The BMW 328 Hommage

My good friend, the extremely talented director Phil Hodges, recently asked me to shoot a promo video with him for BMW.  Five days in production in full: three out in the desert at Willow Springs Racetrack and at Soggy Bottom Lake Bed and two days in a studio shooting the two amazing BMWs in the video. We were following the photographer Christopher Wilson and his crew as they shot the cars in each location.  It was an interesting experience working around another crew.  We did our best to stay out of their way, but still get the shots we wanted.  Everybody was very accommodating and we all had a great time that week.

We shot most of this video on the Canon 7D and T2i with a bit of the GoPro thrown in for good measure.  It was a challenge trying to use DSLR lenses for doc-style work.  Even at an f11 on an 85mm lens at 16ft away you only have 4.73 feet of focus to carry a moving subject in the frame.  Small pulls are the most difficult on these lenses because of the extremely close barrel markings on the lens.  Luckily the background was usually far away so it was still soft despite being at such a deep stop.

I brought a Genus ND Fader filter for use on our L-series glass out in the desert.  Genus claims up to four stops of ND, but I swear it could do more.  On the darker end of the filter though, the sky took on a yellowy/brownish tint that was definitely not desirable, but that's what you get with relatively cheap polarizers.  Regardless, serious ND is essential on these DSLRs for daytime exteriors.

We shot a ton of daytime exterior footage with the GoPro at 720p60 that didn't make it into the video.  The perspective you get from the 127 degree lens is awesome!  And in slow-motion!  You can rig it almost anywhere easily because of its really small size.  The GoPro leaves a lot to be desired in low light, but outside in the bright sun it looks pretty good. 

All in all, an amazing gig.  I would love to work with BMW again.  And also own one of their awesome cars.  A 328i Wagon.  With an M series sport package.  That's right, I'd totally buy a BMW station wagon.