In my videos I combine Hi-Def and Low-Def photos that become the montage of still photos. By mixing the two types of photos I am able to use more unique photos that have been taken in a day of shooting and add interest to the clip. A Hi-Def photo takes upward of an hour to create, a Low-Def a couple of minutes. By mixing the two types I am able to create a very significant increase in the number of photos from a day of photography. By being fast and flexible, more usable photos are taken in a photo shoot.

The term Hi-Def is popularly used to speak of the quality of high definition video seen in HDTV, digital TV and digital Movies. With increase computer capacity the large digital file can be used with more information this renders images with greater detail and dynamic range.

So to in my still photography practice, the term Hi-Def can be used for the process and equipment needed to give the highest quality of photos for large format uses such as a two page spread in a magazine. These large file photos have greater clarity, color saturation and greater detail in highlights and shadows. The Hi-Def image starts with state of the art Digital camera, costing tens of thousands of dollars, coupled with a studied process of careful crafting the photos composition, adjusting the styling and adding lighting, finally the photo under goes post-production back in the studio with Photoshop software.

A Low-Def photo is one that might be taken with a point and shoot camera or a moderately prices single lens reflex camera (SLR).
These photos most likely are taken quickly, without any or little additional lighting. These “handheld shots” might have digital file size 10-25 % that of a Hi-Def photo and very little post-production time will be given to these photos. Low-Def photos should not be reproduced greater than 8×10 inches and rarely would these Low-Def photos be reproduced in a magazine. These Low-Def photos however look fine within a video montage and when watched on most computer screens the viewer would not know the difference.

Following are examples of the two types of photos taken this winter near Lake Tahoe. Shooting for interior designer Kathy Geissler Best and architect John Malick the 1 ½ day shoot captured over 60 photos.

I have selected 6 of the Hi-Def photos...

And 6 of the Low-Def...