PDA

View Full Version : Is the Noodler's Ahab the Jean-Claude Van Damme of fountain pens?



InkFan
January 3rd, 2014, 09:22 PM
...Check out my 11th hour second video entry for the Noodler's Ink Contest 2013 and judge for yourself :)

Perhaps you have a flex pen that wishes to challenge? Videos / photos welcome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yU1CTg6rXY

Since making the "Ink Dragon Attacks" clip, I've wanted to have another go at some pen macro videography, which I had a chance to experiment with while making this second clip. Keeping the Ahab's nib (sort of) in focus while flexing and in motion was a real challenge!

All video was shot with my Nikon D5000, the kit 18-55 mm lens, and my latest acquisition, a set of Kenko extension tubes. The D5000 is definitely more challenging to shoot video with than the Canon 5D mark ii, as the D5000 has no manual video controls, so you have to work by adjusting light levels, hitting the AE-L button to lock the exposure, and then adjusting light again for the desired look. Of course it was never really intended for in-depth video work.

BTW, my first contest entry, which also included some ink macro videography, can be seen here:

http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/4715-What-if-an-ink-came-to-life

Wishing all the members of the FPGeeks community a very happy 2014! :) :)

Cheers,

Inkfan aka NoodlersFan

PSmith
January 4th, 2014, 04:58 PM
Two very impressive videos. Both combine an original approach with outstanding technical execution.
I personally prefer "Ink Dragon Attacks", but "The Hand" would make an excellent promotional video.

Well done.

InkFan
January 4th, 2014, 07:28 PM
Thanks, PSmith. I'm also a fan of the more whimsical approach of the first video. I decided to take a contrasting, more direct approach with the second video in case whimsical isn't what Noodler's is looking for with this contest. Both were a ton of fun to figure out and film :)

Of course, both were story boarded with fountain pens :)

Still hoping to see some pics / video of awesome flex in action - I've never tried a gold flex nib and I've read that those can be quite flexy....

Jon Szanto
January 4th, 2014, 08:05 PM
Still hoping to see some pics / video of awesome flex in action - I've never tried a gold flex nib and I've read that those can be quite flexy....

I think you might enjoy this (http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/4099-Just-for-the-sheer-joy-of-it) a bit. :)

Waski_the_Squirrel
January 4th, 2014, 08:11 PM
FYI: Mr. Tardiff planned to judge the winner purely on view count.

Of course, I'm only up to 55 views on mine...

InkFan
January 4th, 2014, 08:50 PM
Hey Waski_the_Squirrel - I'm a fan of Sci-Fi and I enjoyed the back story and detail you depicted in your clip / illustration. I really like the extreme foreshortening of the shadow.

Yes, view count is a key factor, but reading the contest description, there is also a subjective aspect to the contest: "...if you have the largest view count of the entries by March 10, 2014 and your video was favorable to the Noodler’s brand..."

What I guess this means is: Could we take your video, put it on our website, and have it represent the Noodler's brand and stimulate interest in -> sales of our pens and inks?

...so I guess entrants will have to wait until March and see how that quality is assessed in the entries.

Until then, it's fun to speculate :)

AndyT
January 5th, 2014, 11:26 AM
Still hoping to see some pics / video of awesome flex in action - I've never tried a gold flex nib and I've read that those can be quite flexy....

You might enjoy Brian Sizemore's channel on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/vintageflex). :)

InkFan
January 5th, 2014, 02:09 PM
Wow! That is quite the collection of flex pens and videos! Looking forward to checking these out. Thanks for the tip.