Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Ben Howard music videos (Chosen Video)



Ben Howard's 'The Wolves' is a conceptual and performance  based video, unlike 'Keep your head up' and 'Old Pine', this is the only video to use performance. Ben Howard keeps with the idea to follow a character through the videos, they represent a persons journey through the locations. Ben Howard has used a very dark lighting on this video, this is very effective as it portrays the mood of the lyrics. The dark lighting is not used throughout the video, there is a contrast between outside shots, where it is very light, and then goes back to dark lighting.
In both 'Old Pine' and 'The Wolves' Ben Howard frequently uses a low angle shot to show the characters either walking towards the camera or walking away, also it always seems to be out of focus which makes the angle even more interesting. As this is a shot that is frequently used I would quite like to recreate this angle in my own video, not only because it has been used in many videos but also I think it adds a variety of shots so that the audience does not become bored.
Another effect that Ben Howard seems to use quite a lot, is whereby the sunlight is caught on the camera, in the 'Wolves' this seems to be whenever Ben is playing his guitar solo outside, again I think this represents the mood of the lyrics. Lastly the depth of field used throughout the video is extremely effective, it captures not only the characters but also the locations and emphasises the mood of the song. There is a variety of depth of field shots used in the video, in some scenes the shots are completely out of focus, this is very interesting as you can still see Ben Howard through his journey, but it adds a mood to the song.
At the beginning of the video the low angle camera shot is used to video the musicians walking along the path, this is very effective as it gives the audience an idea that the video maybe performance based, then the next shot is of Ben Howard playing his guitar. Although the video includes performance based shots, it also has conceptual based whereby Ben Howard is walking through different sceneries, again this links back to 'Old Pine' as they both do this. I think they use this idea so that they can capture the journey of the lyrics and so that the audience can try and relate to the music. When the song tempo picks up so does the movement of the shots, this is shown through the shot of the trees, it seems as though a handheld camera used, this is very effective as it reflects the simplicity of the video. Extreme close ups are used frequently through out the video, especially when Ben Howard is playing his guitar, I think this is used to emphasise the performance side of the video. Also I think that this angle is used to portray that Ben Howard is not like the usual artists, although this song is about a break up he has not shot any scenes that would represent this. Another example of an extreme close up is when they are in the car and capture the wheels, this is a very unusual shot, but it is something that I would like to try and recreate in my own video. This is the video that I am thinking of using, as I think there is a lot of ideas to work with.

Ben Howard 'The Wolves' lyric analysis


Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Basic Storyboard planning for 'Old Pine'




Initial idea

If I were to use Ben Howard's 'Old Pine', instead of using a friendship throughout the video, I am going to create a story whereby a man and a women do not know each other, it will  film the story of them leading separate lives, then one day they cross eyes with ideas each other and from then are drawn to each other. The idea of the video will be that it is all based on one day. I will use many different locations such as, houses, town centers and parks. My video will be conceptual and narrative based, this will allow me to be far broader with my settings and storyline. The two characters will be casually dressed throughout, this will relate back to the original video by keeping it very simple.

Lyric Analysis

Ben Howard Target audience

Ben Howard Fact File

Shots I like

This shot is one of my favorite throughout the whole music video. Although it may not be very clear from the image, the clip has been fast forwarded so that it shows the development of time in the sky. I think this is very cleverly created especially in this video as the song represents a friendship that through time has become stronger, using a fast forward edit it reflects this. I also really like this idea as it would give the audience a variety of shots to look at, also it shows how creative Ben has been with the timings of his video.

Shots I like

In this Video of Ben Howard he uses nature a lot to capture a mood, this image represents this. I would like to try and do something like this as it has a very good depth of field, the green leaves are the main attraction of the image and they are so bright and in focus. As you move further back in the image you can see the woods behind, this is very good in showing the contrast in the colors and also the different focusing on the camera. The sun is very well highlighted in this image, it helps to portray the happy theme of friendship in this video. As I am thinking about filming some of my own music video in the woods I would to try and capture an image like this.

Shots I like

I really like this shot, not only because of the angle but also because of the effect that has been used. The low angle shot is very effective as it captures the depth of Ben in the background, however the road that has been pictured helps to represent that soon he may becoming into the shot. The angle is also quite unusual and that's why I think it would be good to use, as it would give the audience a variety of shots to look at, rather than continuously having the same angles and heights. I have given a lot of thought as to whether I am going to use effects in my shots such as black and white and sepia, after watching this video I have decided to. The effect used in this video is sepia, I think this is so effective in capturing the calm mood that Ben is trying to create.

shots that I like

This is a screen shot taken from Ben Howard's music video 'Old Pine'. I really like this shot because it has a good depth of field, again this emphasises the theme of nature. In my own music video this is something that I would like to construct as it gives the audience a variety of shots to look at, the fact that this is a close up also shows the conceptual nature theme that runs throughout. When the video is playing  it also captures the nature blowing in the wind, this is really effective as it represents the calm and peaceful mood of the video. As I am choosing to do this song I would like to use something like this.

Shots that I like

This shot is something that I would also like to create during my own music video. I think that it is a very  effective way of editing a shot, it adds more to the composition. Although sun light is something that is not usually want to be captured on a music video, this is very appropriate to this as it adds to mood. As the majority of Ben Howard's videos are conceptual based and generally tend to follow an outside journey, this fits into the style that he likes. The reason why I have chosen to try and construct this shot in my video is because helps to capture the scenery it also further emphasises the mood.

Ben Howard 'Old Pine'



Ben Howard is the music artist that I am predominately focusing on, I particularly like Ben Howard's 'Old Pine'. The video is a conceptual based in which Ben is filmed in the countryside and also by the seaside where it follows his journey. I really like the use of the scenery throughout this video, this is something that I would also like to do in my own video. The use of the scenery represents dominance throughout, this is then further emphasised through the use of low angle shots. By using this technique it portrays to the audience how dangerous the filming is. At the beginning of the video there is no lyrics, this time was used very effectively to capture the scenery, also this time enables the audience to feel the tone and mood of the music; which is constructed to be very calm and tranquil. The ocean shot at the beginning of the video represents the mood very well as although the sea is moving it still represents that its calm  and there are no violent waves.
Another reason why I really like this video and have taken ideas from it because of the costume. Ben wears a casual jeans and hoody, again this construes the mood very well, as if he was wearing a suit this would completely contrast with the settings. In the video there are two points whereby they have used a low angle shot to capture the sky, then when they have edited this they have fast forwarded so that it captures the time differences in the sky. I think this effect is really interesting, so I am going to try and construct this in my video, this will also involve me doing some research on the internet of how to use this effect. There are many things that I would like to take from this video, another point is the effect that Ben has put on the shot when he is lip syncing to the camera, it is a sepia effect but is really effective as it has captured the reflections from the sun, which also add to the mood of the video.
Ben has used many camera angles throughout the video, another example of one would be the close up that is frequently used of the sun, again this represents to the audience the power and dominance of it, also the frequent use of this shot reminds the audience that this is a calm yet happy video.