Ropes As Camera Rigs: Behind Joris Noordenbos' Innovative Food Videography Techniques

Constructing rigs to capture unique camera movements have always been a fun task for me.  From attaching gimbals on monopods to hanging cameras on a menace arm, there are so many different ways to work with your grip and gaffer to place a camera in a unique position.  Enter  Joris Noordenbos, a visionary film director, who used a simple rope to attach to a camera to capture some incredible shots of a food product.

In a recent Instagram post, Joris Noordenbos provided a glimpse behind the curtain, showcasing the mesmerizing process of crafting engaging food commercials using nothing but a humble rope. We’ve seen this approach used at professional football and basketball for TV, but to do this on on a smaller scale is ingenious. 

Let's learn the technicalities of Joris Noordenbos' groundbreaking methods:

High-Speed Jib Shots: Traditionally achieved with expensive equipment, Joris Noordenbos ingeniously utilizes a rope to execute high-speed, straight-line jib shots with unparalleled efficiency. This allows for dynamic camera movements that effortlessly capture the essence of the culinary creations on display.

Flying Camera Maneuvers: Taking innovation to new heights, quite literally, Joris Noordenbos elevates the visual experience by flying the camera over the kitchen counter. This daring maneuver captures fluid, organic motion while maintaining the crucial shot steadiness, resulting in breathtaking footage that immerses the audience in the culinary journey.

Control and Challenge: While the use of a rope for such intricate maneuvers may seem unconventional, it adds an element of unpredictability to the process. Control becomes a bit of a wild card, but for Joris Noordenbos, working with a professional camera operator and camera team  makes it easier.   This is definitely not a solo job, so having the right team in place ensures your camera doesn’t fall and break on the ground.  

Essential Equipment: Despite the simplicity of the setup, Joris Noordenbos' toolkit is carefully curated to ensure optimal results. Alongside the rope, precision-engineered camera rigs and stabilizers play a crucial role in maintaining stability and achieving the desired cinematic effect.  A fun task for the camera team to rig, capturing smooth movement isn’t an easy task with a loose rig, so having multiple ropes, a stable camera rig, and a focused team were crucial for these shots. 

In conclusion, Joris Noordenbos' innovative approach to food videography serves as a testament to the power of creativity and resourcefulness in storytelling. By thinking outside the box and leveraging unconventional techniques, he not only delivers stunning visuals but also sets a new standard for excellence in the industry. Aspiring filmmakers and food enthusiasts alike can draw inspiration from his work, proving that with ingenuity and determination, anything is possible in the world of visual storytelling.

Be different, find unconventional methods, and stand out from the crowd by tapping into your creative ideas while looking for new ways to capture camera movements.