Killing the Boring Head Shot...

I'm not a Luminary, but Giulio Sciorio is and his animated portraits put a smile on my face every time. You're looking at a still image and all of a sudden it just moves. While it catches you off guard, it also stays in your memory.

When Giulio did his first guest post here in Luminary Corner, I loved the example he gave of how he animates an image. The concept became even easier to do with any one of several LUMIX cameras. (We all have our favorites!) 

As Giulio wrote: "Shooting with a camera that is designed for both still and motion I can finally shoot video with the heart and soul of a still photograph. I’m not making movies remember, I’m simply shooting a few clips of video with each setup. Using a hybrid camera like the GH3/GH4 that has a true live view of exposure and focus (other mirrorless cameras simulate the live view) I don’t have to guess what the photo/video is going to look like."

We all see head shots every day. In fact, it could well be one of the most recognized portrait styles in all of photography and it certainly tops the charts in business. Every realtor, bank executive, store manager, employee of the month etc. all have a head shot displayed somewhere and today, virtually all of them have something on the Internet.

Recently, working together with Photodex, we launched the Ultimate Story - Video Contest. An event to recognize some of the most talented storytellers in our industry and their use of still images and video.

If you're questioning the impact of an animated head shot, check out the section of the Photodex contest site. Just click the Meet the Judges image below and scroll down to the judges section.

...and if you're into storytelling and combining still images and video, check out the contest. The grand prize includes Panasonic's GH3 with a 20 mm lens - the perfect tool to help you add animation to your skill set!