Martin Tiller's Blog

Posted by Martin:

I've been on vacation the last couple of days, we went down to Nags Head for a few days.  But before that I bought my first macro-lens.  The EF 50 mm f/2.5 compact-macro from Canon.

Although this was the first time I have ever tried a macro lens, macro photography was a little harder than I thought.  A lot of the pics I took were slightly out of focus.  I read that macro photography does best on a tripod.  I can see why that might be.  But still I got some interesting and cool shots out of it already.

Posted by Martin:

The Good German:

Grade A+

DVD:
Video:A
Audio:B
Extras:None

Some movies are referred to homages, homages to different people, director's, genres or styles.  Some have called The Good German an homage to 1940's Film Noir.  This is incorrect.  The Good German is a Temple, a Synagogue, a Church dedicated to the glorious style of 1940's film noir.

Steven Soderbergh directed this great film.  This is another testament to his skill and flexibility as a filmmaker.  The same guy that has made the three Ocean films can also make this stylish and moody thriller.

The movie is set at the end of WWII when the Allies were dividing up Germany.  America was on the verge of trying not just the higher ups in the Nazi party, but just about all Germans who didn't try to stop Hitler.  That's a pretty tall order, but it seems America could pull it off, so there was a black market created to help people get out of Germany.

Cate Blanchette plays Lena Brandt, the wife of an important Nazi scientist, the boyfriend of Toby Maguire, and the Old Flame of George Cloony, she is a very busy character.

For some reason the Americans are looking for Lena's husband, but she says he is dead, that he died in a bombing.  There in lies the mystery, why is her dead husband still being looked for, and why is Lena in such a hurry to leave Germany?

This is a rare movie, if you consider yourself to be a film buff, then this must be in your DVD player soon.

The DVD

In regards to the DVD, this is a very simple release, the movie and nothing more.  This is a shame.  An interview with the stars and the director would have been enjoyable, but alas there is nothing.

As a side note, the movie is in 1.37:1 format, just like a movie from the '40s.  So adjust your TV accordingly.

Posted by Martin:

After Effects Links:
A new white page on Color Management in After Effects.

Lightroom Links:
Jack Nack at Adobe has some updated Podcasts.

Photography Links:
Shoot better NOT more says Fololia founder. (Easier said than done I must say...)

Photography contest sponsored by Canon. Thanks to Photography Contest for the Heads up! You can win some serious Canon gear with this one!

A GREAT post over at photopreneaur about how to get your photography busine...

Blu-Ray/HD-DVD Links:
Bill Hunt again explains his support of Blu-Ray. His thinking has a lot of influence on my own thinking about Blu-Ray. And NO he is not receiving payment from Sony!

Editing Links:
Shane Ross over at Little Frog in High Def has a great review post of Encyc...

Posted by Martin:

Hello! First and Foremost my name is NOT Martin McTiller, but Martin Tiller. Something got written down wrong in the sign up phase. Although admittedly there is some Scottish/Irish from my mother's side. Tiller is Welsh, Ibelieve.

I already have a Martin:

MCT Images LLC is my digital video and photography company, located in Richmond, Virginia. MCT Images is mostly me, but I also use other freelancers on various projects as the need arises.

Through MCT Images I shoot weddings and other events. For photography I do micro stock and sell prints in my Ebay store, where most of my prints are set up to support a cause that I like. Mostly the Nature Conservancy, Habitat for Humanity, and The Baltimore Aquarium.

MCT Images is currently a side business. I teach first grade during the day, where I also use photography and video on a regular basis as well.

Tim Wilson told me to cut and paste from other blog. Well that is a lot of work, and how can you see my lovely ads if just stay here!

I will try to post at least once a week here, probably a best of from my main blog!

So leave a comment, check out my blog, and hope you come back.