FE 20mm F1.8 G | Capture brilliant cinematic shots | Review by Kyung6film
Kyungsik's journey into videography began from his love of dance. He is a ballet major and was a professional ballerino at the Korean National Ballet. There, he began taking photos of dancers as a hobby, then videos - and before long, Kyungsik found his true calling - and career - as a videographer.
Creative inspirations, equipment selection
I believe that inspiration is all around us - and it's up to us to put ourselves in these situations, then recognise these moments of inspiration, as often as possible. That's why I always have my Sony Alpha 7C and FE 20mm F1.8 G prime lens with me - to capture these moments, when they happen.
The beauty of nature, captured through a prime lens
One area that always inspires me, is nature. The vast expanses, rough edges, always-changing environments and beautiful scenery, all seem to be telling stories. These are the charms - and creative challenges - of filming nature-related videos.
And with the FE 20mm F1.8 G prime lens, I feel that the 20mm wide angle, waterproof and dustproof build, and overall clarity of the lens, offers me opportunities to take creative shots in various locations. It may take a little manoeuvring to get into the perfect spot, but that's also where the fun and challenge are.
Nature's stories, told through a prime lens
Scene 1: Snowflake trees atop Halla Mountain (00:31)
Halla Mountain offers videographers several opportunities for capturing outstanding footage of nature. As you approach the mountain's summit, you'll see these gorgeous "snowflake" trees guiding you toward your eventual destination.
To capture the incredible beauty and towering nature of these trees, I photographed them from a low angle - which was possible to do without a tripod, thanks to SteadyShot function. When out in nature, I really enjoy the ability to shoot using minimal equipment. It allows me to capture more scenes, while feeling free and unrestricted by bulky loads.
Scene 2: A towering view, 1,950m above sea level (00:05)
At the top of Halla Mountain, almost 2,000 metres above sea level, you'll reach the awe- inspiring locale of Baengnokdam.Ideally, I would have loved to move in closer for a great shot, but there was a safety fence that prevented entry.
The 20mm wide range of the FE 20mm F1.8 G captured a great view of this location, with some dynamic movement needed to fully showcase the true scale and grandeur of Baengnokdam. To optimise the shot, I put a monopod on the gimbal to maximise the range of motion of the tilt.
This set up also gives audiences the impression that the scene was shot from a drone (although it wasn't) and gave the magnificent Baengnokdam the shot it deserves.
Scene 3: In flight with nature's rulers of the sky (00:20)
Every videographer knows that it can be difficult to shoot a moving subject - and that's especially so, when your subject is a bird that has the freedom to fly in any direction (and at almost any speed) it wishes to.It's a good thing that the wide 20mm angle of the FE 20mm F1.8 G makes it easier to follow the movement of these masters of the sky.
Scene 4: Capturing the beauty and strength of a horse in nature (00:35)
This was a challenge that I really relished - recording the graceful, yet powerful movements of a horse as it galloped along a body of water. Entering this tidal flat, I had to wear rubber boots and didn't feel as stable as I would've liked, so I used a gimbal to add stability.
The shot was captured during sunset, which made the perfect background for this scene. With the FE 20mm F1.8 G lens, I truly appreciated the depth of field that it provided at F1.8, 20mm - as well as the excellent noise suppression and dynamic range of the Sony Alpha 7C.
Using a 120fps F1.8 setting, I was able to capture every breathtaking detail in this scene, such as the movement of the horse galloping, the water breaking beneath its hooves, and the reflections of the sunlight in the water.
Scene 5: A window into an animal's soul (00:39)
It's often said that the eyes are a window into a person's soul. I believe that to be true for animals as well. In this case, the horse I was filming had an enchanting pair of eyes that I had to capture on video - so, I got in close with my lens and took a close-up shot that expresses the clarity of the horse's eye, and the calmness in its heart.
The F1.8 aperture and 0.19m minimum focus distance were ideal for capturing the horse's expression with incredible clarity. And while it may not be possible to ask a horse to stay still and pose for your shot, shooting at both 24fps and 120fps gave me the flexibility I needed for a fantastic final outcome.
Scene 6: Roaring waves (01:04)
For one of my videos, I needed a scene with waves crashing into rocks - so I found an ideal spot and set my shot for 120fps. At that high frame rate, I would be able to capture the rapid movement of the water more clearly, which would make the scene for captivating for audiences.
With my 20mm wide-angle lens, I moved in close to the waves to get a great view. The shot turned out really well! And even though the crashing waves sent water splashing onto my lens, it wasn't an issue as the FE 20mm F1.8 G is both splashproof and dustproof - making it a durable and reliable choice for many locations, even wet and dusty ones.
Scene 7: Overlooking the vastness of the ocean (01:00)
For certain shots, having lightweight equipment is an absolute must - and this was one of those shots. To capture this scene, I had to climb a rocky terrain to reach a high location that would overlook the sea.
And as you can see, this isn't a climb you'd want to make with heavy equipment. It's a good thing the combination of the Sony Alpha 7C and FE 20mm F1.8 G are really lightweight - making climbing up steep hills and cliffs (or a rocky formation like this) possible.
Scene 8: Camellia flowers blooming in Jeju (01:08)
Camellia flowers are a beautiful part of nature, and these blooms in Jeju were so gorgeous, I had to capture them with my camera and lens. I angled the shot to show a line of camellia trees forming a diagonal, intersecting perfectly with the sky and clouds behind them.
I also deliberately included the leaves of another tree on the left of the shot, as I felt that the branches gave the shot a sense of stability. You can see the advantage of having a 20mm wide angle lens here, with so much detail captured in one shot.
This scene was shot in handheld mode and remained perfectly stable, thanks to the always helpful SteadyShot functionality.
Follow your passions, wherever they might take you
I majored in ballet for 17 years and was even a ballerino at the Korean National Ballet, which for me at the time, was the epitome of success in the field. When I was a dancer, I got a lot of inspiration while through the dark backstage area, listening to the orchestra play enchanting music.
After I fell in love with videography, I transitioned to my new love and today, I get that same sense of fantastic inspiration whenever I listen to moving music, watch a good move, exercise, or even while sitting in a café and enjoying a cup of coffee.
Most of all, I'm inspired by nature and really appreciate that I get to do what I love, each and every day.
