Meet the Members Mark Bennet
April 2009
ISnAP
Comments from the Chair
Just back from Heli-Expo ‘09 (Helicopter Association International) in Anaheim, California. Many of us among the 17,000 or so in attendance were surprised to note that this year’s show - even in light of the dour economy - was the largest on record by far. Some sixty-plus helicopters were displayed inside the cavernous convention center alongside multiple hundreds of booths, kiosks, and exhibit stands. It was, by any standard, a successful show. I was personally encouraged by the vast number of photographs I saw hanging from every nook and cranny and wall in the place. And I’m particularly pleased to tell you that more than a few of the images were familiar to me. Many ISAP members’ names came to mind as I walked the row after row of exhibits. Included were Greg Davis, Mark Bennett, Claes Axstall, Sheldon Cohen, and Bob Ferguson, to name just a few. But alongside the photos were also many hi-end flat-screen video displays. So many in fact, that I began to realize that for those of us who have concentrated for years on still imagery, the day is coming - and soon - when our skills will have to be broader in spectrum if we’re hoping to stay in the game. As I’m sure all of you are well aware, Canon, Nikon, Sony, and several other major still image camera manufacturers have recently launched new camera bodies that integrate hi-end digital video capability as an integral part of the camera package. These are not just fun-and-games accouterments piggy-backed to the still camera’s standard fare, but rather serious pro-grade capabilities that give this new generation full-up dual personalities. When a hi-resolution full-frame digital sensor is coupled with the hi-quality glass of most contemporary still-photography lenses - and the whole system, in turn, is given video capability - the end product is of such quality that it far outstrips the hi-end dedicated video systems that have been so prominent in the past. Somewhat ironically, some video shooters are now switching to the hi-end digital still cameras in order to get the terrific capability the latter offer. Moral here is that we, as still photographers (as I presume the majority of us to be), need to look to the future and plan accordingly. Videography is whole new breed of cat. It demands skills that are different and peripheral to those we’ve developed as still image photographers, and we need to educate ourselves accordingly. And believe me when I say it’s coming whether we like it or not. Everywhere I looked at Heli-Expo the writing was on the wall - both figuratively and literally. Clients not only want videos of their products in action, they are demanding it - and you and I better be in a position to respond accordingly. Until next issue… Jay