If you haven’t met the Canon DSLR’s that shoots extremely amazing video.  Here is my test from the Canon 7d I just bought.  I used a canon 50mm 1.8 lens for all of the shots and frame rate was 30fps and the slo mo 60fps.  I converted the footage from H.264 to apple pro res to edit in final cut, little color correction was added.   I’m extremely excited about working on other projects with this camera and already working on a workflow for audio and different rigs to use with this.

Music Provided by Chris Hawkes. Download a free album here.

Canon 7d Test from Jeff Arnold on Vimeo.

       Meet our good friends The Boyds.  Jacob is one of the smartest guys I know who questions everything in order to know why. Amanda is a talented artist who uses whatever media fits the art she is making from pencil and paper to motion graphics to wood carving.  Good thing for us they are also our neighbors so we get to spend alot of time with them.  These pictures are from the crazy day it decided to snow 8 inches in Dallas Texas.  Check out their blog and get to know them.

This weekend I was out at pinecove in Tyler, Texas playing guitar for Cody Kimmel. If you have never been to Tyler it is filled with beautiful pine trees and truly a beautiful place. This morning I decided to take the camera out for a walk. My default lens for nature is typical the 18-200mm lens so I can move fast and cover alot of ground. So I started out with that and got some pretty good shots of the sun coming up and lighting dew on the picnic tables.  Then I had a little breakfast and was going to go take a nap. But something inside of me said ” no you need to get back out there and switch to the 50mm”. So I did, and the next 30 minutes where wonderful.  The Beauty of the 50mm is that  it’s lightweight and you have to move to find the shot you want. No zooming and being lazy with this little guy. I saw roads and trees in ways I might have overlook with a zoom. I think I am going to depend on this little guy alot more.  Below are the images taken with the 50mm.

If you have yet to begin your journey into finding that perfect cup of espresso.  The people over at Department of the 4th Dimension went to Venice Califonia to make a little film about the Espresso making process.  I’m always looking for new places in dallas to sit and enjoy a fine cup of espresso.  Recently I stumbled upon the Murray street coffee house in Deep Ellum.  What’s your favorite place?

Espresso, Intelligentsia from Department of the 4th Dimension on Vimeo.

 So I’ve been searching for my capo over the last couple of days and it is no where to be found. {Side Note for non musicians a Capo is a device used for shortening the strings, and hence raising the pitch, of a stringed instrument such as a guitar, mandolin or banjo. From Wiki.}  As a guitar player and creator I get distractepretty easy, yes like the dog in up. SQUIRREL.  Well in the process of trying to find my capo I saw my guitar in the corner of the room and the rest is the song below. Just for fun. NOT A POLISHED PIECE

Ode to the Capo

My favorite line is “did you run off with that mouse”

I’ve learned inspiration is a funny thing and can come from anywhere at anytime. Most of the time for me it comes from watching a beautiful film, listening to new and creative music, having a great conversation, or even from the muse that visits me in the shower. All in all I’ve been learning that you can’t plan it, but you can create environments that welcome it. Either by going out for a walk in the fresh air, trying out a new instrument or pedal, or creating an environment that inspires. The most important thing I’ve learned is to capture the moment when it comes no matter where you are. So, carry a journal or camera with you at all times awaiting the next moment of inspiration. What inspires you?