The later part of 2011 could see ‘real estate video’ surpass ‘real estate photography’ in its one area of weakness. That of Dynamic range. The technology isn’t available to ‘commercialize’ for property just yet – the operative term being ‘yet’.
What we’re talking about here is HDR. It stands for High Dynamic Range – the ability to grade interior and exterior exposures – and blend these layers (or shots) together. (See samples here)
It has been doable in still photography for some years. These days, most still photography suppliers use some form of HDR in their post processing. Video however, is another thing altogether. The closest video suppliers have come is in matte work; shooting interior and exterior exposures and blending the layers together.
Early trials have been encouraging, albeit time-consuming, both on location and in post. There’s also a few motorized ‘sliders’ at out there that can do two ‘passes’ on video – or time-lapse sequences shot in RAW that can be manipulated in programs like Lightroom.
HDR Video Demonstration Using Two Canon 5D mark II’s
HDR Video Demonstration Using Two Canon 5D mark II’s from Soviet Montage on Vimeo.
The problem we are all wrestling with at the moment is time and hardware v $ – to fit the highly competitive real estate business model in Australia. The RED digital cinema camera will deliver an HDRx mode but the price point and time-consuming set-up complexity of these cameras would have to see a marked increase in the price point of high-end real estate videos to be viable.
Perhaps, as high-quality online video takes its rightful place alongside professional high-end photography as a ‘MUST HAVE’ component of every campaign, we’ll see bigger production budgets.
This will allow for the critical time needed on location and in the post suites. The spend on video maybe increased by some dollars being diverted from print to online. In this case, you’ll see the big suppliers going at an option like RED, like a red rag to a bull.
Equally, this HDR capacity will be included in the next release of HDSLR cameras, like the much anticipated Canon 5DMIII. Rumors point to this camera being able to record 5k video to an external recorder.
As for 3D, we can see a day when properties will be presented online and in-room in 3D – and shot in HDR. For 3D-HDR, the future is bright.
Let’s just hope we don’t have to wear shades to see it.
Guest Author: Brett Clements from Platinum HD