Thursday, March 7, 2013

How To Make A STOP MOTION VIDEO!


Stop motion videos are really simple. No really, I'm talking CRAZY simple. The catch with stop motion videos is, they are time consuming. And I really do mean that. They require planning and patience above all. This is how I go about mine...

1. PLAN AHEAD : A successful stop motion video is all about planning and execution. Having a defined plan of where you want the video to start and where you want it to  end is very important, but it is just as important to have the in between figured out. What do I mean by this? Well, instead on having a big picture idea, you have to have ideas mapped out for roughly every 5-10 seconds of your video. What you want to happen, how you want it to move, what you want that short clip to accomplish in that time frame. If you are drawing, draw lots of progressive pictures, add very small details at a time, the idea here is not to rush it.

2. LIGHTS, CAMERA, TRIPOD! : When you get to the photoing part of the process, you are going to want to remember the same rule, small movements, small details. Take TONS of pictures (5 pics per 1 second of video will make for a pretty fluid movement), and stabilize the lighting the best you possibly can. Use a tripod (THIS IS IMPERATIVE), and if you need to draw out a guideline to make sure you stay in the same field of vision through the viewfinder of your camera, they do it! I always do, just so I know exactly where I need to be shooting.

3. EDITS & TIMING: After the photos are complete and you are ready to put together your video ( I used iMovie), I first go through and edit and big things in the photos I don't like, but thats not really needed, I'm just anal about that stuff. Import the photos into iMovie or whichever program you are using and remember you only want each picture to flash quickly, you don't want it to stay stationary for too long. The idea is to have it look as fluid as possible. I tend to like each picture to flash for .2 seconds, I know I know, thats pretty fast. But this is why you have to take so many photos, my darlings!

4. EXCEPTIONS: Sometimes, a little bit of static time is inevitable, for me, when I do a lyric video, sometimes you just have to have the video stand still for a few seconds to ensure that the images follow the music and people can actually read what its saying and follow along. But I make sure to have different speeds happen throughout the video, to keep it interesting.

So, now on to the final product. The video below was done for a friends band called This Renaissance, for their single called "Forgive Her, Forget Him". I spent about a full day drawing out the lyrics and getting a general plan together. I spent another day figuring out light, photographing and editing over 800 images. Now, I know 800 images sounds like a lot but honestly? I wish I have done even more. The more images the more fluid the end result will be, don't forget! After the images were ready to go, it took me about 8 hours of video editing to get the timing right for everything, and get things to move in a way I was happy with. Of course, after all is said and done, I would make changes and tweaks, but that will be for the next video. Each stop motion video I do is a learning experience and I will apply what I learn to the next one, instead of obsessing over the same video and fixing it over and over.

Anyway, here's the video! If you have any questions just leave it in the comments and I'll be happy to help if I can :) Enjoy!



Sunday, December 2, 2012

30% OFF on Fab.com! Ends Monday 12/3 @10am!



Just a quick little post to tell you all about the flash sale I'm doing on Fab.com! 15 pieces from my Gold Rush Collection are at an up to 30% discount until Monday morning, which means a lot of these pieces are around $20! Thats the perfect price point for gifting! So, quick quick! Don't miss out :)

CLICK HERE TO SHOP MY SALE ON FAB.COM!

Monday, September 24, 2012

New FUN Collection! Yay!



    I just felt like being light hearted. So thats what I did.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Love & Loss: R.I.P. Justin Morris


I spent a lot of time the past few days thinking about love and loss. But, no, it's not what it seems, there's no love story to chronicle, no boy meets girl plot to sparkle and fade. The kind of love I'm talking about is, in my opinion, a much deeper, more poignant kind of love. I'm talking about the love you experience with your friends and family. The people who are with you through the up's and down's, through the evolution of your life's romantic relationships, those who are there at your rock bottom's and your highest highs. I would be lying if I said I was emotionally evolved enough to be so appreciative of these people every second of every day of my life, because I'm not. I, like anyone else, have appreciation that waxes and wanes. Like all people, I am, and always will be, a work in progress. However, a few days ago, one of the universes twisted and albeit cruel awakenings, helped to wake me up and remind me to keep appreciating.

On Saturday, July 7th, which just happened to be my 28th birthday, I learned a great friend from high school passed away that day in a horribly unfortunate accident. He was not my best friend, but he was the kind of friend who no matter how long it had been since you had seen him, you counted him as good a friend as you did years earlier and a welcoming smile when he did pop back up into your life. Justin was a genuinely sweet guy, who was always loyal and warm. My memories of our friendship will always be something I cherish, he was a person who constantly surprised me, in a good way, in the times I was closest with him. When I got my drivers license, he was the first person I drove to school with (although my Mom thought I obeyed her wishes that I don't drive with anyone else in the car to distract me, sorry Mom!). I picked him up every morning before school after that for a long time. Sleepy eyes, groggy smile, Green Day and of course, pop tarts, which he typically left remnants of in my car daily. That was a typical morning for us. No matter how much I was dreading the school day, he could always make me laugh, even when he pissed me off by sleeping past his alarm and making us late.

When I heard of Justin's passing, his smile immediately flashed in my head and I was 17 again. I was shocked, saddened, confused. I was a million different things, but his smile remained frozen in my head. I have a feeling, that happened to everyone who was lucky enough to have known him. That smile really got me thinking.

In my life of up's and down's, I have loved, do love and will love, a lot of people. I have also lost, am losing and will lose a lot of people as well. I have (sometimes to my own detriment), lived my life with an open heart. I have never been afraid to tell people and show people that I love them, and Justin's untimely passing reminded me that I never should. The whole live every day like it's your last thing, always sounded so cliche to me, but I think I've changed my mind. To live like you might not have tomorrow to let people know you love and appreciate them, to give them a smile, a hug, a laugh or even forgiveness, is a challenge, but it can be done. It just means you have to keep things in perspective and keep an open heart. Justin's passing happened at a time in my life where, I will be the first to admit, has been fairly dark and  I was beginning to feel like it'd be a good idea to close my heart up for self preservation purposes. Then I thought of his magnetic smile in that split second, and all those good memories. I remembered that I have countless people in my life who I love, and who love me, despite how present they are or are not in my daily life, they are there, and I'm there too. And I appreciate that and love those people, more than they probably have ever known.

Today, I spent the afternoon digging through old pictures, and watching a home video of my last day as a Senior in high school. I was reminded of all the people I loved back then, and realized how much I still love them now, years later. I thought of all the people who are currently an everyday part of my life, and how much I love them. I thought of Justin's family and closest friends, and how much they must be hurting. I wanted to do something to help, but what can you do really? You can love.

This is my contribution. This little blog post, is love. Justin was, is and will be loved, and in the past few days, that has become overwhelmingly apparent by the outpouring from friends and family who will miss him dearly. All of those who were lucky enough to have him in our lives for any amount of time, I'm sure count themselves lucky to have known him, I know I do. Thank you Justin, for helping to remind me to never stop loving, and to never let what could be said today, wait until tomorrow.

Rest In Peace, Justin Morris. I will never forget your smile.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Fab.com was not thebomb.com for me :( MASSIVE Overstock SALE! Up to 50% OFF!


Hey all you crazy kids! Good news for you! I'm having a huge sale on some of my best sellers. How big you ask? UP TO 50% off! Thats insane and I NEVER EVER do discounts like that but I am making an exception, and here's why....

After taking a chance on participating on Fab.com, I agree'd to a committing a LARGE number of items to a sale with that site. Unfortunately for me, lady luck was not on my side and I am left with a whole lotta stock on some of my best selling pieces. SO rather than moving them over time, I'm wanting to move em' outta here as quickly as possible so I can move on to new designs.

So, thats where you come in. My misfortune is your awesome luck! I will never discount this far again, as silver prices are astronomical and a lot of work goes into each piece. SO, get em while ya can!

If you have a blog, I would be OVERWHELMINGLY appreciative if you could cross post this on you blog to help me move these items ASAP. The last thing I want to do is have to close down my business, which after a big disaster like this, is a real fear of mine. I'm determined however, to get through these tough times and offer a great deal to my awesome customers.

Thanks in advance to any of you lovelies who opt to pass along word of this sale :)

(all items pictured are INCLUDED in the sale!)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

An Ashley Nizolek Photography Production...


So as many of you know, I have a deep passion for photography and spend a lot of my time on it. It has also translated into a new love for video editing and art directing of motion pictures. Here's a quick video I shot, edited and designed. Very simple but thats what I wanted. It was shot in HD so I guess you cant get the full effect with the low def quality of the youtube version.Otherwise, I'm super happy with it, and excited to make another ASAP so that I can get into more detail and combine tons of shots and cutaways and play beats in the transitions. For now this was just something fun and pretty to shoot. This is my roommate, performing a song he wrote acoustically a few nights ago :)

If you like the song, go check out Colin's band and "Like" then on Facebook! This Renaissance

Monday, January 30, 2012

Fab.com Feature and 40% OFF Coupon Code on my website!


Just a quick post to let you all know I have a current feature/sale going on over at Fab.com and a 40% OFF Coupon Code ( LOVE40 ) on my webstore! Don't miss out! Check me out on Fab.com HERE. And shop on my website HERE!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Arachnophobia!


Man, I need to start blogging and stop neglecting my 359 followers! So today, I shall begin again.

Naturally, my first post in weeks, months, years would need to be pointless, as staying with my general blog style. So, here's a picture of a baby spider takeover on my porch. I snapped this shot with a macro lens, which means I was way too close to these little dudes for comfort!

Stay tuned because I made Mushroom Risotto, and I'm gonna share the deliciousness with you all! SOON!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Music Alert! The Year of Discipline


Hey guys, I haven't blogged in months, I'm the worst! I don't have much time, I'm scurrying off to the studio to work my fingers to the bone but I thought I'd leave you with a little music.

This is a song called "When We Say", originally by AJ Rafael, covered by my best friend, Colin Miner :) He's working on a year-long music project/challenge that he's calling "The Year of Discipline", in which, he does either a video of a cover song, or original song, every single week. 52 weeks, 52 songs. We're on week two here, and I'm having a lot of fun shooting with my Canon 5D Mark II and editing the videos :)

Anyway, enough blabbing, watch the video :)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Love Music? Wanna be a fly on the wall?

Ever curious about how a song develops? Then this might be interesting for you to watch :)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Puppies, Coccidia and Vet's, Oh My!


The past 4 days or so have been quite the roller coaster! I am dealing with a sick baby dachshund with Coccidia, yuck! This is like having an infant! I am exhausted!

My little puppy Abby began getting sick on Friday, and on Saturday I had to bring her to the Animal Hospital ER, where we were able to rule out Parvo but she had to stay overnight to get IV's of fluids and medications. When I picked her up on Sunday she was still sick, but hydrated enough to go home. By Monday she was dehydrated again and had to be whisked away to the vet where she was given 3 syringes of fluids and a couple of shots. Poor baby, she was NOT happy about that! Today, Abby seems to be doing much better but she goes up and down quickly. She only weighs 4lbs now, which is 8oz less than she weighed on Friday, so I'm keeping a close eye on her. Maybe once all this puppy drama is over I can get back to working on new jewelry and blogging and all that!

In spite of her wavering health, Abby cooperated for some Valentines Day pictures, and so did her sister, Mel :) Awww they're cute!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Her Name Is ABBY!!!


YAY! I finally picked a name! Only took 5 days :) She's the cutest! Awwww :)

And in celebration of the little pupster, here is my fave song off of Abbey Road :) HERE COMES THE SUN!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Heartless. But not Kanye.


I posted this video over on my other blog for Sara-Tone-In Records, but I realize that not too many people have found their way over there yet so I just had to post it again on this blog. Why you ask? Because it must be seen/heard! A spine tingling cover of Kanye West's song, "Heartless", but completely reinvented! Another amazing contribution to the world of art/music, but Chelsea Wilde aka 1/2 of Minor Birds. Don't skip over this, you're only cheating yourself!

PS: Please follow my other blog, it shall be a music/art based blog :) Sara-Tone-In Records BLOG

Sunday, February 6, 2011

I got a puppy! I shall call her...


...I have no idea! I am totally stuck when it comes to naming this little chicken nugget! She's miniature dachshund, just like my other pup Mel, only she is a dark/dirty red color and I believe she will be a little smaller than my Mel.

This puppy is SO adorable! She has quite the stock pile of personality and is already coming out of her shell. In fact she is gnawing on my hand as I attempt to type this, and barking at her toys next to her. She's ready to play! Actually, she's currently bouncing off the walls. I think I'm in for quite a rambunctious puppyhood with this little one!

The little one is one serious cuddle bug, she refuses to sleep in her kennel, loves to sleep inside my hoodie, loves toys that are bigger than her and loves to harass Mel. Mel is slowly getting used to the new puppy, but I think it will be a little while before the chip on her shoulder becomes less visible.

Anyway, I just can't seem to find a name that flows easily and fits her. I need your help to come up with a name STAT! This poor puppy child has been nameless for too long!

Here's what we've been throwing around so far: Mollie, Celine, Phoebe, Dora, Joey, Piper, Delilah (Lilah)...

What do you guys think? Suggestions/opinions are welcome and encouraged!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Where have I been?! Starting a RECORD LABEL!


I am a blog neglector, it's official, but I promise I was for good reason!

After years and years of dreaming of starting my own record label, I've finally decided to take the plunge and have whole heartedly jumped head first into this endeavor. Yikes! Am I a crazy person? Maybe! But then again, I've never taken much issue with people calling me crazy :) Oh yes, and I have officially picked a name: Sara-Tone-In Records!

Right now, I'm moving full speed ahead and running on very little sleep and even less common sense (who needs it anyway!?). This once, rather than stewing over decisions and worrying endlessly, I am relying on raw passion and belief in a dream to fuel my fire. I am spending all my extra time establishing the label legitimately, working on my branding, and developing and working with my first artist, Pillowhead! It's an extremely exciting time for me, and equally scary, but for now we're gonna just focus on the excitement of it all and roll with the positive energy :)

For those who are curious, I will still be continuing with my jewelry, and my photography, so this will be a juggling act. The more I type, the more I'm realizing just how crazy I really am sounding here... oh well, a little crazy never hurt anyone...much :)

So, anyway, as my lovely loyal blog followers, I invite you to come on over to my Sara-Tone-In Records blog, and follow me on this journey I am embarking on! I will do my very best to be entertaining and will be sharing a lot of music with you all (like I didn't do that here already, right?) as well as the inevitable ups and downs of starting a new business in uncharted territory. I would very much appreciate the support, so come on kiddies, follow me into the darkness, or the light, depending on the day...

Sara-Tone-In Blog
"Like" Us on FACEBOOK!

Here goes nothin'!