It’s been a pretty hectic start to 2010, and following a trip to Zaafarana in Egypt and Les Coches in France to produce a selection of video podcasts I started to realise I had to really put some serious thought to hardware and workflows if I was to make it through an already busy year of web and video production.

I consider myself pretty technically comptent, to many I am considered a techie geek – always one to embrace the latest gadgets and push them to their full potential in my work. The last two years in particular have seen real advances in the kit and technologies at our disposal – HD DSLRs, go pros, prores, proxies, LT, quad cores blah blah blah and if we are not careful we can all be at risk of going into digital overload – not seeing the wood through the trees, the creative through the technical. Technology should help take some of the pain away to let us be completely focused on creativity, it shouldn’t dictate it.

With hardly any time to catch my breath I am already making filming and web design preperations for the Cannonball Run Europe which kicks off on 4th July and three sizeable corporate web videocasts scheduled in May. Rather than think about what technology I have at my disposal first, I am instead going to bust out the pad and pencil. (NB not an iPad!)

Great concepts and ideas come from not being tied to a gadget, so after completing this post the iPhone is going off.

We love technology, and we love the fact that the budget for equipment no longer dictates the quality of visual output as much as it used to. Craig spent a few days ‘working’ in Les Couches with Kamikaze Boarding and had a chance to try out the GoPro HD. He mounted the camera on his board using the surfboard mount.

We have just returned from a week away in Zaafarana, Egypt, with Kitesurf Kings – a UK based Kitesurf School that specialises in Overseas Clinics.

Situated on the Red Sea, Zafarana Beach Resort lies to the south of Cairo and the north of Hurghada. The lagoon offers both perfect conditions for beginners and experts alike, there is plenty of room for everyone and with waist deep water with only sand under your feet there is no excuse not to try those new moves!

As well as the 4 students on the intensive week long course, we were joined by Dan Sweeney, current UK British Junior Champion, his brother, Oli Sweeney and John from Stormriders.  The purpose of the trip was to produce a short promotional video for the Kitesurf Kings Overseas Clinics, and podcast and still image media content for Dan Sweeney as he enters the 2010 UK competition season.

We will post the videos and pics here soon.

We have been working hard over the last two months on the new site for Kamikaze Boarding.  One of the most enjoyable projects we have worked on for some time, with complete creative control over the design and content of the site.  As well as traditional design and e-commerce development, Blue Juice produced a short video for You Tube which included on set filming and green screen production.  The green screen footage was also used in flash video banners in the web shop.

Check it out now at www.kamikazeboarding.com

Over the last 6 months we have seen a notable increase in both client interest in incorporating video into their sites and online marketing solutions built and delivered through some form of video medium.

Perhaps suprisingly to many it is an incredibly cost effective and powerful method of delivering your message online, and with the success of the BBC iplayer and services such as Vimeo and YouTube, 2010 will be the year online video really comes of age and forms an important part of any web developers arsenal and many clients web sites.

Get in touch to find out more about the services offered by Blue Juice Multimedia.

A change from the usual outdoor water based activities, Blue Juice are filming a 5 minute documentary for Atlantis Swimming Club this month.  The brief  - produce a 5 minute video for delivery online through the clubs website that captures all aspects of the clubs activities. It will be the first time the new underwater housing equipment for the Canon 5D will be used, capturing high definition footage in and out of the pool. Watch this space to view the final production.

We are pleased to announce that Dan Sweeney, the local kitesurfer we have sponsored throughout 2009 in the British Kitesurfing Championships has won the Junior title! Its been an exciting year for us both, with Blue Juice accompanying Dan on trips to Barbados, Cornwall and, err, Swansea! Dans web site, put together by us, has been a focal point for all his activities and we look forward to sponsoring Dan next year as he moves in to the pros.  Well done Dan!

Video edit and photos from Rhosneigr Park Jam now online!

Finally we have sorted a quick edit from the weekend to accompany the photos found at Craig Sawyer Photography. Check it out at http://www.bluejuicedesigns.co.uk/rhosneigr-park-jam.php

In addition to the usual traditional web design methods we use to reach your audience, video has become a strong, viable medium to communicate with your visitors.

Viewing video content streamed directly from the internet has grown in popularity, and with increases in bandwidth and compression technology, high quality, interactive video applications can be delivered right from within your website, helping you drive new levels of engagement with your visitors, enhancing key relationships, user knowledge and business performance.

Rich interactive presentations can be built cost effectively & quickly and are a unique way to deliver your message, combining video and audio with interactive screen content.  Imagine this…you normally deliver your companies’ annual report through a bound paper copy or an electronic file such as a PDF which is emailed to shareholders.

Why not deliver a personal message and overview of the report, complete with interactive content as you progress through your announcement? Deliver financial reports and allow users to interact and view relevant content at the same time, and give them the ability to watch at their own pace or review content again.

Other examples could include launching a new product, explaining a service, conducting a training course or making a company announcement to your staff. And its not just about delivering a message, interactive content can be used to generate additional targeted revenue streams and attract new visitors to your site.

Video is the future of brand and stakeholder engagement on the web – contact us to find out more!

We will be down at the White Air Extreme Sports and Music Festival this weekend in Brighton, Sussex.  White Air is Europe’s largest Extreme Sports and Music festival and is now based at the world-famous Madeira Drive in Brighton on a fantastic site accommodating over 40 sports and music arenas and events on water, land, air and beach! The live stage will feature Doves, Biffy Clyro, The Cribs, White Lies, British Sea Power.  We will be there capturing the event for KiteSurf & Powerkite Magazines. You can find out more through this blog and by following us on Twitter.