A personal post – a personal statement…

Just to preface: I am sorry for this rather rambling post. Hopefully it doesn’t come across as too preachy. It’s meant to be taken, like the rest of my site, in the most positive way possible! It’s very open, very honest and pretty personal. Hence the title. 

This is not a plea asking for support. This is not me asking for kind messages, although the ones I’ve gotten are lovely. In fact, I should have closed comments on this, as this is a statement, but I did say I didn’t want to do that again.

Some people say that talking about this stuff is not needed nor should be done, as it encourages. If that is case, then that is a shame. All I want to do is just get something off my chest that has been getting to me for far too long. The stuff on other sites I can just ignore. The emails and comments on my site, I cannot. I deal with this throughout the day every day. What I would like is of course impossible, it’s the internet after all… I know that, but I can at least try. After all, if we don’t try then how can we expect to achieve anything in our life?

Here is a little bit of background info for you about me…

I love filming. I love filmmaking. I love coming up with ideas. I love shooting. I love lighting. I love meeting people. I love sound. I love actors. I love real people. I love interviewing people. I love documentaries. I love just about everything that goes with what I do. I am a lucky man to have found my place in this world. I have found what I always wanted to do, even though I didn’t know what that was until I was about 22!! 🙂

So yes, I am enormously lucky in my life. Not in every way, far from it in many ways which I have no desire to go into, things that I am sure some who read this may know due to my openness here, and things that nobody but the closest people in my life know. We can look at things relative to others around us, or we can look at the bigger global picture. When you have seen what I have seen in my 17 years working in news, you know that I and 99.99999% of you reading this are bloody lucky not to be living the life that some of these people live. So it’s all relative, and going by that I am VERY LUCKY!  I am doing something I love and getting paid to do it.

 

Me as a babba with my lovely sister Nat. x
Me as a babba with my lovely sister Nat. x

When I was growing up, my lovely dad came home miserable and hating his work as a pharmacist. I thought that was my lot in life. You work to live. You pay the bills, support your family and gradually become more and more miserable the older you get. So when I was looking for a career, I looked at professional vocations. Lawyer, Doctor, Train Driver, astronaut, Jedi…these all looked fine on paper…well most of them. But the serious ones (anything in space would be cool!) had no real interest to me. I wanted to do something that didn’t require me to do a lot of work…or a lot of studying. I was sick to death of school. I wanted to earn some money!

At this time, I was actually working in Tesco (a supermarket) part-time as a checkout supervisor. Bossing middle-aged women around. Lots of fun 🙂 They offered me a management training opportunity. I almost took it (cue the troll commentators saying I should have taken it! Yes, the 10% discount on shopping would have saved me a fortune, you are right!), the money was OK. It was solid. No need to do further education, no Uni. I came close to saying yes. So what happened?

You see, I was never one of those film prodigies. I wasn’t like the kid in Super 8, even though that was my generation. I had no desire to make films. I loved watching them but never thought about making them. I did buy and mess around with a Video 8 camera when I was 18, but mostly I enjoyed taking the odd photo with my Pentax SLR,  although I wasn’t exactly prolific! It never went everywhere with me like my cameras do now, it was just something I liked to do when I went somewhere cool. I also liked painting, although I was a bit shit at it! 🙂 BUT, there was something that interested me. I liked the news, newspapers and TV News. I was fascinated by it, so I thought about becoming a news photographer.

Part of this stemmed from a short documentary series on BBC back in 1987 called “In at the deep end” which featured Paul Heiney trying to become a chef, photographer or whatever in 3 months and documenting his attempts at it. I found this fascinating, and it clearly stuck with me.  So when I was thinking in the last few months of my A Levels at school about my future, the idea of doing that came to me. I went and talked to a friend of my dad, a professional “news snapper”. He said bluntly to me. “DON’T. The writing is on the wall. Digital cameras are just around the corner and with them will come a massive change in the business. Personally, I am thinking of getting out in the next few years, before it goes to shit! Ever thought about TV News?” Ironically, we have had a similar change in the video industry in the past few years. Although I don’t think it’s gone to shit. I think it’s brought so many new opportunities and given us so much new talent!

Out doing what I love. Making films. This one..."The Tracker & The Banker" is something I am enormously proud of.
Out doing what I love. Making films. This one…”The Tracker & The Banker” is something I am enormously proud of.

So that’s how I got into filming properly. I applied to every single TV company under the sun, and one of the 16 wrote back to me and gave me an interview. I was offered a terrible job for terrible money. I took it…told Tesco “thanks but no thanks” and started on the ladder at Sky News. This was in 1989.

It was only when I was around 21/22 that I really got a chance to shoot properly and I found I had a knack for it. “A natural talent” I was told. I had found what I was good at …well more like my career, and what I was good at found me by a series of occurrences which you could actually say started with my dad giving me a Pentax and that BBC documentary.

So, I was lucky. Most people in life never find what they are TRULY good at. Some may debate whether I am actually good at what I do anyway! That’s fine with me! It’s impossible to appeal to all and impossible for everyone to like what you do. It would be a bloody boring world if this was the case! I actually would love to upload some of my early work from Sky. I have the Betacam edits. I just need to find a deck to capture them! Anyone?! Mostly on Beta SP and Beta SX.

This is actually one of my old docs. About 8 years old or so, from Sky. Terrible quality as it’s from a DVD…once  I get the deck, I can capture my edit master…in the meantime here is something from the old days. Not the hard news, but the longer form featurey stuff. 

 

So there was no romantic, perfect, destiny type story as to how I ended up where I am today. In was a combination of laziness and pure luck…then talent and most importantly an enormous amount of hard work got me to where I am now.

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Above and below….in my younger days working in news

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In Taba with multi award winning reporter Alex Crawford
In Taba with multi award winning reporter Alex Crawford

It’s my 25th year of working in the business, now that’s a scary number. A quarter of a century! So when people say my success is down to “being in the right place at the right time,” I need to point out that I actually have got to where I am today due to my passion and love of my job PLUS the immense amount of effort and work I have put into it over almost 25 years!! Luck plays a part in all our lives, but we make a lot of our own luck. Without hard work, you won’t get those lucky breaks. If you decide to sit at home on your arse in your mother’s basement for the rest of your life hoping to get that big break without ever getting off your arse, then I am sorry, it won’t come to you…I promise! You will most likely get morbidly obese by eating cheesy puffs all day and you will also become a bitter and twisted individual commenting anonymously on forums/ comment sections all the while knowing that, when your time comes, the whole house will need to be demolished to remove you. NOBODY will email you offering you an amazing opportunity sitting on your arse whilst using the internet 24/7! Apart from maybe featuring on one of those “freak show” things on US TV! OK…maybe that was a bit too dark, bleak and extreme but I think you get the point! 🙂 After all, my big Ebay clear-out of stuff is to avoid being on hoarders myself! 🙂

Shooting the Greenpeace commercial in Delhi
Shooting the Greenpeace commercial in Delhi

I learnt so much at Sky. What a story was, how to tell a story, how to work with a team, how to deal with people, how to work fast, how to shoot, how to light, how to record sound, how to edit, how to avoid getting killed in riots, how to dodge bullets, walk through landmines, avoid being bombed by US planes accidentally dropping bombs on us when we were with allied troops…I had so many life lessons that have molded me into who I am, for better of worse. The man I am today from my childhood and upbringing, to my time at sky and of course today as a freelancer can be summed up in a number of words: Kind, honest, empathic, cynical, insecure, traumatized, overly sensitive, proud, confident, scared, ambitious, mostly happy and very much, grateful.

So this brings me, FINALLY, to the point of this “Personal Statement”. Would I rather not write it? Of course I would prefer not to need to do it, but of course I don’t actually HAVE to write it but I feel I should.

My mentor Gerry Williams and I
My mentor Gerry Williams and I

I was lucky enough when I was learning to shoot at Sky to have a mentor, the head cameraman Gerry Williams. Someone I admired, respected and listened to. I showed him my work. He gave me constructive feedback. It was brilliant! Gerry, for me, was the most important person to my career. I had someone to turn to for advice and guidance. To show me what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong. To show me support in my mistakes and help me learn from them.

After leaving Sky, I felt I needed to give back the same way Gerry shared with me his wisdom. I wanted to help people in some way, and that is more or less how the blog came about. Initially, the website back in 2006 was just a place for my reel, but in late 2007 it became a blog where I shared my experiences on shoots and other nonsense with anyone who was bored enough to read them! With the way things are now, many of you don’t have the opportunity to have a mentor, to have someone to turn to for advice. I am not saying I am that, but I wanted to somehow help people and share my, at the time, 18 years of experience.

That is my site. It has improved immensely since then. Both in design and especially content. My posts are not as frequent, as I like finding new things to talk about and finding the time is hard, but when I do post, they vary between analysing shoots, occasionally reviewing cameras (surprisingly not as many as you think), looking at the odd bit of gear very occasionally, the odd “news” post (although I am not a news site, there are many of those who do it very well and post frequently), “bigger picture” advice posts, and all sorts of other bits and pieces. I try to make it unique and I hope I have made it that.

Now of course, because it’s my site it is full of my opinions. Come on! It’s my blog…what do you expect? 🙂 These are to be taken with a pinch of salt. I frequently try to remind people to never listen to just one voice but to listen to many. No one person is ever “right”. We all have advice to give, and often it’s not appropriate for you. I am not here to hold your hand and tell you what to do. I give you options, ideas, opinions…these are for you to take and then guide you in whatever the thing was that you were looking for help with in the first place!

NEVER listen to just one opinion please. Even mine.
NEVER listen to just one opinion please. Even mine.

I have put myself out there, so naturally I expect to get grief, and anyone with an opinion will irritate a certain percentage of people, it’s the internet after all! The thing is I don’t force my opinion on anyone or attack someone if they disagree with me. ALTHOUGH I do get sometimes unfortunately get rather short, irritable, snappy and very defensive (in fact this post feels like a whole defence of who I am, which is a shame) so I apologise for that when it happens. I am far from perfect, quite flawed in fact, like everyone…there are frequent times in my life that are full of stress and a bad time to reply to anything, this is no excuse though.  There are also times when things are super great. A perfect time to reply to things! 🙂

So when I put myself out there, these “trolls” as they are called are par for the course, and I know that I should never let them bother me. The thing is, as mentioned in my personality traits above, I am rather sensitive. This is me, and I have no real desire to change. I want to be sensitive. My sensitive nature is a huge part of what defines me as a human being and also in fact, to a degree, helps me in my documentary filming, but more importantly it molds me into the compassionate human being I am today. This means I don’t have very thick skin. I have tried to grow it. Doesn’t work. I looked so leathery that I did some serious exfoliation 🙂

I remember being in Istanbul in 1999 for the massive earthquake. I was filming a rescue attempt where a family and friends were desperately trying to rescue a child trapped in the rubble. The young boy was alive but they couldn’t reach him. I felt so uncomfortable filming this, so much so that I put my camera down and went to help. They turned to me and said “NO…we need you to film this, we need the world to see why we need help!” So I picked up the camera and carried on filming. The child was pulled out lifeless an hour later wrapped in a Lion King bedspread. I couldn’t hold back my tears. My reporter Ross turned to me and said “Phil, you need to learn to disconnect, otherwise this job will kill you”. He was right. I had to look through the viewfinder and have that as my barrier. News is a hard thing to cover, and the things I have seen will haunt me forever, but they have also made me who I am and I wouldn’t change that for anything. Even though the trauma lives with me to this day.

I would love to find a way to have thick skin AND maintain who I am, as in my sensitivity. I cannot see how that is possible, but I do try every day. It’s like a pint glass. It starts empty and then it starts to fill with crap, I ignore it, then it fills and fills and when it reaches the top that’s when it gets to me. Then I get over it and the pint glass empties ready for another filling! My wonderful, patient, supremely talented filmmaker partner Sarah knows when I have read something nasty, as I go very quiet and I shut down. It kills a good mood. It kills whatever good time I was having. Clearly it gets to me too much and something has to be done.

 

Myself and Sarah being very serious.
Myself and Sarah being very serious. She has the patience of a saint! 🙂

So I have, for the most part, stopped reading posts about me from others and especially forums…although I did come across a bizarre thread yesterday on macrumors that I felt compelled to reply to, as it was so bewildering. Silly really. It’s easy to say “don’t feed the trolls,” not that post in particular as it was harmless, but when what is said affects you so much (generally the personal stuff) it’s hard not to! Remember…no thick skin! Also it upsets me to see anyone go hungry…even trolls…so I feed them 😉 The key thing is…don’t google yourself! 🙂

Recently there has been a barrage of crap thrown at me, and it has been bewildering…why do people get so angry ? It’s ludicrous. Get angry if you have to, but about something important please….what I talk about is far from important! I haven’t run off with your girlfriend or stolen your first-born or beaten you on X-BOX Live Left 4 Dead 2!! What I talk about is really inoffensive stuff! If you just take the time to read my posts, I never get personal, I never attack people, I never dismiss something as rubbish. I am not a negative person. I look at the the pros and cons of everything and share my opinion. That’s all, just my opinion that should be taken as only that. Now, just because I didn’t jump on the 5D3 raw bandwagon by instantly proclaiming “Hallelujah,” I became a target for people saying all sorts of nonsense. In fact I was so busy that I missed the first couple of days of the continuous recording announcement, and when I checked it out I was impressed and simply said “VERY clever and impressive, let’s see where this goes.”

Yet people I had previously respected let rip at me…crazy! One was so vocal and out-of-order I was utterly gobsmacked. Ironically, that person now has sold their Mk3 just 2 weeks after telling everyone to embrace raw Canon fully and without hesitation! It then transpires this person pushed it so hard because it got his company YouTube subscribers, and that equaled money. This is something that they wrote publicly! So, was this driven by a deserve to help for the community or to make money? At least they were honest about it, whether they meant to be or not! 🙂 Thankfully, the thing being pushed, the magic lantern raw, is pretty bloody good AND coming along in leaps and bounds! It’s just not for everyone as my blog post tried to explain, again just my opinion. This is the easily the most critical I have been of someone on my blog and hopefully for the last time. I do not do personal, this just surprised me enormously and went against everything I believed in.

A thread on another site’s forum seemed to have the sole purpose of attacking me, not exactly constructive to the filmmaking community. It was full of pure hate and incredible vitriol, goaded by the site’s owner too. Rather shameful really, I am not one to tell someone how to run their blog, but this really should not have been allowed to happen. Just because I personally was cautious and not saying that everyone should do it? It was full of personal attacks and technically libel. It has since been pulled down. Nothing to do with me, I only found out about it after the fact…it just puzzles me though why this happens, and it happens to others too. Why is this necessary when we have such a small community which, for the most part, is supporting and helpful to each other? There is just this small minority who occasionally lose all rational thought!

Portrait of a boxer 2013: FilmConvert B&W version from Philip Bloom on Vimeo. Made for Sony to promote the FS100. This is a new B&W version I did using FilmConvert.

What I do is share unbiased opinon…yes unbiased. Here I go again…so once again for the record  I am not “in the pocket” of any camera manufacturers, as so often is stated incorrectly online. I would love to receive free cameras with no strings attached, who wouldn’t?… but I don’t. I have never received a free camera from these guys. All these cameras are bought by myself! I am 100% camera manufacturer independent. Do you think I could talk about issues of these cameras if I was? Read my posts. Watch my reviews. Yes, I have done paid work for Canon a few times, talking about my work with…yes Canon cameras…and if you came to my talk at BVE for them, even then I talked about the pros and cons of the 1DC, the camera I was there to talk about. I have also done paid work for Sony with my “extraordinary” series of 3 films done to show off the FS100. I also did the launch film of the GH3 for  Panasonic and also the launch video for the GH1!! These were not paid opinions for the cameras. Just shooting gigs. In fact in a fortnight, I have a gig for Nikon too! That means I have worked for  all the big camera companies (apart from the high-end cinema ones!) which should mean by certain people’s logic that I am in all their pockets…!? Surely there is some conflict of interest there? 🙂

I have VERY STRONG ETHICS and  my site is based upon these core principles. I do have strong relationships with certain companies, Kessler, Zacuto, Vimeo, V-BAG, The Music Bed and Red Giant Software. Not many. These are companies whose products I use on an almost daily basis and have taken affiliate relationships with…these help with subsidising the costs of running this site. Not just the high hosting costs but the time I take to run it. Which is substantial. After all, it is just me who runs this site. It’s 10:30pm and what am I doing? Writing a post!! 🙂 I have help on the forum, but the site is all me with the occasional guest post.

The strongest relationship is of course with Kessler, as they make my pocket dolly and now also with V-Bag who make my…well my V-Bag. Check it out, it’s an amazing thing once you get what it does, just please do not drop the B from the word! 🙂

I often get asked to put my name on a product…a “Philip Bloom” edition…I find it rather embarrassing, as after all I am just a filmmaker who shares his work and experience on his blog. That’s all. It’s flattering of course, and for me to finally agree to it, the product needs to be utterly exceptional. Both of these are…but do I force you to buy them? No. Two products in 4 years. That’s it. Also, both Steve Weiss and Eric Kessler have become dear friends of mine and there is of course much loyalty there. That is down to good honest friendship, and I have never hidden that from anyone, as it is clearly spelt out in the above linked ethics statement and the far too friendly photo below!

Myself and Eric in Austin, December 2012. A really special friend.
Myself and Eric in Austin, December 2012. A really special friend.

Some people criticise my site for the banners and have said other sites which are popular have no advertising. I am sorry to break this to you, but many of these don’t have ads but are sponsored by companies. It’s the way they work. It’s just not the way mine works. Banners need to be there, otherwise the affiliates simply won’t work. These are simple click-throughs where, if you buy something, I get a small percentage at no cost to you. I have been offered ridiculously lucrative advertising opportunities which would bring in enough money for me to never have to do a job I didn’t want to again. This would be littering my site with a hell of lot more than what you see, and all for products I don’t like, use or know. That would make me a hypocrite and break my ethics. The affiliates are not there to make me rich. They are there to make my site financially viable as mentioned earlier. OH…I am going to start a new one with FilmConvert soon. I bought the product and fell in love with it. They then contacted me with an affiliate offer combined with a discount code for readers. So yes, another banner, sorry! WICKED product though:)

If the site was not financially viable, it would simply close. There is no question. We don’t live in a money free Utopia, yet. Until then, I live in a reality that everyone lives in.

As much as I love my site, it’s not my job. It’s something I do on the side. My job is to make films. Sometimes I do the whole thing, sometimes I just direct, DP or even just am a cameraman for hire…I also, as I am sure many know, teach. I do workshops around the world. I never organise then. I am hired in by local people and paid my day rate. It’s as simple as that. Teaching for me is enormous fun, and I adore it, I love to help people improve. I do still prefer to shoot though, as I am a creative. Doing both is ideal. In fact, in South Africa last year I did 3 weeks out there in 3 cities. Whilst doing that, I shot four mini docs. Why? Because I love to tell stories. I didn’t have a single day off. I don’t care. I loved it. So purely for gratuitously showing work I am proud of, below are those four pieces. Shot on different cameras. Blackmagic, FS700, 1DX. The camera doesn’t matter. I don’t care what you use. That is up to you. Me? I use whatever tool I feel is right for the job. Often that is my C300, sometimes it’s just a 5Dmk3. The camera is not important to me. The story is and the content is.

Actually, as we are talking about workshops, here is the only real plug on this post…I am doing a 2 day shooting workshop in Bern Switzerland next week and later in June I am doing a 1 day intense workshop which will be an absolute blast as it’s on the set of the defunct TV show “The Bill” The two day is long sold out and has a waiting list, but the one day is available and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!  I am looking for interns for both workshops so drop me an email telling me about yourself to intern@philipbloom.net

 

Ponte Tower from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

The sea water drinkers from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

Portrait of a projectionist from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

The Tracker & The Banker from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

So where do I go from here? I don’t know. As long as I am able to carry on filming and creating as my job, I will be happy. I have no ambition to become a fiction feature film DP or Director. It’s not my thing for now, but who knows…for now I will continue to push myself and get out of my comfort zone. Where that takes me I have no idea. I also need to make sure my goal of creating a better work/ life balance is achieved this year.  I am getting there. I am healthy, fitter and getting happier…I still don’t have anywhere near enough free time. In the meantime, I hope to be able to keep running the site. It is important to me, as it does help so many. Am I utterly fed up with the hate? Yes…does it make me question whether it’s worth continuing to keep the site going? Yes of course it does, because as I said, it’s not my job, so I don’t have to put up with it, BUT I want to continue to give back and as long as I am able to keep it going, I will. The moment I have had enough and can’t keep it up then I will stop, that will most likely be more to do with time, work/ life balance and so much more. I will never close my site due to hate, and for now I have absolutely ZERO desire to stop. I love doing this and as long as I can find the time and the things to talk about I will.

Filming for fun in Innsbruck
Filming for fun in Innsbruck

This rather rambling post was done to simply lay things out honestly as I have always done, and to remind people that there is no reason to hate anyone with an opinion that differs to your own, no reason to hate someone because you don’t like their work. There is no reason to hate someone because they hate you either!! “Haters are gonna hate!” a common statement. It doesn’t have to be. Hate is a nasty emotion and of course this post won’t stop that! I would be living in cloud cuckoo land if I thought it would! I just want to remind people that until a few years ago, we were living in an industry that was a “dark art” and very “closed”. The amount this has changed is wonderful, and that is mostly down to the internet. Embrace that. Be thankful for all the amazing resources out there…covering so many difference facets that can be so helpful at times…news sites , eduction resources, creativity…. all the way to technical analysis for the people who love to  pixel peep (we all secretly like to peep!)… NoFilmSchool, Roger Deakins, Vincent LaForet, Shane Hurlbut, Cinema 5D, Planet 5dDSLR  News Shooter, EosHD to name just a few…there are WAY too many to list! Disagreeing is fine, just do it with politeness and respect…also remember that tone is hard to read online so an overuse of smileys is unfortunately needed, hence this post being utterly littered with them! 🙂

So many people are sharing their wisdom, experiences and of course opinions.  If you don’t like their opinions/ work or whatever, then find other places to go if it bothers you so much, but please why hate? Respect should always be shown, as should politeness. It doesn’t cost you anything to do this and you know what? It will help you be a happier person! Trust me, I am as guilty of negative emotions and occasional anger as the rest of you. Am I proud of it? Not at all, and I do my best to be a better person. Always.

As we are wrapping up (you still here?), let me ask you…have any of you been out driving and you let someone in at a junction and they thank you by a wave? How does that make you feel? Compare that to how you feel when the person who doesn’t thank you?  The simple thank you makes you feel happier and is great…but if they don’t, then just shrug it off…there is no need to get irate and scream at them “YOU ARE WELCOME!!!” They may simply have forgotten! Don’t go zooming after them shaking your fists like a caveman, frothing at the mouth as if you have rabies!! That negative emotion will eat you up! Me? I am trying to not let negativity thrown at me eat me alive, and I am certain the negative people out there would feel so much better if they just stopped, breathed and thought it over for a minute over a nice cup of tea with a rich tea biscuit and realised that actually it’s not worth being all negative about something so trivial. Personally, I can’t eat the rich tea as part of my lifestyle change is to be gluten-free and I am 15 months in. So I will just stick to the tea…and maybe a corn type thing that DOES NOT DUNK WELL INTO TEA LET ME TELL YOU! 🙂

Cup of tea and a biscuit! :)
Cup of tea and a biscuit! 🙂
Not DUNKABLE!!
Not DUNKABLE!!

Bitten By The Frost from Philip Bloom on Vimeo

I didn’t get into this game to be well-known. I got into it because I am passionate about filmmaking, because I love to create, to tell stories…I enjoy all aspects of filmmaking, even at times being in front of the camera, especially now I am no longer a fat bastard 😉 Perhaps I am a frustrated actor? Maybe if someone wants to hire me….?? Get me in Game of Thrones please!

It is said that if you have had success and are well-known, you should accept what comes with it. After all what I get is nothing compared to famous people who get attacked from all corners non stop. Surely they cannot read this stuff. Interestingly, I saw the Graham Norton Show last night and Bradley Cooper says he does the read the internet as it keeps him grounded. That is a man with very thick skin and good on him!

Honestly, if it wasn’t for my decision to read and engage in twitter, Facebook and the comments, I would be oblivious to the nonsense…but the community IS important to me, so that is why I am part of it. Not someone standing on a soapbox ignoring all around me.

I have no desire to remove the below-the-line part of the site due to small minority. There is a growing movement of bloggers doing this. Comments are important to the community, it’s a shame that I have to moderate everyone, but that is simply because people cannot be trusted to behave! Stop being children now (unless you are an actual child then you have an excuse!) I am sorry if your comment takes a while to appear. It is just me…actually if anyone wants to help out and occasionally help moderate my site, do let me know!

I love the VAST majority of the people I talk to here, Facebook and twitter. The good you have all done with the various fundraisers over the years and especially the 3 successive Movember campaigns has been immense! Just what that has achieved makes me so proud! Also the help you have shown each other through comments and my forum (do check it out…it’s SUPER friendly!)

Oh and for some silly fun check out Maarten Toner’s fun video of my utter failure to find a story in Brussels when we were out there for a workshop earlier this year. 🙂

Life of Bloom: finding a story in Brussels from Maarten Toner on Vimeo.

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We are privileged to be working (or some, just having fun) doing something so creative and fulfilling! Get out there and create. Put that energy into something more positive. I just celebrated my birthday in Crete with Sarah (her birthday too, but mine was way more important! 🙂 Our first holiday together and my first in god knows how long. It was wonderful. Yes it got soured a bit with all that nonsense I talked about above, and I never should have been online in the first place! Yet, I rose above it and concentrated on what was important. I also spent almost every evening capturing sunsets with my 1DC, as they were so beautiful (frame grabs below!) and also taking photos with my new obsession…35mm film photography! I have a Nikon F3 and an F4 now and I am also looking at an old Leica Rangefinder. Why? Discipline. Taking 36 exposures makes you think before you take a photo. We have lost that discipline in photography and also in video. This is something I will talk about in a future post when my 5 rolls come back! Nail-biting!

So that’s it. No more preaching…I am going to watch a movie now…which one? I am not sure…something dumb and fun I think! I should be editing…but you know what, it’s good to have time for yourself too and put the computer away! 🙂

Let me leave you with what it’s all about…a film…a mini doc about a man who does what he loves and how he lives his life. He has the right attitude. Show mostly with my 5DmkIII…pre raw 😉

Portrait of a Percussionist from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

 

Two opposites but that's the fun!
Two opposites but that’s the fun!
Shooting with my F3
Shooting with my F3
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My 1DC and a couple of frame grabs from the shooting on holiday!

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137 comments

  1. Philip,

    I must say, you seem like a really good dude. I’m not a filmmaker, although I misguidedly attended film school in my early 20’s. I’ve just always loved reading and learning about film and video. I’m currently saving up some dough for some play around gear (In the GH3, Tascam DR-60D range). Anyway, I got back into it just over a year ago and stumbled upon your site. I was not bewildered by the abundance of self-important, pretentious backlash in some comments. This kind of nonsense is all over the internet. Like I said, you’re a good dude. I think it’s super cool that you have some Philip Bloom gear, advertisements, and whatever. Any one of these people would enjoy the same amount of success. It’s all free advice from a very experienced and respected guy. I’ve certainly learned a lot, and am thankful I stumbled upon your site. Laid back and down to earth. Advertisements? Opinions? Ok. In the simplest terms: Fuck ’em. For what it’s worth…

    Thanks!

  2. Philip,

    I’ve been following you and your blogs/site for some time. Out of all the places to go on the internet that are informative, fun and educational yours if by far my favorite. As you aptly observed, the world is a big place and there are certainly a lot of people that are just mean spirited and don’t have much of anything better to do than spew it out, usually anonymously. I’ve always thought you made it quite clear that you do what you do, review what you review, and express your opinions- and take them for what they’re worth. You’re an enormously appealing and open guy and in conjunction with the fact that you are also extremely talented you’ve created quite a domain for yourself. It takes a considerable amount of generosity to keep a site like yours going – that in itself speaks volumes about you. There will always be a rabble out there, but there will also always be the overwhelming majority who get and greatly appreciate what you do. You’ve made my transition from stills to video much more informed and fun. Thank you very much.

    http://www.alanaustin.com

  3. Philip, you are a true inspiration. It’s thanks to you that i figured out what I wanted to do with my career at the age of 22! 3 years on and i’m learning every day (mainly from your great guidance) and I cannot wait to finally meet you in person in a few weeks at the 2 day workshop!

    Thankyou for all the hard work and passion you put into your projects and for inspiring the new generations of film makers like myself!

    Hope you had an amazing holiday

    Stu

  4. Ah dont sweat it man. Your site has been a godsend for a good while now (along with many others). I have learned more about the job through researching cameras and lenses through this kind of site than a couple of years at college! Please keep it up and feel the love!

  5. Phil, you’re a total inspiration and I love that you are an example of how you can be in the industry (successfully!) AND still be sensitive and compassionate. You see so often those in the industry as ‘tough’ and ‘thick-skinned’. You also get advice that you have to be that way to get anywhere. Thanks for bringing a bit of love back into the industry 🙂 As a female videographer, it’s great to see the example coming from a guy too!

  6. I actually have noticed the rise in verbal abuse against you recently, especially with the 5D RAW parade! It’s not on, especially with the amount of knowledge you share for free, but “Those who have free seats at a play hiss first”.

  7. Thank you for being my mentor for filming. I discovered you a few years back and I have loved every video you put online. Its kinda scary when you said you started your career as a filmmaker at 22. Its at that same age I rediscovered my knack for it. (started on the weekends doing a little broadcast work at 14 for fun) One of these days im getting into one of your workshops and im giving you a bear hug, man style.

    Your words have encouraged me to become better every day and never stop doing what i love.

    In Kind Regards,

  8. I seen two nasty posts on you over the last few months.

    I and another chap rubbished this guys claim and the other was so late at night another time that I wasn’t going to start up on someone who clearly makes stupid assumptions without reading your blog on anything like a regular basis.
    They cleary choose to swap the fact that you were credited on the internet with making most people aware of the Canon DSLRs as a video camera with their stupid commets that you are a Canon fanboy or paid by them to say nice things.

    Your reviews and opinions on any piece of technology are always very fair….even with Kesslar and Zacuto items where you will say which is better or stronger on particular aspects.
    People are intelligent enough to make their own minds up from there.

    I love SKY and have always loved their Sports Coverage.
    BBC always used 6-7 cameras to cover Soccer before SKY came in (with their influence no doubt from FOX people in the US) and used 17. When you watch Sport on SKY it really is an Art form and what inspires me. …Sports Videos is what I want to be doing…..which makes mydecision on getting a C100 such a pause for thought.

    The WWW gets a bad wrap for a lot of stuff and quiet rightly so….but Your Blog Phil is a lot of what makes the internet great….

    …and I know you keep inserting the camera doesn’t matter….I want to disagree with you on something to make this balanced…..You do have the coolest camera collection of anyone I have seen.

    Got to love Technology.

  9. Great post Philip, but such a shame it needed to be written. Just remember, for every one troll who gets their jollies tying to tear you down there are ten of us who think you are awesome!

    It was great to discover the guy behind the camera too. You and I actually have similar stories of how we came into the biz. I was a plumber before I got my first TV job at 26 in news, and like you, shooting news taught me how to deal with all of those things you mentioned, but most importantly, how to react quickly when your plans fall into a heap.

    Keep doing what you are doing Philip. Don’t let a few Internet nasties spoil your fun!

  10. Dear Phil, everywhere I go in the world I see people running around happily shooting with DSLRs and when I talk to them they all start talking about you and this site. The words are the same whether it’s Miami, Dubai or deepest darkest Norway, Phil started all this, he inspired us and he helped us get better at what we do. What an amazing thing to have done for thousands and thousands of people all over the world. As a daft baby producer at Sky News you taught me so much and didn’t even get very cross when I was clueless and broke half of your kit. You are a constant inspiration to me because you won success by loving what you do and helping other people do it. There are few people in this industry who have made such a public service contribution to others. I wish there was an award for all this, a physical manifestation of the work you’ve put in and the gratitude so many people feel. There isn’t because you’re a one off but on behalf of the huge numbers of people I alone have met on my travels who want to say it, Thank You!

  11. Philip, just wanted to personally thank you for sharing your wealth of information over the years. I purchased my Canon 5DM2 and enjoyed experimenting with DSLR video ever since. Your early dvd’s and blog have always been priceless in terms of information to help bring me up to speed with what’s out there. I have always valued your honesty and personal take on everything from software to cameras and hardware. I’m sorry if there are so many haters out there that have to troll and insult successful people such as yourself due to their own jealous nature. I look to you as a roll model and teacher (even though we have never met in person) and wish you nothing but happiness and success in the future.
    I hope to someday take a class if and when you return to the Seattle area. Please continue to follow your passion and do what you do. JUST KNOW THAT YOU’VE INSPIRED MORE OF US OUT HERE THAN YOU REALIZE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT!
    Bryon Cole

  12. Hey Phil, thank you (waves maniacally)!

    I’ve been following your posts Phil since your first Picadilly Furs post with the Letus and EX1. I know that personally I’ve learnt a tremendous amount from your honest and unbiased posting and reviews. It’s true that in learning this craft one has to make as many mistakes as one does shots that you’re happy with. Often I’ve learnt as much from your own admitted errors as I have your beautiful footage. I think of the times I’ve been inspired by a video you’ve posted, a level headed comment about the next bit of camera porn, or a detailed breakdown of a process that for you didn’t work or you weren’t happy with.

    I raise this point Phil because I know how hard it is to put ones self out there, I know how important it is to you to be as clear and honest and transparent as possible in order to help and provide information to all of us that you feel you can honestly stand by. It’s the sort of commitment and courage I believe is required to survive in a creative industry that is driven and relies on relationships and one’s reputation.

    Your strength of character and commitment to this craft are in my very humble opinion shown in the millions of hits this site receives and the level of jealous petty mindedness that you have experienced at times. You see Phil we both know that it wouldn’t hurt as much if you didn’t actually care. But you do, and they don’t. That’s the difference of course. In our modern world of the Internet ether there are people who believe that it’s ok to post hatred and spitefull opiniated retorts. These are people I believe who are in this industry for reasons of ego and status. They don’t like it when you make a comment they disagree with because in their tiny world they believe you’re in this industry for the same reason that they are. It’s a kind of teen spirit pissing contest that erodes one of the greatest things about working in this field. The joy of collobaritively learning and sharing and creating things together.

    I’m sure that both yourself and Sarah can remember working with particular personalities driven by ego and status. Luckily as adults we can choose not to work with such people, but it doesn’t protect us in Internet land unfortunately. The only thing that can protect you of course is your own sense of self and the knowledge that those people don’t represent the rest of us who are very very thankful that you do what you do.

    Please don’t stop doing what you do Phil because of a few dick heads.

    With much love and respect.

    Adrian.

  13. Well said, sir! As a 25 year veteran of the business myself, I am still open, excited and interested in making stuff. And I always look forward to your posts and videos. And you are so right, based on my experience, go out and MAKE SOMETHING!!!

    As it was said in The Matrix; “There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.”

  14. Philip,

    Thank you so much for all you do! I love that you posted about your mentor above and Myself and I know many others will consider you to be a great mentor to all of us. You inspire me so much and I cant thank you enough for your blog posts!

    Nathaniel K

  15. Hi mate. Just wanted to raise my hand to show support to your cause… post.

    I really don’t understand much of the discussion when you talk about attacks against you insofar as I can not understand why anyone would want to do that and I guarantee (without knowing the fact), that those that feel the need to drive the knife in haven’t met you personally. If they had they would know what a personable chap you are and quite simply you just love what your doing. The only thing I suspect is that you have raised your profile to a place many can not and that drives them insane as they tap tap tap away and go nowhere.

    I personally give great respect to anyone who creates a reality from their dreams which you have and still continue to do.

    All the best mate.

    Noel

  16. Wonderful read. As someone who hopes to pursue film making as a career it is always wonderful to read how someone you truly respect as a person and professional got their start. Great advice as always Philip.

  17. Hello,

    I made the somewhat idiotic decision to enroll in a year-long digital filmmaking program about 4 years ago now. The experience was pretty good. The teaching staff was just ok but the best part was that it forced me to throw caution to the wind and make films. It was an exhilarating time for someone who thought the experience of filmmaking was out of his reach.

    Then after school was done, I kind of hit a wall. The support was gone. The deadlines and the tools were all gone. I was lost. I eventually stumbled across your site and it changed a lot of things for me. It opened up new possibilities and inspired me to get back out and create something…anything.

    Down-to-earth and genuine posts, such as this one, causes me to reflect on my own actions and my own path as a filmmaker. You have quite honestly been a far better mentor, indirectly, than any staff member I worked with face-to-face during my time in the film program. You even took the time to comment on my entry for the Movember contest last year.

    So I say this with much respect and from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

  18. Just wanted to echo other here and say THANKS!
    I have been following you for a few years now and have nothing but profound respect for you Mr. Bloom.

    1. Me too! Every site has self styled experts or critics who get their ki ks shooting down someone else. Those guys should just stay ion their mother’s basement and play games. Putting yourself out there is always risky but their are perhaps thousands of us who appreciate your efforts and wish you well!

  19. I actually never fillowed your posts. I was just researching on my own with MkII and later MkIII. There was always someone reporting about Philip Bloom’s post if it was concerning my work. Yet recently I found your personal posts. And I simply admire what you write. I relate to it realy strongly. It’s absolutely wonderful (after reading the posts I went for a short travel over the things you were shooting and writing in the recent years :-). Yet what I admire most is this openness and simplicity of your thoughts, So persolnal. I’m surprised anyone can hurt you aftefr reading it. A great treat and ability I hope to learn one day:this kind openness and sincerity. Thank you very much for the inspiration!

  20. I admit I didn’t read the entire long post, but I did get to the part where you say that you don’t plan to quit this blog. THANK HEAVENS! I so much appreciate what you do here, and how openly and generously and unpretentiously you go about it.

    Don’t let the jerks get you down. They might be loud, but they’re a minority. There’s a whole big crowd of us who appreciate you greatly but never speak up, primarily because we’re the learners and you’re the teacher. We’re busy listening. Now that doesn’t mean that we believe everything you say and can’t think for ourselves. But it does mean that your supporters are even more numerous than you might imagine.

  21. Phillip, this would make a terrific film or documentary. Would love to see your reactions to these trolls comments on film and hopefully it could be a cathartic process for you sharing your pain in dealing with all this nonsense.

  22. Philip,

    So sorry to hear of those bad experiences. All I have to say are two things.

    1. The amount of positive post regarding your contribution to the field and educating FAR outnumber the bad. It’s just human nature to remember the ones that poke at us and I am sad that these people have got the better of you.

    2. If you ever need some “thick skin” training come on down to Florida and hang out with me and my friends for about month. That is sure to cure you. 🙂

    Good luck with what ever you decide. After reading your post there is a good chance you may not even see this but it needs to be said that you have done some great things for many people including myself in helping us learn more about our shared passion.

    Keep on shooting. 🙂

  23. Phil,

    Creatives create to inspire and to incur ‘hate’ for seeking to inspire is perverse in the extreme.

    You’re essentially a pioneer in your field. Seemingly, effortlessly talented and generous of spirit, readily sharing your hard won knowledge and experience. You instinctively understand that creativity is not a closed shop for a secret cabal of the initiated and richly equipped, but for all who dare to imagine and are ready to work towards realising what they’ve imagined. I fully see how that will get some folks stoked and hateful.

    I wish you many more years of driving them round the bloody bend!!!

    An avid listener

    Ola

  24. Howdy Phillip,

    Like so many others, you inspired me to get into film making with DSLRs. I used to be a stills guy and now I’ve discovered a whole new wonderful world with video, and I even get paid once in a while which supports this rewarding form of therapy.

    I believe that the ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ energy that people give off is real. So is the hurt and happiness. What is also real is that when one exceeds the other, that one wins. So here’s to putting some positive energy back into the universe for you, after all, we all owe you big time, even the trolls!

    Stay focused, healthy and positive, life will balance itself out.

  25. Thank you for posting this. Your personal statements have actually been very helpful to me in the past, as someone seemingly stuck where you were twenty five years ago. I’ve been trying, with questionable success, to get a series going that involves shooting local mini-docs similar to what you post here. Whenever I talk to team members about it I send links to your work as examples of what we should aspire to, and to show that there are stories behind every face, many of which are best shared. Inspiring even a few outweighs those who take out their anger on whatever figure suits them at the time, and it’s sad that they can’t find enough peace in their lives to stop striking out at others. But my point is that I’m very glad to have found this blog, and hopefully I’ll be able to act on what it’s taught me in the near future.

  26. Phillip,

    Not sure if you remember me or not but I had the pleasure of attending the Key West Masterclass last year – What a great experience! Maybe one of the best experiences of my life because of that class I have formed life long friendships and learned a hell of a lot –

    I am not sure if you understand or realize how many peoples lives you have changed through education, sharing, and motivating people to chase down their dreams(our significant other may curse you under their breaths) – but I can honestly say you have had a very positive impact on my life and for that I thank you!

    If it were not for you I would be an estate agent and thank fuck I am not an estate agent because I would be miserable!

    Thank you for everything!

    Mr. Williams woud be proud

  27. It’s funny, I actually had a talk very similar to this to my team today. I am also doing what i love doing for a living. I’m not in the big bucks yet but i’m making it enough to do it full time and support myself. I am extremely passionate and have worked very hard as well as took a bunch of risks and sacrifices after realizing it was what i truly wanted to do with my life. I also didn’t discover it until i was 23. I agree completely about the amount of hard work you put in and if you are talented and actually out there then opportunities will present themselves. you can’t sit around expecting things to come to you. it also helps to have a great team of likeminded individuals you can count on that communicate with each other. I have been browsing and reading your articles for over a year now but have never posted but this I finally had to. You truly are an inspiration and keep people like me motivated and confident to work even harder and realize I have made the right choice.

  28. Philip don’t take this the wrong way, for I say this as from a friend who cares about you, but you worry way too much about what people are saying about you. People say horrible stuff about George Lucas every day, but that doesn’t make him what he is in the end. And you don’t see him explain himself like this. He doesn’t need to and neither do you. He is way too well known and busy to even look at that stuff or care, and you should be the same way. What is going to happen when you go mainstream and get insanely huge and famous? If for a couple of trolls here and there you are writing full articles when you get even bigger you’ll write a Bible or something and go mad. Just do your thing, we all love you.

    1. Appreciate comment, but the comparison is not a valid one for me. I have explained I run this site myself and I am in constant direct contact with our small community. I am the one who opens the emails, approves the comments and talks directly every day with people. Not someone working for me. That is the difference.

      Best
      P

  29. Philip,

    I first started following you when I took in a workshop in SF. I have loved lighting and stories through a single image, and now have been able to expand into new areas to tell my stories with video. I have followed you and Vincent and am always glad to find something new to consider.

    While photography is still my primary behind development, I am working on my video craft when I get a chance. I love what you are doing and I can only say, keep your chin up! You are touching far more lives than the nay sayers and trolls come through.

    More importantly, I say thank you for what you do. We might be silent more times than not, but we still enjoy and love the work you do and that you share what you do!

  30. Hey Philip,

    Great post! I just wanted to say a BIG thank you! Thank you for sharing all this invaluable information with us on the inter-webs! (been following your blog since 2009 i think – loved the Skywalker-Ranch films)

    You and your blog has been a massive inspiration to me, and continue to be. I really admire your honesty, generosity and humility. Huge respect. I am a big fan of your work and films, I am inspired by the images you capture and create.

    Don’t let the haters get you down. Take care & God bless you. And please come back and do some more workshops in South Africa again soon! 🙂

    Cheers,

    Trevor Goodwin – Pretoria, South Africa

  31. Phil – I have been reading your blog and enjoying your films for years and have never once commented. Maybe I was mistaken about that, as you obviously could use some positive reinforcement. I am not a newbie or a film student. I got a kickass education at an amazing film school called SUNY Purchase and graduated in 1990. We edited on flatbeds, we could load any film camera in seconds and we could light any room in 45 minutes or less (and we could tell a story as well as sync some audio). I saw non linear editing and the dv explosion as a professional DP and rode the wave. I shot film, I shot amazing looking video and I learned what digitizing footage was. Most of this technology changed after school, so I had to absorb and learn on the fly. Trusted knowledge-sharing is paramount to me being able to implement the latest technology and if we leap forward to the last few years, I count you and Stu Maschwitz as my go-to, independent, sincere, “please break this madness down for me”, real world working, holistic, generous, kind, thoughtful, expansive and inspirational people to follow.

    Stu wrote a book called the DV Rebel Guide and I count that as a modern bible for aspiring filmmakers. Maybe it is time for you to publish something in that vein. Go ahead, take a sabbatical from the blog or post less frequently, go back and take the posts that speak to the heart of why you care, what you have to share (tons) and the big advice like “don’t worry about the camera model”. If those of us that appreciate you buy this book and can suggest others to buy it, those noisy sh*t slinging trolls will have to back down. Free advice is easy to criticize if you feel like trolling. Advice people happily pay for is very difficult to argue with.

    I am a person who is always excited to push the limits of technology – I used to shoot digibeta that I treated myself in after effects in the mid-90’s that people thought was film. I own a 5D mark iii and of course have followed the latest ML story. Do I have all the time in the world to test all of this out before using on a project? Not at all. I run a studio in 13 time zones. Luckily I have your blog to read, and know I am getting a straight, honest, no bullsh*t answer from the perspective of a working professional. That’s the key – so many blogs are written by self-taught DIY filmmakers who may not have the same criteria as I do. If they make a music video for their friend on their weekend using this tech and it fails, they think that is not a big deal. If you make a film using this tech and it fails, it is a reflection on your reputation as a filmmaker. There is a complete scarcity for the kind of knowledge you offer, so know damn well that you are respected and needed and adored.

    Have a drink, take a break, write a book based on your favorite posts and follow your muse.

    respect –

    Marco North

  32. Actually just created this account to say one thing: Thanks and your awesome! You should listen the Norwegian singer Maria Mena song – F**k You, if you let the basement dwellers get to you, It’s about internet trolls.

  33. Phil’s Site is a GREAT source for anyone interested in cameras.
    And it is an even greater source and MONEY Saver for those wanting to get into making film.

    Phil is the only one I know that does not do Sneak Advertisement. He openly states what is going on.

    Been reading this blog for years and seen phil speak his mind honestly and with an integrity which I truly respect.
    Seen him write the utmost truth about his RED experience where everyone else would just write RED-Pleasing posts.

    I’m personally allergic to fake intentions. But I have yet to get a rash from this here site.

    If there were no banners or advertisements here, I would get allergic. Because that would most likely indicate a corporate interaction/sponsorship. A blog-runner on phil’s level needs to have a certain income/compensation for all that content. Such takes time and while I doubt NOT that he loves blogging – I KNOW he has to eat.

    Aside from that, the advertisement posted here is good advertisement. Not intrusive of nature. But very aimed.
    And I like that.

    Phil, I think it is great that you did this post. And you certainly have my support and vote.
    Keep up the fight.

  34. Hey Philip,

    My response was far too boring/in-depth to put here so sent you it via conversation on the forum instead. Rest assured it’s a positive one though 😀

    Jordan

  35. Hi Phillip,

    If you ever need a break from it all – I live in Cape Town, South Africa. Just drop in – stay as long as you need to. If it was not for you, I would not have re-discovered my love for Camera work. In the mean time I’m gonna blow the froth of a cold one and drink it on your good health. Cheers mate!

  36. Barbra Streisand ! I saw an interview with her recently.

    In it she said that people say you need to be thick skinned to survive the business, but Barbra disagrees. She said you need to be THIN skinned. Thin skin makes you sensitive, and it is your sensitivity that informs your art.

    From your heart felt post you are obviously a sensitive person and this is probably one of your greatest assets. It no doubt gives you a great degree of empathy with your subject and and with your audience, which raises your work from basic craft and up towards art.

    It is your thin skin that fuels your passion and it is your passion that has inspired me and so many others. So thank you.

    Next time you are feeling the pain of some idiot troll spewing out their hate, take solace in the notion that, for it to merely fly off you like water of a ducks back, you would need to be considerably less sensitive. And if you were a less sensitive person your work would become mediocre. And your experience of life would also become dulled.

    On a more technical note – the 5d raw thing – technology is great and getting the best quality image is noble pursuit, but I think it it too easy to get carried away focusing on the science and forget about the art.

    I am sure that if you got an audience and showed them a short film, shot on a 10 year old SD video camera but with a compelling, emotional and sensitive story, creatively composed and lit they would mostly love it and want to see more, but if you then showed them a few minutes of HD raw footage of flowers, blue skies and random people, not many in the audience is going to say wow i love that dynamic range and low noise level at high iso please show me more.

    Personally I am still blown away by my 5dmkII footage quality and I think that my current level of artisitc skill does not due justice to what the camera is capable of producing. ALL my energy and focus is on learning to make better art with it and tell better stories, learning to light better, edit better, compose better and so on.

    Thanks for your post, it has reminded me that being sensitive is an asset and that creative use of the tools, not the tools themselves, is the most important factor.

    Keep up the good work and all the best.

  37. Philip, I found your blog through somewhat of an accident a long time ago. I was curious about filmmaking on a very shallow level, but you have since inspired me to learn more and most importantly, start making films and following my passion.

    Being in my early 20s, stuck in a job I hate, your words really resonated with me and admire the very personal approach you take to your work. If you ever come to Berlin I’d jump at a chance to attend one of your classes.

    Until then, enjoy whatever time off you can find and remember, f**k the haters!

  38. Philip, thanks so much for your blog. I say this for myself and for the 800+ people looking at your site right at this very minute!

    F**k trolls and haters, they always appear around anyone or anything which is doing well. They can’t be helped, stopped, reasoned with or easily ignored. Just be aware that for every vocal nutbag spewing hate onto the internet there are a thousand times as many people out there who silently thank you for your knowledge, experience and information shared via this blog.

    Thanks again, chin up, back to work 😉

    Dan

  39. Don’t want to be the one not waving ‘thanks’ for being let in at a junction 🙂 THANK YOU! In fact ‘being let in at a junction’ is pretty good analogy for what you allowed me to do. I quit my job a couple of years ago to de what I really love, making wonderful moving images. It’s blogs like yours that made this possible! Thank you, and please keep us on the edge of our seats (or over it 🙂

  40. Peace Phil

    I am very impressed by your love and passion not just for what you do but for people, that is what these blogs are about, i wrote you an email myself asking if you will cover the 5d3 RAW thang, assuming you will anyway and it will shock the bells of some chaps i wrote you because i also thought your a peoples person, now i read this long messages and it is clear your a decent human being / peoples person not some selfish jerk who likes to brag about himself and takes his own photos etc,

    you have to admit though it will a laugh once you do a 5d3 RAW video, surprise us all, you are the king of the 5d period.

  41. “my new obsession…35mm film photography! I have a Nikon F3 and an F4 now and I am also looking at an old Leica Rangefinder. Why? Discipline. Taking 36 exposures makes you think before you take a photo. We have lost that discipline in photography and also in video.”

    I’m with you Phillip, but I decided to go back to the roots even further and backed the following Kickstarter…

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ondu-/ondu-pinhole-cameras

    Great job on your site!

    1. i would do a 5d3 raw review regardless, when you want, you have to, its your bag man, the world knows you for proving that the 5d2 was a personal fav for film makers indie and pro, we can not wait to see a video, maybe not justa 5d3,5d2 and other canons as well

  42. I am not a good filmmaker at all, in fact film making led me to photography which I am much better at. There is so much more to film making than making pretty pictures and I am in awe of people like you who have to ability to do it all themselves: storytelling, camera work, audio, lighting, editing, cinematography, etc.

    Your work keeps me interested in the art and am constantly impressed by your films and it keeps my passion alive for it. Watching your work has made me a much better photographer and maybe I will one day get good at film making too.

    Keep focused on the people that you inspire and forget those that try to bring you down.

    I remember in your previous post about work life balance I suggested you get rid of some of your camera stuff to free up your life some. I don’t know if your recent decision to do this had anything to do with my previous post but I am glad you are taking steps to improve the quality of your life. You can also improve it by simply unloading people that bring you down as well, ignore them as much as possible and realize they are probably untalented and jealous.

  43. I don’t leave public commentary very often, but I felt it’s appropriate here. Philip, you well know that most of those folks you alluded to are coming from a place of pure jealousy. I’m not sure what transpired between you and them, but what I can say between learning from you both in person and online for what must be more than half a decade now is that you’ve always been a great mentor and educator. I can honestly say that without stumbling across your site years ago I would not be where I am today. I was running the rat race until I saw your work and began constantly reading (and I HATE reading), researching and learning about the craft. Now, probably 6 years later, I’m a world away from where I was and spending my days crafting stories about something I care deeply about and with much better equipment and the know-how to use it! I’m truly happy with where life has taken me. Without that initial introduction to your work and the ensuing fascination with achieving such quality films, which I’m still admittedly far from, I would have never bought that first video camera, or shot that first film that has had such a profound impact on my life. So thank you Philip Bloom. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for being an inspiration. Thank you for being awesome!

  44. Hey mate

    Just a quick thanks for all you’ve shared over the years, whether entertaining, insightful or informative.

    But also a big thanks to your partner Sara, as I’m sure everyone here can appreciate that without her unconditional support you’d probably struggle like most of us to really pursue your passions, deal with the bridge dwelling creatures, and generally keep contributing to this great resource you’ve created.

    All the best, Caine

  45. Philip,
    “When people see me out living my dreams, my purpose…if they are not playing big
    and are not connected to their purpose, it scares them.” -Sean Stephenson

    It’s so true. When you live big and people see that, it’s a kick in the pants and then they have two options:
    1) They can get with the program and start living their purpose and create more value or
    2) They can tear down. And it’s much easier to tear down than to start taking control of your life.

    Here’s a link to the Sean Stephenson video I quoted above. It’s the last video on “Trolls” you’ll ever need to watch.
    http://youtu.be/0rV8FsJGkWA?t=1m8s

    One more quote from the video:
    “What other people think of you is none of your business.”

    Cheers

  46. Philip

    Just thought I’d add my voice to the many messages of support you are receiving here. I just want to say you are an inspiration and an all-round good egg. It has saddened me to see the trolling against you. It seems to me that one of the key reasons is jealousy. One of your main trolls (not mentioning any names here) clearly has a huge F65-sized chip on his shoulder. I’ve have noticed a long time ago that he is abusive to anyone who dares disagree with his opinion. I also believe he has issues with not being taken seriously as a film maker in the same league as yourself. (He’s also ranted against Vincent Laforet, Shane Hurlbut so you are in good company there). Frankly his vendetta against you smacks of schoolyard bullying and is unacceptable in my opinion. I hope you can rise above it and leave the trolls to their never ending camera tests.
    Keep on making great films and continuing to inspire.

  47. Phil,
    I started reading your blog almost one year ago. I don’t make money by shooting video, and 99% of my shooting is of my two sons. My dream is to make a behind the scenes film of a privateer team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it’s just a dream. Being a tech-related individual, I love reading your thoughts while you test all the different types of gear. I can tell that what you’re typing is from the heart- it’s quite easy to see that! This is what has drawn me to your site, and has me as a regular visitor.

    You seem like the type of guy that everybody wants to be friend’s with. Where I live, unfortunately it’s difficult to meet people, so I don’t really have any close friends. When I read your posts, it feels like i’m sitting with a friend, having a nice conversation. I’m assuming many others feel this way, too.

    So I extend a proud “thank you!” for sharing your thoughts with us. I have learned an incredible amount by reading your site. It has also helped me think differently, and realized that to work towards my dream that I have to edit more and shoot less!

    I appreciate your efforts, and look forward to learning more!
    Dave O.

  48. Philip,
    A long time ago I studied Shakespeare a whole term long (Hamet, and Romeo and Juliet, actually), and one footnote has stuck in my mind: Empty barrels sound the loudest… Don’t let the b*st*rds ground you down! Though we never met in person, it hurts me when they hurt you. Some years ago, I took your advice and bought a T2i/550D. I still use that camera intensively, and over the years, I have developed my skills, I got involved in a passion project of mine, and it has brought me many moments of joy. Your attention has moved to cameras I cannot afford right now (C300/C100/FS700), but I still read your blog, and often, in a nostalgic mood, I watch your films going way back. Lately, I have seen a transformation in your physical appearance: your gluten/weat free diet definitely pays off and you look healthier than ever! (I too am trying to stay off weat). I say: keep up the good work, and take care of yourself! Kind regards from Belgium!

  49. Philip!
    Even though we never met or talk, you are a friend.
    Your good personality just reflect out of you and it is so very easy to see.
    Don’t let bullies to run your life.
    If you need to get things out of your chest then we are here for you.

  50. Really enjoy your reviews, humor (American for humour) and your mini-docs. This is an incredibly exciting time in filmmaking technology. Though it’s changing so fast that it can be mind numbing. Your blog is helpful in sorting out how users can benefit from this technology. Your post on 4K is spot on. Everyone is talking 4K but I still do shoots for fairly prominent clients using the HDX-900. Tape! From my 7D to Sony’s HDC2500 and almost everything in between. It is exciting and frustrating at the same time. Cameras are chosen (in the real world) by producers, directors, editors, DITs just as often as by DPs and operators. Often for long laundry lists of the wrong reasons. Your blog helps to keep the bigger picture in mind (the exciting part). Please, keep it up!

    Oh and THANKS!

  51. Philip,

    I wish I wouldn’t have to see such a post (I least some of it). A famous French man Jean Paul Sartre once said, “Whether people say good things or bad things about me, I don’t really care as long as they talk about me”.

    I don’t think it applies to the person you are but unfortunately as soon as you get popular, the under achievers of this world uses someone else “fame” to drop some nasty non-constructive comments as they know it will be read by many people, in the hope a getting their 5 minutes of fame. I really feel for you. Since you have spend many years of your life giving everything you got for free, having those people delivering their crap must be frustrating. Selfishly, I hope you will find strength in all the people and that includes me who truly appreciate you site and if they don’t agree with you have the decency to address you with the respect you and everybody else deserve.

    I have followed you site since pretty much day one. I have also met you years ago at the BVE and you gave me some good tip on making by EX1 look more organic. You have inspired me but the real truth is that you have been for many years my “go to” toolbox for many many tips and I mean many many tip.

    Now things will always evolve and I can’t wait to see you next blog. I would like you to remember one thing. Out of all of us including me sometimes, who are getting exited with all the new toys, only a hand full have produce quality work if anything at all. Why? you should know Philip! it’s because we don’t have raw or DR or a full frame sensor etc…. who cares about the story, acting, lighting…

    Now do me a favour, do not waste anymore time even replying to those low life who have no clue what it takes to run a blog like yours and usually don’t even take the time to read it properly before sending their nasty comments about you advertising the gears YOU believe in.

    We all know it does cost money and even more of your time. Do keep up the good work!!!

    Funny, I never post anything on your blog, but this time I felt that a bit of support was need 🙂

    Bon Courage….

    Anthony

  52. Phil,

    You and I are almost the same age, we grew up in about the same time, and the story you told is similar to mine.

    You went in to TV news production — I went in to political communications.

    This means — I can tell you that if you’re getting attention — it’s because you’ve made yourself important. You’re a player. The people who criticize you are trying (usually pathetically) to elevate themselves by attempting to bring you down. The real result is the opposite — every one of their attacks promotes you — makes you bigger.

    Regarding you being sensitive to the pathetic people’s crap — follow the reporter’s advice — “disconnect.” It doesn’t mean you disconnect from your personal emotions — it means you “disconnect” from anonymous internet crap.

    In other words — you’re a niche celebrity — and the anonymous internet crap is part of the game.

    Finally — if you tell the bastards they’re getting to you — they’ll come at you harder. So — blow it all off — water off the duck’s back — you’re a niche celebrity, a big guy, a player — ignore the little guys who attempt to elevate themselves by belittling you. Remember — if you were truly irrelevant — no one would criticize you.

    So — congratulations — you’re relevant.

    Best,
    Andrew

  53. So I read your post today and felt the need to rant a little myself… I’m no professional film maker. I studied film in college (Documentaries mostly) and am now reaching into narrative film making. (Directing my first narrative series this summer… EXCITED!) I have to say (without sounding like a total creep) in many ways I can relate to your story… I was never that “Spielberg film protege” either (always interested in illustration myself) but then one of my mentors in community college suggested I take a film class and everything about what I wanted to do in life changed. I studied Doc media as video cameras were more accessible do to cost. Your mentor was right… Digital changed EVERYTHING and this is were MY rant starts.

    When the internet as a whole came into being it changed everything as well. The fact that people have the ability to have input into the lives of others whom they haven’t even met, should be jaw drooping and respected with the utmost care. We were given the privilege (not the “right” as some people “trolls” have demanded) to comment into each other’s personal lives. Its the age of constant criticism and weather any of your fans or pet “Trolls” agree with you or not they should always respect the fact that you have allowed them to comment. You have opened your personal life and work to criticism and comment and for that I am grateful. There are very few film makers who would be as honest as you are being and have been in your posts and for that we should all take a minute to reflect on it.

    As for direct criticisms of your willingness to make money… I say WTF???? WHO WOULDN’T!!! There is nothing WRONG or to be ashamed of or apologize for when it comes to your affiliations with products or camera reviews. Not only have you been fair and forthcoming but you haven’t cluttered your site with drop down and click through ads and for that alone I am grateful! There are so many crappy sites out there that hide their posts or intentions behind ads and would NEVER take the time to post on their blog if it didn’t turn a profit. Where as I see you interacting with the indie film and DSLR community all the time. (The Great Film Shoot Out was one of the first times I saw and heard your input about DSLR’s and it blew my mind!) The idea that people out there are “trolling” your blog, social media sights and good name because you haven’t agreed with them, or spitting hate because you “Make some money” is not only mind boggling but quite honestly one of THE biggest mistakes they can make. (Oh and just so you know… from a marketing stand point its kinda a good thing… It means people are talking about what you have to say 😉

    When you have the opportunity to talk with one of the leading DSLR film makers in the field, one of the pioneering DSLR beta testers YOU LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY! You don’t bash him for being more important and gracious and wealthy then you. You take the time to absorb their insights, experience and examples… Want to make a living making films? Watch and learn from the film makers who are DOING IT! Philip is just a guy yes, but he is one of many great film makers ALLOWING you to have a conversation with him. Why would you take that chance to rip him a new on?!?!?!?!

    Ok finally Philip, I don’t know you and really can’t pretend to. We’ve never gone to coffee or chatted about film but I do feel I can add to the conversation in this public place and I really do hope you read this. You truly are a very talented and inspirational film maker. Its because of your work and “rants” and silly little quirks (There were like 20 smiley emoticons in your post lol) that give people like me hope to find their calling in life. PLEASE don’t let your jealous little pet trolls bring ya down. You should know better than to let those people get to you 🙂 They are the ones who will never learn, will never grow, will never make anything of themselves… They will get turned down for gigs because they are impossible to work with on set and will wither away opportunities for pride. Don’t feed the trolls… they will only bite your hand.

    INSTEAD invest in your friends, family and fans! We support you! We are hear for you and have learned more than you could know about focusing a camera, shooting a silhouette, using a dolly, picking a camera and saving a few bucks. We are the ones who watch your work and marvel. We understand your point of view and are growing as photographers, directors, cameramen and film makers because of it. Be encouraged because its filmmakers like you that teach me something new every post, review and film shoot.

    Keep up the good fight. AND YES IT IS A FIGHT! The industry standards were and are to keep the little guy down and out! Film makers like you and the entire DSLR movement has completely and effectively challenged that model and we are winning! We are seeing strides in the film community that have changed film making in the same way the printing press changed writing…

    My final words in my silly time wasting rant (There goes my half hour lunch) are this.

    To all you film makers and fans of film makers… Be kind to the creators in this industry. Fight to defend your fellow film makers and friends. Give good and encouraging feedback when you can, because its people like Philip who can get things changed in the DSLR community, who can push for improvements and better customer relations, they are friends with the people MAKING THE PRODUCTS and are the catalyst to moving the industry forward! Their blogs may be the closest we will ever get to having influence in the industry so again treat them and the privilege you have been given to comment with respect.

    RANT FIN.

  54. Hi Philip

    I’ve been reading your stuff for ages now and it’s taught so much that really I should be paying you (is that my ethics statement?). It’s not just been your experience and insights that keep drawing me back to your page, but your honesty and, quite frankly, your open vulnerability for which you now seem to be paying quite dearly. But I do hope, rather selfishly, that you can find a way to continue, as for every troll out there, there are a hundred true fans who would love to continue sharing this love for filmmaking with you.

    Be strong, mate, and enjoy your movie.

    f.

  55. Hi Philip,

    I have been reading your blog and visiting your site for a good few years now. Just wanted to genuinely say thanks for all the hard work running this site. Your work is always interesting and your devotion to your filmmaking is inspiring. I have no time for detractors or spiteful people who try to create a negative consensus on the internet. Its a waste! Just so you know… ‘the right camera is the one you already own’ was very useful to me. I purchased an EX1 back in 2008. Since then I have added a Letus35 and a Hyperdeck shuttle – with its 10 bit 4:2:2 SDI out and my new little anamorphic lens I’m having a lot of fun getting mileage out of it! It’s heavy and cumbersome, but until I can purchase something else, it is and has been a brilliant ‘little’ workhorse and can still hold its own, so I’m not stressing!!! Anyway – keep this website going!!!! I’ts one of my ‘go to’ places on the web for filmmaking!

    Mart

  56. Philip, you’ve got my support! This is my first post on your site though I’ve been looking to you as a resource for several years — thank you for everything. P.S. Portrait of a Boxer is brilliant, in color and B&W!

  57. Hi Philip this is really a personal message and a thank you, it really doesn’t need to be posted. Im amongst the vast majority of people who unlike you, take and enjoy content on the internet whilst putting back little to nothing. I follow many sites and I’m very guilty of not really being properly involved, simply a silent spectator.

    However your personal post has for the first time i can remember sparked me to reply as i really enjoyed it and wanted to say thank you for many reasons i will address, but also say i really have a great deal of respect not only for your site but in your attitude to both work and life… and also overcoming the negativity of others without it effecting yourself.

    Just as a bit of background my name is Myron Johnson I’m 25, currently living in sunny old Leeds. and studying at the Northern Film School if you’ve ever heard of it. Up until a few years ago, I was a drifter and a bit of a waster swinging from working terrible minimum wage jobs (supermarkets, care-homes, building sites etc. etc.) or traveling and dreaming of a life worth living haha. (cheesy i know, but i am slowly getting there) well il try and sum it up as best i can, I was living in leeds 6 years ago and alongside a turbulent and intense relationship i had some pretty terrible addictions and was day dreaming of returning to india (i went to the Himalayas manali-leh when i was 17) I packed up shop went to my parents to clean up, got a terrible job and year later with only a few days off, i was traveling to Mumbai with no plans what so ever, except not coming back. It was during this period before i left for mumbai that i started reading your blog, fuelled by the dslr for video revolution. Id always had cameras mostly film and got a 350D when it was first available under £1000 an aeon ago haha. anyway….

    again trying to sum things up far to quickly… I lived in mumba and met a writer called Nandan, whom i fell in love with (platonic haha) and we took a story he had written and storyboarded/planed out a whole film from it…. reading your site and learning about equipment etc. made me truly believe we could shoot the whole feature ourselves with no experience (ive always been a dreamer) I tried every single option i could think of coming back to the U.K to get funding, and was unshockingly laughed at a lot…. with a dashing of disbelief…. obviously no one had faith with my zero work to show them.

    So long term goals had to be set, tried indian film schools couldnt afford them, tried UK ones ucas failed miserably, so i just started calling and hassling them, until i got interviews…. (at which point i was offered places on the spot…. relief!) since then ive been putting my dreams into practice. Ive been back to india and will be doing so again soon, last time to study at whistling woods (amazing film school) for a month this time to write another script (long story i wont bore you with :-)…) I have just produced my first short film ‘Bon appetite’ (i can share it with you if you like… would love a little feedback), and despite being the most conceptual and unpractical person you could imagine, i managed to amass 25+ people, all kinds of free equipment and locations raise some extra money to add to the tiny budget we got and shot the whole thing for about £2500. And this has lead on to offer’s to produce and shoot all kinds of things from concert promo’s. experimental music videos another short film project with some Indian masters students with a slightly better budget (10k) and the chance to shoot all over the great yorkshire outdoors at the end of the summer… and a million other ideas and projects…. and my Indian writer friend is in the process of signing the contracts on the story we worked on together… although i may not be directly involved as i had wished.

    Anyway sorry for so much to say and my terrible dyslexic writing skills. But the crux of this is that honestly without your advice and opinions and informing me about things like the Gh2 + hack (i love mine and my voigtlanders… my bank account doesn’t! haha) and all kinds of other things…. i would really of never had the audacity to believe i could make a film… and this came to me at a real crossroads in my life… and that dream will im sure continue to shape the future. And wether you read these or not i will try my best to find the time to continue to keep you updated with all the good that is now flowing into my life… alongside a silly amount of work and stress 🙂 haha.

    but my point badly written and made is this, for every 1 person who thanks you directly on your blog there is probably 10-20 more who simply lie silent in there appreciation. It takes someone brave to put themselves out there and be honest and offer there opinions and advice…. and I for one really really appreciate it.

    Good luck with all your future work and plans and dreams, and I can say for the first time in my life that really my own dreams and plans are finally making there way slowly into reality and not just distant abstract pipe-dreams.

    all the best for the future!

    A loyal reader and fan,

    Myron Johnson 25

  58. Dear Philip, I red your post and I have to say I am very happy to be part of your story as many of us! First I didn’t think its important to tell you this…. but It really is!!! 3-4 years ago I sent you a personal email after following your site for a while and in this email I asked your opinion about what camera I should buy and I explained you what I would like…. You took the time and answered me, pointed me in the right direction and gave me advice. I fell in love with all this videography and I feel that I can thank you a Very big part of this! Videography and its community brought me lots of happiness in the last few years and in some way a particular balance in my life. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS! I hope I will be able to shake your hand for this someday! 🙂 All the best for you! Good health and happiness! 😉

  59. I think your statement was possibly one of the saddest things that I have read on the internet for a long time and by no means because what you said, but because you felt that you needed to say it! You have given and continue to give so much to the independent film community and although I’ve never met you (and probably never will), you seem like such a nice guy that I just can’t comprehend why anyone would want to personally attack you. It truly baffles me.

    I only found my love for filming in my late 20’s/early 30’s and after years of an unhappy work life I made a change that has left me a little poorer, but very, very much happier. I now run a small but growing independent production company (yes it is just me most of the time!) and in part your website and dare I say your mentoring and words of wisdom inspired me to make the change that has made such a fundamental difference to my life. Sure I may not see a lot of my wife and kids on the odd occasion when schedules go crazy, but I never saw them at all in my previous jobs!

    The bottom line is that you have certainly helped to make me a happier person and that is a wonderful thing to do for another being, so thank you. I’ve never said it before because I just sort of assumed that you knew you were helping people. I guess that was a big oversight on my part and undoubtedly on many many tens or even hundreds of thousands more who read your site. As for the trolls? Well I think you summed it up nicely on your own. Unfortunately they’ll always be around just as school playground bullies were, but they really can’t do any real harm if you don’ let them.

    Thanks again Philip, you’re a star!

    Simon Spear
    http://www.spearfilms.com
    http://www.viewfromtheblue.me.uk

  60. Great read Philip, but a shame that you felt the need to write it.

    I stumbled across your work only a few months ago when I watched a piece you were doing to camera about the whole DSLR movie thing – thing it was filmed a few years ago.

    To be honest, I don’t understand much of what you talk about (having only just started to explore the movie settings on my DLSR), but nevertheless I love watching the features you do. It’s encouraging me to get out and film more (and make plenty of very basic mistakes – but that’s the point!).

    You couldn’t be more transparent in the things you say if you tried and you frequently state that it’s only YOUR opinion. Can’t say fairer than that. So for these fools that knock you down? Well, it just shows that they’re narrow minded individuals that cannot bear someone not agreeing with their own view. Leave them to it – it’s ultimately their loss.

    I fully understand and appreciate the time and effort that must go in to making and upkeeping this site – but PLEASE keep it up. It sounds a bit of a fan boy thing to say, but I think the majority of people who follow your work find you an inspiration.

    Thanks again and keep walking your path.

  61. Philip,
    I raise my hand in supporting you.
    I am 52 excited to start a second career in video production. You showed me the professional capabilities of the 5D Mark II. I did not have to go spend 10s of thousands of $ to open a shop.
    Of course we are a fledging company for now (i have a partner) and feeling our way through. You and a very few others are my film school. You are an inspiration. In fact I can’t wait for you to go deeper into the making of mini docs. Not the gear but the creative approach. Maybe soon.

    I have experienced a similar “treatment” with my first short movie (http://www.cat3productions.com/therecipe/director-s-cut.html). It was done under a very tight deadline of less than 20 days for a contest.
    It did not win anything. Which is totally cool with me. But what stung really hard was the only review a week later completely shot it down. I felt like I let everybody down. The crew, the actors, my friends who helped me out in the process. I could not watch it again. I finally did after a month. To be honest, there is a lot of room for improvement and maybe the project was too ambitious under the guise of the contest but it is not that bad. There is some pretty good shots in it (shot with 5d II and III)
    when I was down, I turned to you and what you are offering on your site and it helped a lot. So thanks for your support and turn a deaf ear to he naysayers.
    (I really want to pick your brain about those minidocs

  62. my name is max rosenheim, I once called you “felipe florido”, which is a literal translation of your name: philip bloom; you are philip bloom right? I am here to check that sense of humor of yours (plz read to the end, all rhetorical):

    do you truly believe you can be loved by all beings?

    do you believe in what you do?

    would you still do it without public recognition?

    does your output come from the heart?

    does your father’s house have a moisty floor?

    do you never think people envy you?

    do you, occasionally, cure the blind?

    did you never do wrong to someone?

    do you never self promote?

    do you never think see yourself as superior?

    have you got absolutely no (emotional) gear attachments whatsoever amen?

    do you only speak good things about competitors?

    do you only speak good things about women?

    do you see your mother in all women?

    is your mother a virgin other than madonna?

    is everything leaving your lips true?

    do you plan to spend long seasons fighting the unfaithful?

    do you never see yourself as a sex-machine god?

    do you think you don’t need a herd of worshippers?

    do you calmly seat below trees for long periods?

    do you see yourself as a figure of public domain?

    do you think public talking about you should only be good or neutral?

    do you see yourself as a nice chap?

    do wild beasts understand you?

    Is your work promoted in your blog/site?

    do your have more “hired work” ’cause of your blog/site/figure visibility?

    do you never cheat?

    do you never think of you as a victim?

    do you know me?

    do you know all living creatures soul’s corner ice cream?

    do you never address someone only seeking for attention?

    did in any way “bad comments” have made ill your cats?

    are you here to save humankind?

    do your cats care about what you do?

    enough…

    if all of answer are yes, you are the new messiah (or future mental patient) and going to suffer as such, if it’s a mixed bag, you’re (probably) just plain human… which means you still have a chance… of enlightenment, like the rest of us, your brothers and sisters.
    max

    gashô

  63. It’s all about the energy and it always has been. Be it gas, electricity or attention.
    Believe it or not the attention is the most important form of energy nowadays.
    The Internet gives us the possibility to invest our attention in countless ways, be it positive or negative.
    There are people who enjoy the adventure and people who are afraid to step out of their door’s threshold. The latter are the ones who consume their whole energy, their whole attention on negative facts.
    I for one believe that you should bypass comments coming from them, this way you won’t waste your energy on things that don’t matter.

    I’ve been following you in the last couple of years and you are a nice guy.
    I really wanted to write this reply because you seem a little bit sad.
    Cheer up Phillip!

  64. Ok
    So every time I drive over Richmond Bridge (a few times a year) I remember a camera review shot in the sunshine using the victorian weir as the backdrop that you did- Also grew up on the Thames @ Thames Ditton so know the scene. – that is the area and culture in 70’s and 80’s. That is a valued impression!
    I have followed your posts in the last year and empathise with what I read of in your current post- interesting career developments afoot by the sounds of it.
    Anyway keep writing and showing your work it is really interesting, technically useful, down to earth, honest and funny. I am not really interested in the comments that follow on too much just the content of your posts.
    Aritist Jeremy Deller, currently showing at the Venice Biennale said this week in a R4 programme that he doesn’t read critical reviews of his shows, doesn’t watch coverage- doesn’t get involved in it once the work is out there……..
    With a blog I guess it is different as you are inviting comments and there are some good conversations and info if there is the time to read.
    Looking forward to your next post 🙂

  65. Great post Philip. Forget the trolls. You and your little blog here have been an invaluable resource for education and inspiration to me.

    I’m a few years older than you and have been toiling away in a variety of other creative fields.Throughout that time I always tried to maintain my passion for videography with occasional dips in the “movie maker” pool. But it wasn’t until I started seeing work by guys like yourself, and then reading your blogs, that I got the gumption up to get off my duff do something. For that I am grateful.

    Sure your reviews of the AF100 and then the GH3 may have motivated me to buy them, but I don’t regret it one bit. Nor should you have any qualms over your great reviews of products. Most of us out here in the internet land know that you aren’t some paid industry promo clown. (Hell, I work in advertising so I ‘ve been trained to smoke out those Hacks.)

    So Like I said, I don’t regret my camera buys. They serve me well in my ongoing struggle to become a better film-maker, as does the chunks of wisdom from you that can be found on this site. (Like not jumping on the totally raw and 4K wagon. Seriously, not all of us have access to a server rack with a few hundred terabytes of free space for files.)

    Keep the faith. Cheers, Ed

  66. Hi Philip,

    I hope this is one of the comments/post about yourself that you read!

    Can I start by thanking you for all of the help, and tireless support you have given us over the years. Long may it continue!!

    I don’t know you personally, but you really do come across as one of the good guys.

    I’m not kissing butt here, just stating fact…..

    You have inspired a large number of people to put down their TV remotes, get off their backsides, and become film makers, rather than just dreaming of becoming one!!. That’s quite a legacy, and something to be proud of !!

    Thank you again Philip, peace, and positive energy, and vibes to you.

    Dave

  67. Such an honest post – kudos Phil. Trolls be trolls unfortunately, but I think people just need to appreciate how much of a resource PB.net is, how as a filmmaking community we’d not have as much information without it, and how ‘effin long it takes to make an in-depth blog post (not to mention edit a review video etc ).

    So here’s a weird segue, Gluten-free. Genuine question, how are you finding it? For me being creative and thinking on my feet (i.e. whenever operating a camera) really nosedives whenever I don’t have energy and / or am hungry. Do you (or did you) ever find that to be an issue going to the non-gluten side? Been thinking about it for a while, but c’mon man, you’ve gotta question anything that bans rich teas.

  68. Philip,
    I’m reading you loud and clear. After all it’s our actions and attitudes that make us “professionals” isn’t it? Not nasty comments to on another. Thanks for being a professional both in skill and fairness and ethics.

    I’ve followed you since the Letus days and think you are a great sounding board when things are being talked about. Your comments reaffirmed in me my initial purchase of the GH2 a while ago (which I hacked quickly.) It’s good to clear the air sometimes and to say “Hey, that hurts,” when things do.

    Your post was well said, and I appreciate it and your insight. At’a boy!

    Regards,
    -Neal

  69. Good morning Philip,

    I really felt for you when I read your statement. The fact that you had to write it in the first place shows that you really care what people think about you…..thats not generally a bad thing, but as we both know there are some complete idiots out there who feel that they have the right to verbally attack others without justification…..the fault lies with THEM Philip…..NOT YOU!!

    Just look at the comments in response to your statement…….says it all really…….people do care.

    Hope you have a nice relaxing weekend.

    Peace

    Dave

    (By the way……If you need anyone to help moderate your site, please let me know.)

    1. Good day Philip. I understand alot of what you are feeling. I am a professional entertainer and have won all the top awards in my field. People can be very jealous and frankly mean when they see success from someone else. This is there way of being bigger and feel better about themselves. It is hard to have a thick skin, but as time goes on you will feel that you don’t need a thicker skin because you realize that its there issue not yours. I have met you many times, ate lunch in buffalo ny, played in your poker tourny in vegas and been to two of your lectures and you are a good man, kind and well spoken. Look how long I had to scroll down to get to the bottom of this post. That says it all. The other guy, well who cares. What is important is that you believe and know who you are and I believe all what you said in your post is the man I met. It is not about money or fame in life, I have had a taste of both and realized its how you feel and how you make the family and friends around you feel, and frankly by the look of the letters replied in this post you have made alot of people feel good. Thanx for doing what you do. Best wishes Greg Frewin

    2. Philip

      I’m not a film-maker by any stretch of the imagination but I love to be creative. A couple of years ago you inspired me to go and buy and GH2 and start experimenting with cinema – in particular your lovely film of your mum cooking!

      Inadvertantly, you gave me something very special – what I soon found out was that I could attach my dad’s old M42 lenses onto the GH2 with an adaptor, which were far better than the stock lens the GH2 came with!! My dad passed away when I was 18 and I had never really shared his passion for photography. Now I could with his own lenses and a yearning to make films…admittedly mostly of my family and dogs but hey! Through his lenses and the awesome GH2 I now get it and I’m hooked. I have since purchased the Voightlander 25mm lens from reading your posts and absolutely love it.

      I love reading your posts and watching your films, which are a real inspiration….I have learnt a lot so thank you! Much man love…

    3. Hey Phil, you know I have followed your evolution for a few years now…I read your BIO and from the beginning looked tot your experiences with gear and your opinions with great interest..i
      I hhave never read the comments of others on your site as I do not know their background or motives nor do they iinterest me.
      Keep up the good work on gear and experiences articles …….for …… me as a reader that IS “PHIL BLOOM”

      Seems you have come to the crossroads of time where your success has been the ” enemy to your lifestyle” perhaps time to hand over the website to someone else and simply be a contributing editor. While you do what you love best

      Kind regards
      Mark Fry

  70. As someone who’s also been the target of attacks, I can totally relate and empathize. You put so much of your time and effort into something, primarily for the love of the craft. Then you get attacked and it….how did you put it? Gobsmacks you. I like that phrase. Sounds very British. 😉

    As you wrote, haters are gonna hate. (Or as I like to say it, “Hatahs are gonna hate.”) It is what it is. Trolls are to the internet what orcs are to Middle Earth. But you’re Aragorn my friend (I was going to call you Legolas to match the accent, but you’re much too gruff to be an Orlando Bloom. Sorry mate. 😉 No matter how much it looked like the Fellowship would not win against Sauron, they were victorious. They did not let despair set in.

    So when you’re at home, late at night, reading some ridiculous vitriol about something as unimportant in life as 5D3 raw, just remember…you’re Aragorn. Keep up the good fight for the sake of our “Middle Earth.”

    The force will be with you..always. (Wait, did I just mix movies? Let the sci-fi/fantasy geek trolls attack).

  71. Philip.
    I know somewhat of where you are coming from. I have been involved in the entertainment business for over 30 + years. Two things that I have learned, is that when you put yourself out there fully exposed, there will always be a certain group of people that for whatever reason, will take advantage of the fact that your exposed. Maybe it makes them feel superior, maybe what your doing is a threat to what they are trying to do. Who knows. But know this, their watching, their paying attention if they weren’t they wouldn’t care to make a comment, positive or negative. Therefore your opinions do matter!!! your insight and dare I say sensitivity does matter, to a lot of people out there that are trying to create something. Don’t stop doing what your doing!!!!!!!
    Two. I found, and use a simple statement that I got from my Father in Law. Don’t take yourself to seriously. Which, after reading your blogs and reviews , seems you do as well. For me, it makes dealing with the critics easer to take. To be able to laugh at myself is very liberating.

    Soooo, keep up the great work. Without guys like you, guys like me would probably be working the counter at a local Samy’s camera.
    Love those guys by the way.
    DW

  72. I’ve got nothing but the utmost respect for you. You’re probably too modest to accept it but you are a kind of celebrity to the indie film crowd. It’s a crowd that is growing and is exposing you to more kinds of people. I’d have a guess and say that most of the people, more than 98%, you have met have been great and the hate you get is all online, never face to face. You’re basically getting cyberbullied and gossiped about and the best way to deal with it is to ignore it. Unless you figure out a way to rid the world of arseholes they will always be there and the only way to make them go away is to block them out. The haters and the trolls will eventually go on to their next victim to fulfill their desire of spreading their own insecurities and misery. Don’t let it get you down, they don’t deserve the attention.

  73. Phillip,

    you have inspired millions to pick up a camera and create beauty. You have taught us all how to do it the right way.

    We were all blind, clueless and confused , you showed all of us a path, you lead us and we followed you in the darkness.

    It was a great journey, we learned, we created.

    We do owe you a lot.

    You are a true Master.

    Thank you,
    J

  74. Hi Philip
    Having just recently re-discovered my personal passion for both still and moving images after a pretty low point (20 years as a graphic designer had left me extremely jaded) I just wanted to add my voice to all those who are saying such nice things about you.
    The humour, passion and care that you bring to every aspect of your posts, interactions and videos is both inspiring and humbling and I can honestly say that this site (and your online presence in general) is one of the main reasons that I have enjoyed so much dusting off my old lenses, buying a new dslr and getting out shooting at all manner of odd hours 🙂
    I love the technical stuff you post almost as much as I enjoy your irreverent humour but most of all I really respect the way that you are willing to expose your thoughts and feelings about gear, philosophy and life in such a frank and open way. It makes me feel good about creativity again 🙂
    Keep up the good work
    Tim

  75. Hi Phil,

    I few philosophical things you might try to lessen the sting from trolls/criticisms/haters.
    – stop thinking of them as people and start look at them as events – they are an end event from a long causal chain and you are just their peashooter target du jour. Cause and effect produces some real annoying people.
    – realize that ending up being mean spirited or cheerful (and helpful – Like you) really was’t a choice for them. So many things can go wrong under the age of 21 you cannot being to list them. A little thing like a back stabbing friend can derail your life for decades. Their rage is a call for pity and a call keep patching up this world.
    – Your success might be depressing to those that tried equally hard but got the booby prize every time or got into some sort of financial, criminal or health trouble that wrecked their lives along the way. For them it might be hard to see in you a version of what they might have been. So they are bitter and their bitterness is well earned.

    In short, avoid things you can’t unsee or unread about yourself. Life is too short to dilute yourself with troll comments. Of course you are going to see them and of course it is going to hurt, just realize the shit that made them that way and it’ll be easier to refile or delete them.

    You have been my one and only mentor since I first bought your DVDs on using the 7D. Your blog is where I went for inspiration and ideas. Before your influence I was shooting shit after shit after shit. I thought there was something seriously wrong with my equipment. Turns out I didn’t know my equipment or about good lenses. Apres-Bloom I started churning out half-decent music videos on a shoe-string budgets. You taught me 90% of what I know.

    I’ll probably never meet you and you’ll probably never see my stuff but thanks for everything. If I ever do something good enough to garner attention I”ll have only your name to thank as teacher and inspiration. For most of us, nobody, even our families understands what we do or why we do it. In fact they thing it’s a really bad wasted of time and money. And the supportive communities all seem to be online. Phil, enjoy the love you get. There is a lot of it out there.

  76. Здравствуйте, Филип!

    К сожалению, я не знаю английский язык настолько, что бы в полной мере выразить признательность вам. В вашем блоге настолько интересные статьи, истории жизни, Вашей жизни. Ведь каждое сообщение – отражение души, внутреннего состояния. Заходя на ваш сайт, я не жду каких-либо тестов технических новинок, я не жду рекламных акций, я жду рассказа. Вы вдохновляете, вы даете осознание, что идти путем добра – это правильный путь. Как бы ни была развита техника, ценится не она как самостоятельная единица, а ценятся те эмоции, которые сумел отобразить человек, стоящий за камерой и нажимающий кнопку REC =)
    Спасибо!

  77. Hi Phil

    I think where some of the problems lie is in a preconcieved idea about advertising and integrity I know you go to great lengths to reassure people but and this is just a suggestion and not mean’t to be critical or judgemental but how about turning the site into subscription only? Maybe £10 a year or something and then having no sponsers at all? Or cutting the site back so you can manage it without advertisers. You could allow manufacturers to send you kit for evaluation still.

    The preconcieved problem in the conflict of interest. is the question mark “How could you fairly judge a piece of kit knowing the manufacturer could pull your income and if that grows and you become dependent on that income..” Its dodgy ground in many eyes Even our most trusted like politicians and bankers have to have rules because quite a large chunk of them ruined it for the honest ones.

    This is not referring to you but the sort of thing I have seen happen are bloggers or experts/Guru’s paid by advertisers will point out the flaws in a piece of kit as minor problems with easy workarounds and then into overdrive about its maybe single strength like being light weight cos its err made from cheap materials etc …THEN when they compare the competition that doesn’t advertise go into hyperdrive about the competitions weaknesses and hardly mention or even undermine its strengths. The thing is when that happens its as see through as the emperors new suit.

    Possiby for Experts/boggers/guru’s who want to advertise and beyond scrutiny is to just introduce sponsers kit and no one else and promote its functions. That way its clear your promoting stuff by your sponser.

    1. Hi Phil

      I wanted to make my last post clear I’m not having a dig I felt some sympathy for the fact you felt you had to write the article and was trying in my own way to give you some ideas that might maybe help you get through this. Personally I would take no notice when others say negative stuff. Actually treat it as a compliment they think its worth their time.

      Anyway I’m sure your career will move upwards!

      Best,

      Mark

  78. Hi Philip,
    This is my first comment on the blog or forum after 7 years. I decided to stop posting my views or opinions after I had seen how much hate there is on the internet for unimportent topics. Few times I had a desire to tell something, but I resisted, until now. I try to see things or people as objective as it is possible without any prejudices, from what I read in your posts I can not understand those attacks against you, I haven´t read them, however I have noticed some cues in the posts of others I follow. I tried to work with the RAW footage and I have to admit I share your view. It’s quality is fantastic but with tools I have as enthusiastic amateur with very very limited or no budget, the worklfow around is very difficult for me. I shoot only for my pleasure and memories, however I really do want to reach image quality as well story telling as you have in your short films.
    Now, I am writing as I would like show my respect for you and what you are doing and really THANK YOU as your web is really helping, mentoring and I always get back here for your opinions. I would really love to see much from your work, not just the final work but also the way how you get to the final result, maybe more of the editing, grading, cutting and so on. First time I came here it was because of your education section on the top of the page. I know there are many YT tutorials and how to, but I always wonder how it is possible that your footage looks so clean and amazing even on DSLRs. I would also have to tell you I admire you as a person, from what you have written above, it reminds me many ideas how to became a more satisfied happier person and not to forget what is really important in our lives, one warm THANK YOU for that as well. I know you are quite bussy but may I ask if it is possible to ask you personally by mail or message for advice from time to time?

    Once again thank you

    Best regards

  79. Hi Phil,

    When I came out of college a few years ago, I was looking to expand on my video/film/gear/everything knowledge and found your site along with nofilmschool, and I love this site. The amount of knowledge you share and the time you take to review products honestly has been a big help for me.

    I bought a Blackmagic Camera, even with the flaws, because it would work really well for me. Your review was great and honest, but like you said it was just your opinion and what you need isn’t what I need.

    You’ve been a big inspiration to me and I hate to see all this negativity toward you from people that probably just wish they did what you’re doing. I think as creative people we take everything to heart, simply because we pour so much of ourselves into our work and much, almost all, work is subjective.

    Thank you for all you hard work and knowledge that you share. You’re truly and inspiration and seem to be a pretty cool guy too. If you’re ever in DC, I’ll buy you a drink. Or maybe you should buy me one, you seem to be doing well haha. Naw, I’ll buy one, you just get the second round.

    Thanks again for all you do,

    Jason

  80. Hi Philip,

    Been reading your blog since the 35mm adapter days…woo…way back then! You provide a great real world resource on benefits and limitations and that was very useful since that information helped focus my limited resources, and I thank you for that. Plus being able to see what was possible…you’ve been an indirect mentor. I met you once at the Canon Series here in Dallas (won a free ticket, woo hoo!), but being the popular guy you are didn’t want take much of your time from other folks.

    Regarding the web, people do whatever they need to do to attract people to their sites. Sometimes its multiple mentions of the latest camera release even though there is no content on the camera…so since your name is hot, and flies are drawn to s*&% that is probably the real motivation behind some of the bizarre posts. Visitors/links = money.

    Also, on a personal note, I am very happy to see you getting healthier and enjoying life more. My wife and I have been doing the same since she finished a challenging masters program…life is good and balance keeps it that way. Also, surrounding yourself with positive/constructive people is a large factor…I’m not talking blowing sunshine all the time, but folks who average towards positive…and don’t mind telling you like it is once in a while if you get out of line.

    Well if you ever find yourself in Dallas or even Austin again, I’d love to go out shooting with you or help out? Take care and keep it real!

    Bill

  81. First of all thank you for all your work on this site. It has helped uncountable numbers of people become better film makers, myself included.

    Second, it’s unfortunate that the very medium you use to educate people on the craft that you love is also allows them to say whatever they want with no consequence. Most things people say on the internet they would never say when speaking face to face. You should never give power to slanderous remarks made by faceless users on a website. The worst part is that there is no motive, they don’t speak ill of others online for personal gain, they just do it because they are sad, sad people.

    Lastly, we are working in a field that combines creativity, egos, and a MASSIVE amount of tools to choose from to execute a vision. That is a pretty volatile recipe for heated discussion, especially on the internet where you can say anything you want without someone punching you in the face.

    I wonder if gardening forums have heated and slanderous discussions about which kind of rake is better? I seriously doubt it.

    Keep on keepin’ on.

  82. Hey Philip,

    Thanks so much for this Philip! I really appreciate your honesty in all of your posts, I truly think that’s what separates you from all the other blogs out there. You speak openly from your heart about your experiences. That says a lot about your character and I believe has the most impact on people. I also think that this is integral to make films that will tell good stories and resonate with people.

    I’ve been following your blog for several years now, and I’m a freelance cinematographer/director as well. I have always gained a lot of insight from your posts, even back when we were doing 35mm lens adapters. But, this year when you posted about work/life balance regarding your friend passing away, your blog reached a new level and really helped me re-evaluate my life in the midst of my career, as I’m sure it did for a lot of people. Its so easy to get too wrapped up in film and not have balanced relationships, and I so appreciate that you’ve taken the time to share what you’ve been learning, acting as a mentor for a lot of us.

    And I’m sorry for the ridiculous comments out there, that is very lame, you deserve better than that! Regarding the 5DRaw debate, I have a 5DMIII and I think that its incredible that we can now shoot 1080p raw, but I fully agree with you of the drawbacks. 15 minutes of record time per 128 gigabytes isn’t practical for the majority of projects, along with the ardous workflow. But, it is still great to have the option. I simply just like having a sharper image and more latitude. I just wish I could also get that without the 14bit Raw to save space. Here’s a quick test video I did in Malibu a couple weeks ago when ML came out with it: https://vimeo.com/66680965

    Anyways, thanks again for your honesty on this post. You truly are a very creative and talented filmmaker (and person) and I know you will continue to do wonderful work!

    Cheers,
    Peter Borrud

  83. Hey Philip,

    I just want to let you know how much of an inspiration you are. I am a 24 year old film maker who just started in the industry about a year or so ago. I read your website nearly everyday and you are truly generous for taking so much time and energy to share your wisdom and experience about this art.

    It’s truly sad that the digital revolution has spawned a slew of folks who spend all their time talking about technical specifications and not making movies. I’m sure there are many that do not own nor have never used the cameras they spend all day talking about. You were more than fair about the whole 5d raw thing, and the craze will die down once people realize that more resolution, DR, color information, etc will not automatically make your work any better.

    Keep on Phil, you do wonderful work because you are a fantastic storyteller with a lot to offer all of us.

  84. Dear Mr Bloom

    If it wasn’t for stumbling onto your website a some years ago i would not have had the courage to really go for the true passion in my life which is film making and story telling..! I have had my up’s and downs in life personally but being able to convey an idea (when i was just doing still photography) and make it affect someone even in a small way was amazing to me and a gift.. but as a child seeing Citizen Kane (The master Gregg Toland as DOP) for the fist time had a lasting effect on me… I had and movie making bug and didn’t even know it..!

    All i really want to say is a really really big thank your for being a teacher when i couldn’t afford one and being supportive when i haven’t even met you…!!!!

    http://www.dillonrose.com

  85. I own a very large blog / forum as well, over 85,000 members and I have doing this for a very long time.

    You just can’t escape the attacks and the hate mail. In fact all my competition has stemmed from people who were removed from my forum who went off and started their own. They attract anyone who has ever been removed and the attacks can seem daily depending the moon cycle. Some weeks its like a sport to these people. I have even had people have running debates with me and against me on other sites without even being present.

    At some point you just have to let it go, and understand when you are at the top of the mountain there are always gonna be people who want to try and knock you off. The anonymous nature of the internet makes it even worst. We get the same things, cries of favoritism over sponsors, the charge you over monetized the site and it’s “not like it used to be” . It’s all the same thing. We can each go off in a corner and write a book and while our industries are vastly different, the stories would be exactly the same.

    The work you do with this site is so valuable words do it little justice. I use video for my site, with my training and it brings in a good deal of income for me. I use this site a as a reference all the time. I try to invest in the best I can get, and you help me weed through the choices. I am never gonna do a feature film or even a low budget indie, but still i use much of the same equipment as it makes my work look better. You assist me in that… and i feel your ethics statements are up front and very clear. The pros and cons are laid out and it’s easy to see what you are describing. This is huge for me.

    Continue to march to your own drum. You have great resource here and you help beyond your wildest dream. Consider for every one person who stops you in public and thanks you, there are 100 just too shy to say that same thing. The better your work, especially in this space the louder the critics get. Ignore them and focus on the positive.

    I truly enjoy your efforts and I truly appreciate your style and straightforward way.

    Cheers !

  86. I’m not on the up and up on the crap that people are spewing about you, but I’d venture to guess that they’re just jealous that you got something they ain’t got: a calendar full of good paying gigs that you enjoy working on (and a certain level of internet celebrity, which they can only dream of attaining).

    Jealousy is such basic human emotion that we all feel from time to time. Some people can nip that in the bud soon after the feeling wells up and some are driven to emote it — let off the pressure — in nasty, hateful ways. These tools seem to be slaves to the latter. In that sense, they ought to be pitied for it will just create more drama in their lives, casting them ever deeper in to turmoil, unease and disease. Sad really.

    You are so the man and the fact that you’re not some macho showoff, but rather a humble artistic person with a pension for sharing (as opposed to hoarding), you elevate yourself.

    I really appreciate your blog and your insights and your character. I’d totally have a pint with you… if you’re ever out on Maui, lemme know… in the meantime, send your detractors nothing but good vibes and love… they are desperate and starving for it. Our hearts go out to them, for they really know not what they do.

  87. Dear, Mr. Bloom,
    Thank you for being a great resource for aspiring film makers. I have followed you for a couple years now and have learned much. Your insight into the world of DSLR film making has inspired a generation. . You have raised the bar. I hope to meet you some day and personally thank you but for now this letter will have to sufice.

  88. HI Philip!

    I was working on buying a Panasonic v500 for $199 u.s. on Amazon this morning. Later tonight I ran across your BlackMagic camcorder. I can’t believe the over 132,000 views. I quickly ran through your personal post. I’d like to congratulate you. WELL, ever since I was a little kid I dreamed of being in a band (ROCK, non-death metal, except didn’t know quite where to take my dreams as a kid, you know, Black Sabbath going forward, but once the 80’s with the faster Death Metal I’m not going that far, I like life and thinking of entertainment can be so time consuming year after year, targeting audiences and what would be great sellers). I’ve never have, to this day, spent the time to go through the little mistakes to have a skill in music. And no way in film, not out here in Nevada. But I feel I have cherished memories of what I feel would be big sellers if I had the opportunity of putting it or some of them on some memory devise to sell capitalistically. But one time when I was with some hang out friends in Salt Lake City, Utah 1980’s friends, a guy who just was home from Boot Camp military said on our way out of a party “And turn that shit off!” So I said to myself “You know, instead of dreaming of music all the time I should quit and let life grow itself to what it will turn out to be.” And I am so glad because I know myself than always thinking of something. Now a day’s I could spend the time to get heavily into entertainment, upstairs that is, but and and (I know it’s two and’s together) I also know myself as an adult and have the greatest respect for life. I spent a couple of summers in the 1970’s in L.A., Santa Monica and Beverly Hills but my dad was to much of a drunk, so I let him be for ever and I got D’s in school down there so he sent me back up to Las Vegas to live with my mom. I had an Uncle that had a Nevada State Engineering license and he’d let me go over to his place and have a beer when I was 15 that was up in the State capitol where we lived at the time of Carson City, Nevada. They built suburbs around my favorite place to think up of entertainment things since then. A Hot Springs that has a huge bar and a motel. It was out in the desert so miles of parking space. The air port is close by about a kilometer or two away. And a casino near by. And in my dreams I would have security so I could get the permits to have concerts. And you can just play as load as you want. When my mom divorced my dad back in 1968 from down there in L.A., I was born in Salt Lake and we moved to San Francisco when I was 5 in 1965 and I remember even of being bored in the back seat so I though of organ tunes. My dad’s mother played piano and organ for 60 years for Catholic Churches and was dedicated for it at her funeral in 1998. I remember of thinking of no matter how slow the times can be in music just keep going, just keep playing and it will help you get through it. My mom divorced my dad in 1968 and on the way up to where my mom’s parents lived in Carson city, Nv. we lived in Boron, California. My mom’s sister lived there and worked at the local mine. My same uncle was there. Anyway around 10 pm at night every 3 weeks or so Vandenburg Air Force base would test fire space rockets for about 10 minutes. SCHEEEUUUUUWWW!!! Well, on Sunday’s in Carson my mom would get The San Fransisco Examiner. I’d read the horoscope, sports and some times about the Greatfull Dead stuff on Hate Ashbury Street. Watched The Monkey’s, the Beatles on tv. Moving from The Turtles to The Doors. And back in San Francisco 1965 when I was 5 I felt there was a couple of songs I heard on the radio that I could improve. And if that was the case my songs would be on the radio also. So what I know now of 30,000 feet ( I don’t know the equivalent measurement in meters) the traveling altitude of planes, I’d dream at night; “Hey! Come on down here and play!” “Airport near by, big bar, lots of parking all you want, and casinos near by, security supplied.” So well, nowadays were in the beginnings of the digital age. But I’ve come up with some ideas I’d be working on. Except I’m in Las Vegas and you have to be Oh! so careful, because the engineers couldn’t put the telephone poles anywhere else but on the sidewalks and all the streets have 45 mph (miles per hour) and there are a lot of vehicle fatalities here every year. If I was up North I could probably get away with it. Except also I went as far as I could being penny less at 38 years old. But even still I’d like to think there is some room there again, except I’m in a town of 2 million population. But from about 1983 to about 2005 or so somewhere there I envisioned being in a space ship that I was the captain who traveled to other planets to play concerts for who ever the ruler of the planet was and my ship was load of musicians quite comfortably to be in business for ourselves. You know when I imaginingly look out the front of my ship that is parked out there and facing our planet earth (only one web page I have said the location), I can come up with innovation towards entertainment.

    By the way. In your BlackMagic camcorder review, your film showed a boat. I think you said you filmed there before. Do you get the “Let go.” felling by looking at that boat?

    I wrote this to tell you don’t let some of your emotions deter you away from lifes’ meaning like nuclear deterrence. Or tide laundry detergent. 🙂 There should be some Hot Springs over there. I’m just not sure how big the parking lot, any air ports the are near or any casinos, near by. I’ve been meaning to go back up to Carson City, Nv and take some pictures around the Hot Springs there but like I say, the suburb has been built up all around there.

    Neurologically, besides being able to grow older, I have found that Online Trading Academy’s class called “Mastering the Mental Game of Trading” is a big help on letting me use my skill for employment besides just trading. Thinking up of entertainment can be so evolving with a personal life. I use to think it is life. But not quite, actually. Life is life and I use my skill to make an income is the better way. I also have some brain positive exercise web site that I read. Get a load of that new Rob Zombie film? I left a message on his web site that his wife won’t actually live through some of that hell that he has in it. I pray, anyway. I really don’t see how that type of art can be profitable and even spend my time doing it. Death Metal that is. Violent Rap.

    Have a good day!

    Steven

  89. I’ve been reading your blog for over a year now, but despite how useful its been to me I’ve never felt compelled to leave a comment till now. I’ve always had passion for telling stories, I wrote and designed comics and dabbled in film making into my early twenties. But societal pressure, and a lack of courage to stick it out led me into to brief careers in tech support and management. At around 30 I realized that I didn’t recognize the person I had, or was becoming. I returned to world of telling stories and haven’t looked back. In school my age has placed me a little older than some of my peers, and less knowledgeable about some of the gear that many have been around there whole lives. As a result I found myself somewhat ostracized, relying only on my instincts as a story teller. I discovered your sight while researching what camera, and system I wanted to invest in to practice shooting (I went with MFT and a GH2). I am now in pre production on a substantially budgeted short film due to shoot next spring. And in part I have individuals like you to thank. Whether a formal teacher in an educational environment, or some guy with a blog. Individuals who are willing to share their knowledge are not just a resource, but an inspiration as well for those who are on their own path of self discovery. I don’t know what the ‘end game’ is for me as a film maker, and that’s part of the adventure of life, But I’ll continue to read, and learn from this blog, and would be honored to work with you one day. Thank you!

    Rafeeq Roberts

  90. Hi Philip,

    I’ve been an avid reader of this blog for two to three years. I don’t think you’re the greatest DP but I find you, as a person, very inspiring. To be able to show your vulnerability against the trolls, takes balls. I remember stumbling upon it when a guy in my old uni who was an actual DP introduced me to the concept of “depth of field”, and I found your work the most prolific in that area! We often mocked ‘overusing’ it in stuff and its somewhat ironic its actually become a trope and lots of popular online videos are hardly ever in focus!

    Anyway if you’re still looking for a fella to moderate comments, specially the really nasty ones, I’d like that job. I like to keep updated reading a few different blogs, so this would be a great pool of information for me to absorb! Shane Hurlbut’s blog is one of my other favourites, I love his enthusiasm. He’s like an American Philip Bloom! 😉 Also, I live round the corner in Teddington, so you’re welcome to come over to discuss it over tea and gluten free biscuits! For you anyway as I’ll be teasing you with Hobnobs.

    Lucas

  91. Hi Philip, You shouldn’t get yourself down because of a few loser haters, instead think about the thousands you inspire everyday all over the world! I have been following you for quite a few years now, and check your blog almost everyday. I stumbled across one of your short films a while back, forgive me for forgetting the title it’s the one with the priest and man, it was extremely well shot! Since then I have watched all the films posted on your site, many of them over and over again as they are so beautifully done with the suttle details that make them truly amazing! Your advice and insight along with your wonderful short films have been so useful and inspirational to me, I cannot thank you enough. I bought my GH2 because of your indepth input, it is one of the best purchases I have made. Don’t get me wrong, but in a way I feel there is a positive side to the trolls and haters, they would not be doing what they are doing if you had not lit that fire under their butts by achieving what they wish they could achieve but have no way of getting their because of their sour attitudes and lack of artistic and technical vision. I wish you the best in all that you do. Take Care.

  92. Philip,
    You are an invaluable resource. I greatly enjoy your work, and appreciate all those shades of gray you use to describe the incredible number of options we have now. You do a great job covering a rapidly moving target.
    Unfortunately, you are in a field where everyone is right. Can’t make a movie with a small sensor. Oops, there are those great S16 movies. Need 14 stops of DR. Oops, some great films had just 5. Must shoot 4K. I think your point is well taken, spend more time on content and less on worrying about equipment. I used to think that the still camera people were worse, but now it seems there are a lot of video people who are always right. Just saw a new documentary, Shepard and Dark, that was about a C- on the technical front, but was a wonderful film. Coming out, no one said, there were some shaky shots, the outdoor scenes were too hot. People enjoyed it. Just make the movie.
    Although, I still don’t understand how there can be so many good cinematographers in Great Britain, when British movies are so bad…

  93. Philip,

    I know you weren’t fishing for compliments, but it’s hard to stand by and not say something when you see someone you respect being torn down. I guess I don’t visit enough forums (perhaps that’s a good thing), but I wasn’t aware of all the haters out there. You have a large presence in this community and have become a large target.

    We should just be thankful that people take the time to share what they know so that we can learn from them and apply what we can to our own work. Like you, I enjoy sharing what I can with others because it’s in my nature to want to help people.

    I think you do fabulous work here and respect your thoughts and opinions immensely. Thanks again for all you do.

    Maybe you’ll do a training class in California so that I could attend one? That would be awesome. 🙂

  94. Phil,

    You are a huge success. Your voice reaches an enormous number of people all around the world and that is an achievement worth celebrating and being proud of. Your short films probably have a greater viewership than a lot of highly-budgeted feature films, and that too is a massive achievement, and no more than your work deserves. Your opinion is taken very seriously by a vast number of people. Anyone who touches as many people as you do is going to push jealousy, anger and frustration buttons in a small but noisy minority. Inevitably too it will do this to people you might know and respect which is very nasty indeed, when you see a side of them you didn’t expect.

    Dude you are a bigger person than any of them.

    Thanks for your intelligence, generosity and creativity. One of my old teachers told me, don’t get too convinced by the praise and don’t get too depressed by the criticism, they both say more about the people offering them than about you. Easier said than done I know!

    Mark Wale

  95. Hi Philip,

    I have been following you and your Web site regularly for five or six years. Just like so many others, the articles and posts that you publish on your site have been instrumental in motivating me into making me become a filmmaker and a documentarist, and also in improving my skills. But I had not yet registered to your blog. Now it’s done.

    I feel just the same with regard to the incredible help and mentoring you are providing, as well as the down-to-earth, accurate, and honest opinions you offer, as others have already expressed. This post of yours compels me to add my voice to that of the multitude who have already voiced their appreciation and support for your work and your dedication in sharing your knowledge, experience and thoughts with all of us who care enough to read you from week to week and year to year.

    I simply want to join in with all the others so you to can see for yourself how so much people follow what your are providing and enjoy your endeavours.

    Cheerio!

  96. Philip,

    I’ve always gravitated to your blog for an opinion (don’t worry, I do check for others) because I’m neither talented nor dedicated enough to work things out for myself. My day job, to some, would be incredibly interesting but I still hanker after the guts to go it alone and follow my dream of making films; perhaps one day. I first came across your work with the Letus range of DoF adapters and ended up buying one for my now geriatric XH-A1. It works well but is a hassle to set up and I will soon (wife allowing) be getting hold of a BMCC to compliment my XF305.

    Opinions are like arseholes; everyone’s got one and for the most part, people really only need one. Just remember that whenever anyone points a finger at you, four are pointing back at them and it always says more about them – and their insecurities – than it does about you. So have faith, keep doing what you’re doing as there are many people who appreciate the knowledge that you share. Will I buy a ‘Philip Bloom’ pocket dolly or other endorsed product? Probably no more than I’d buy Jamie Oliver cookware or Lance Armstrong cycle helmet. Do I think you’ve sold out? Absolutely not.

    One day, when my balls are bigger, I’ll go it alone because I think I’ve got what it takes. Ironically, people would probably kill for my job but as Confucius said (ish): “if you find a job you love, you never have to work a day in your life” so keep on loving what you do.

    All the best,

    JB

  97. Hey Philip, I love the sincerity here. I think that once an artist makes sincerity their primary goal, everything else falls into place with patience and hard work. I.e. “words from the heart enter the heart”- and it’s only by being real with ourselves and the world that we find “words” worth saying.

    However, I’d like to push you a bit 🙂

    Clearly you’ve got a great eye, and you know various aspects of the craft inside and out… I think it would be worthwhile to try branching away from your news roots and invest more into scripted narratives. You love telling stories, but it seems like you’re a little hesitant to get out of your comfort zone.

    I remember from that Critics show you did with Steve Weiss, almost every other gripe was that there was no story, or the story was weak. Your documentary/tests are excellent examples of finding a story in real life, and you’ve got a talent for that, but I think it would be nice to see you get more into scripted fiction (yes, you’ve done it at times, but if you look at all the videos on this site, it’s not so common relatively speaking)

    Not just for you, but for our entertainment 🙂 Anyway, best of luck to you!

  98. Philip, don’t despair. There are far too may armchair critics out there who hide their identity behind odd names.If you open up a place for them to express their pointless views then that is the price one has to pay for so called free speech. As a respected “Guru” in the video field you are way above all that. The simple solution is to press the delete button. Don’t let these trolls play on your mind, otherwise they are the winners.

  99. As someone new to video, your site is bloody useful. Keep it up, as the actress said to the bishop.

    Trolls have small willies, that’s why.

    I pity trolls to be honest – they must have had such a crap life to end up so nasty. Poor things. We should give them a cuddle, and a kick up the arse at the same time.

  100. Dear Philip,

    I have been reading and following you in all sorts of media as they keep growing 😉 since I believe 2007. I’ve never commented, but Ive register today, just to let you know my gratitude and respect towards you.

    I’m an entrepreneurial guy, involved with various things and after discovering you, I too fell in love with film making & and the industry thinking its another fun avenue for my entrepreneurial nature. I’ve not form any production company etc with your knowledge but its so fun to just hang out with friends to make films. And all this is because of you. I’ve constantly told friends who was so amazed with my film knowledge and I repeat the same thing, “Don’t thank me, thank this guy called Philip Bloom, google him up!” He is my mentor in film making! Every body needs some hero or role model to look up to when they do something. You have impacted many peoples live for the better!

    I know it sucks that people these days become very insensitive! But to be honest, you know whats the best thing I’ve learnt from you? It’s not the camera nor the tools that make a great film, its the content, framing, lighting, every aspect of it.. I bet you would make a great film even with the iPhone!… This is what people should learn from you! And not complain! Your complete opinions, the BIG PICTURE, makes you and your site like a complete weekly/monthly film making magazine to go to! For those who have no time to figure out what’s new every single day, you do a great job highlighting where the industry’s going! Man you lead the initial DSLR revolution! If it was not for you, I don’t think many would have actually tried using DSLR for film making!

    I’ve seen you grow! The bigger you become, the prouder I get! Keep going Mr. Bloom. I would certainly wish to meet you one day, till then thank you from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    Do let me know if ever come to Malaysia. my email’s below. God bless & all the best!

    Regards,

    Saravanan Sahadevan.
    me@saravanansahadevan.com

  101. Hi Philip,

    Thank you for your site, and all of your effort sharing your knowledge. I discovered your blog approximately 3 years ago, and have always enjoyed it, and found it inspiring. I’m glad to hear that the blog will continue, despite the trolls. Your honesty and integrity are a real service to the filmmaking community.

    – Philip Kuryloski

  102. Hey Philip,
    i just created an account to say the following:
    In recent times all of my favourite Blogs are writing about how fed up they are with the haters.
    It makes my so sad to read, that some (insert bad words) people are taking away they joy you
    get from this page.
    People like you and Vincent Laforet are inspiring me every day and i am about to finish my first
    shortmovie shot on my mk2 just because of you guys!
    Keep up the good work and keep up the emotions! They make you the incredible artist you are!

  103. Philip,

    I can not tell you how many filmmakers you’ve helped inspired and encouraged.
    I’m always been amazed how much work you must put into everything, that you do for the good of the community.
    I know many big pros and new bees that use your site to help advise on what equipment they should look at and how to get the best out of it.
    It is amazing when you put so much effort into something and you do it for free and people so horrible about it,
    those people generally do nothing to help anybody else
    You’re so right about Negativity.
    Negativity never makes beautiful films or takes beautiful pictures.
    To make great documentaries and be great at taking pictures you need to be positive.
    So I leave you with this,
    think about the tens of thousands of people that you’ve inspired and helped and think about the few that you might have Irritated
    The stats and not even worth thinking about.
    Thank you for everything,
    you’ve been fantastic

    benedict campbell

  104. Mr. Bloom,

    May I call you Philip 😉 Thanks for the post. Two bits of response.

    I work with lots of successful people and one gentleman, the retired
    CEO of a VERY infamous corporation gave me a great saying:
    “The higher up the ladder you go, the more your ass is exposed!”

    And second, stay classy. Sometimes responding is the thing to do,
    and other times, not saying a thing is the classiest way to go. I have
    always been impressed by your chops, your eye, and your generosity,
    and I hope you make lots of money off this website and on all your
    projects. I sucks to be criticized but I bet you, like all of us, have grown
    from harsh feedback before, if only to learn to see BS for what it is.

    Much love from Texas,
    A

  105. Philip,

    I found film making much later in life than you…in my late 30’s.

    I had a teacher who said: “If you want to be successful in life, find what you love to do, and do it.” I didn’t stop looking until I found film.

    I’m now 67 and still making films for a living. I travel the world, and have a ball.

    You do what you love…and in the end, that’s all that counts, no matter what other people think.

    1. What is about (fighting) all the negative and people encouraging you to supporting you against the negative.

      You have a very nice career, at least it looks like it and are even a popular and mostly, maybe 99,9% very well respected guy by your audience.

      The most important is to know what your loved ones think of you, you are a good friend of yourself and then,
      not unimportant, what your audience thinks. People like me.

      Let me say this for a change…

      Keep it up if works out for ya! …Hope I may keep admiring your new work!

      Hasta la vista! Greetz Maarten 🙂

  106. What is about (fighting) all the negative and people encouraging you to supporting you against the negative.

    You have a very nice career, at least it looks like it and are even a popular and mostly, maybe 99,9% very well respected guy by your audience.

    The most important is to know what your loved ones think of you, you are a good friend of yourself and then,
    not unimportant, what your audience thinks. People like me.

    Let me say this for a change…

    Keep it up if works out for ya! …Hope I may keep admiring your new work!

    Hasta la vista! Greetz Maarten 🙂

  107. Dear Philip,
    You make us all proud to do our jobs and you actually help us to improve our performance with your insights. It is a good thing for those who work in small teams or even by themselves to be able “to consult”, as it were, a knowledgeable colleague every now and then. That is what we do when we check your website and read your reviews or watch your movies – which, of course, is a very enjoyable thing to do anyway. Your efforts are therefore most commendable and valued by many of us who continue to work more or less against the background of the social media storms. I send you my best regards, from Amsterdam, Huib J. Lirb.

    1. Hello Philip

      I read your posting with great interest and was dismayed by the hostile and negative attitudes you have endured after being so generous and willing to share your experiences with informative, honest and real world opinion. As you clearly stated it is your view and take on things and your career lends credibility to your opinions.

      Speaking as a cameraman, who actually uses cameras for a living and shoots every week for broadcast programmes, I have always found your camera and kit reviews very insightful and highly informative and known you would honestly state what you felt about something and crucially add real world context to the conclusions. I always look forward to watching your reviews when you post them. I often refer to them when discussing potential cameras for shoots.

      I find your site and its content invaluable as worthwhile resource of information and I also think you explain and visualise your reviews in a charismatic manner.

      An old fashioned line but I mean it, ‘keep up the good work’. I appreciate and respect your efforts and admire your commitment to maintaining this site and its useful content.

      Ged Yeates, Lighting Cameraman, Scotland.

  108. Hello Philip

    (I initially posted this as reply as I was at the bottom of the comments page, my mistake, apologies).

    I read your posting with great interest and was dismayed by the hostile and negative attitudes you have endured after being so generous and willing to share your experiences with informative, honest and real world opinion. As you clearly stated it is your view and take on things and your career lends credibility to your opinions.

    Speaking as a cameraman, who actually uses cameras for a living and shoots every week for broadcast programmes, I have always found your camera and kit reviews very insightful and highly informative and known you would honestly state what you felt about something and crucially add real world context to the conclusions. I always look forward to watching your reviews when you post them. I often refer to them when discussing potential cameras for shoots.

    I find your site and its content invaluable as worthwhile resource of information and I also think you explain and visualise your reviews in a charismatic manner.

    An old fashioned line but I mean it, ‘keep up the good work’. I appreciate and respect your efforts and admire your commitment to maintaining this site and its useful content.

    Ged Yeates, Lighting Cameraman, Scotland.

  109. Hi There Philip,

    You are a great person, successful and talented. Ignore the losers, people are just jealous. I bet they couldn’t tell you half of those comments if they see you face to face.

    Regards,
    Engin

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