anyway, here’s the video and the song. Click on the link to the youtube page to hit up the lyrics.
Still enjoying my camera. I really need a new lens. Like this one:
I have a big check coming from my band, so whoooo knows….! Anyway, all I did was carry my cam around with me all weekend last weekend. Spent friday evening editing it. I actually had more footage than music to go along with it for once!
|
Take note of Anne’s amazing tomato slicing job. Amazing I say. I added some bleach bypass color correction in After Effects and added a very light vignette. Music is by Todd Wright, he’s releasing one song a week until he turns 40 in a project called 40×40. Check it out here: http://www.orangepopsongs.com/
Well, after several months of only writing a little bit, I’ve finally started writing regularly again. So, I’m going to finish a few songs, and compile them into an album and release it for free on the ‘net. I think I’m gonna go with a Sketchbook concept… speaking of concepts, this first EP that I release might actually have a cohesive theme / story / concept. |
Also, I got a new camera. I shot a lot of footage last weekend, hopefully I’ll find time to edit it all together. Meanwhile, here’s the first test video I did with it: |
Nice day + new backyard = me outside w/ harry and my camera. I haven’t used it in a while like this, I’m still getting the hang of focusing. Perhaps next time i’ll take my tripod out, and actually set up shots. That’s a novel idea.
I’m digging through some old family home videos, putting them on my computer and searching out some of my old piano recitals so I can put together a clip that tracks my progress on piano throughout the years. Anyway, I came across this clip of the GMHS JV Show from 1999. It’s me on keyboards accompanying Sara & Petrea on “When You Believe” from the Prince of Egypt. I uploaded it figuring there’d be more people out there on facebook that would get a kick out of seeing it again. Most of you who read this blog couldn’t care less probably… haha.
At this time, I was 16 years old. Junior year of HS.
Well, I finished my demo, and have since uploaded it to the internet. I was working on my website to showcase the demo when I accidentally overwrote www.ben-powell.net so you can check it out there.
BenPowellMedia.com hasn’t come through yet, so if there’s anything you think I should change, I still can! Let me know!
If you’re too lazy to go there, you can see the demo on vimeo here:
So another indoor test with the Jag… yes, this was before I dropped my camera. There was no extra lighting other than what was naturally in the kitchen. What’s interesting is the different color temperatures of the lights from the stove side to the sink side of the kitchen.
Anyway, I’m definitely lucky to have a Mom that cooks so well.
PS, don’t you love my crappy music editing? I should have just faded it out… haha, oh well.
