Mode Studio

I doubt that any major camera manufacturer will now issue a new, upper end, DSLR without video functionality. The few that were released this past year - the Nikon D700 comes to mind - that did not include HD video capture, were likely clocked by the competition.

So we’re here. Convergence happened. Photographers now have, or will have with their next camera, a still and video package with tremendous capabilities. I’m excited for all of us.

But there is a wee penalty to pay, the learning curve to make the video useful. Good still photographers have spent considerable time, years in most cases, to master their skills. On the post-production side they have learned how to use something from the Photoshop brand, like Photoshop CS4 or Lightroom 2, or Capture One, or Nikon Capture NX 2 - powerful image editing packages, all. Of the lot though, only Photoshop CS4 Extended is capable of handling video.

If you want to learn video in Photoshop CS4 Extended you’ll have to seek out one of the pitifully few, and likely dated, books available on the subject. Or you can come take a special class with me in NJ. But photographers are a singularly maverick breed and most love to self-learn.

Since Photoshop CS4 (or CS3) Extended are the only programs that can really serve as image editors for both still photography and videography, that might be where to plunk your money down. But if you’re not a Photoshop CS4 (or CS3) user already, and swear by Lightroom or one of the other above-mentioned packages, you might consider Apple’s Final Cut Studio. It’s an incredible bit of software, Final Cut, and can be self taught if you’re diligent. The options are vast and impressive and you can integrate with Photoshop to a point.

Premier is also an excellent package and if you’re not on a Mac that’s the direction to go. In which case, buy Adobe’s Production Suite of software which includes both and some other toys as well. It’ll be a cost savings. If you’re in school by all means take advantage of the educational discounts on this software. The discount is HUGE and puts less pressure on you to use the software for hours a day.

Ultimately you’ll have a camera for videography, so get an editor to give you some output choices, and have some fun and create some art with your new found spawn of convergence.

Posted by Steve Weinrebe; Photo from “Irreverent Photo Tools for Digital Photographers” (Cengage, 2009)