Neoscape recently had the opportunity to shoot some aerial footage over New York City and this is the spectacular view from the helicopter.

Here at Neoscape we are all into many art forms, from photography, film, music, 3d art and so on – the list is long. We consider ourselves a very flexible team, collaborating and working together no matter what our background is. In most cases a required task would have the in-house experts from that field do what they do best but sometimes they are busy doing something else and some of us have to jump in to the challenge.

Part of what we love about our job is coming up with solutions to our clients challenges within time and budget. In this particular case we needed to shoot live footage of people for an animation and everyone was busy. Erik Altman, our creative director, got his hands dirty shooting everything you see in one day with the help of some of our staff.

Typically we get the lights, green screen and camera ready and from there the real fun begins. We block where the people are going to be in the shot and then scout our employees to “model” for us. We shoot anything and anyone that moves or passes by. This day we shot project coordinators, 3d staff, owners, clients, sales crew and interns – basically everyone in the office (except Holmes) to get this done for the client.

At this point we are seasoned green screen “actors” and know what to do, what to say (not always what to say) and it is always a very fun thing to do. Doing this kind of work and participating in every aspect of it is very rewarding to all of us and that is why we keep doing it. And yes…we keep having fun – even at our own expense.

With my son Cayden’s first birthday party quickly approaching, I had to make a decision to fish or cut bait. The deck design was in my head (and of course in 3d Studio Max) by this point, but based on other home improvement jobs with which I’ve been involved, I wasn’t sure what kind of problems I would run into and how long the project would ultimately take. Having spent three years of my life as a carpenter, I felt pretty confident that I could make it work in time. I decided to go for it. I ordered the lumber and took a personal day to get a jump start before the weekend. The weather was perfect for all three days so I could work continuously. It also helped with the time-lapse video.

Did I mention I was a carpenter? That was more than 10 years ago. My knees, hands, back, neck, arms, you name it were so sore after Day 1 that I didn’t think I’d be able to keep going. Although mentally draining, building architecture in 3d is definitely easier on the body.

A few weeks back I took a weekend trip to New York City. I used the trip as an escape from a few things that were going on in my life that I really just wanted and needed a break from. Now I know what you are thinking, New York is such a basic and simple trip, its not that big of a deal. While you may be right in your own thinking, I believe that you can simply get lost anywhere you’d like if you truly want to.

The only set plan was my trains back and forth from Boston, and staying at the Neoscape apartment. Other than that I was going there to experience total surprise. I essentially wanted to get lost in what I was going to do. It was a tough thing to actually perform and act out as like most people I am always on a set time, a true creature of habit. It was not the fact that I was going to a different place because I have been there numerous times, maybe it was the circumstances that surrounded it but it all felt different.

I walked around the city for three days straight, eating in random restaurants, seeing sights that I have seen numerous times while meeting and seeing people who were amazing to be around. I knew their whole life story within hours of meeting them, great people that I hope to run into again someday.

It was fun, different, and some would even say pointless (Altman). However it did show me that you can simply forget about any simple troubles you have in life and just check out some place that you don’t see everyday and learn how much we take for granted. As an artist I tend to forget, like most artists do, our minds are machines that sometimes do need to rest and stop for a bit.

I have already planned a trip during the summer to Montana to see an old friend, and I plan to use it the same way: as an escape. Not a vacation where most people think of what they are going to buy, the endless party nights, or the waiters bringing their booze to them on a beach. The type of trip where you don’t care what you see, the people you meet, or even the food you eat.

The world is full of amazing and new things that aren’t on internet recommendation lists or being reviewed by bloggers, go out there and find them. Experience your own Holden Caulfield moment and just go, escape your everyday life and go. Don’t plan too much, don’t think too hard and don’t make it into a big deal…buy the ticket and take the ride.

Once it’s over we’ll be back to our usual selves!

I’ve had a fascinating love affair with the iPhone 4 since I first got my hands on it last July. Yes I love the way it feels to the touch, it’s multitasking abilities, and its sweetly enhanced display that makes everything on the screen look so rich and magical. But by far my favorite new feature is the ability to shoot HD video, along with the many enhancements to it’s photo taking capabilities. For me the ability to capture something interesting on video or still at a moments notice is somewhat therapeutic, if not a tell-tale sign of severe ADD. It’s a way to lose myself, even if for a moment, in the little moments that make up the noise of daily life.

Recently I’ve taken to this therapeutic endeavor as a way to escape the doldrums of winter – and what a winter it’s been here in New England. We’ve had a major storm at least once a week since the year started, and while at first snow blankets the landscape with a beautiful white uniform, by the third or sixth blizzard it can begin having an adverse effect. Everyone becomes just a bit more touchy with every new flake that falls when there’s no room to navigate the narrow streets, or a walk to the corner store becomes a treacherous and even dangerous undertaking.

This climate-induced psychological transformation was the inspiration for the trilogy of video sketches titled “Snow Days”. Shot entirely on the iPhone using a cool kit of inexpensive lens attachments, and edited by acclaimed music video director Vassili Shields, this collection of shorts will leave you longing for spring.