FEBRUARY 18, 2009--Integrated Design Tools (IDT; Pasadena, CA, USA; www.idtvision.com) has launched a video contest named "The Speed of Life," which is only open to high-speed video clips of 250 frames/s or more. Contestants will compete to win the N-3, a compact and fully autonomous camera capable of more than 65,000 frames/s. Online entry will be open April 1-Aug. 21, 2009.
"High-speed imaging allows us to capture details invisible to the naked eye," says Luiz Lourenco, CEO of IDT, which specializes in digital imaging solutions. "From filmmakers to testing professionals, these pros have fascinating footage on their hands for the world to see."
With the popularity of the Discovery Channel's "Time Warp" television program, the high-speed world is gaining attention. IDT hopes "The Speed of Life" contest will further this industry's awareness, honoring those who film outstanding moments in time.
There are no specific categories for skill level or content submitted, since organizers agree that high-speed technology tends to make anything relatively interesting.
The winner, to be selected by online votes and a panel of industry experts, will be announced in November during VISION 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany. Along with the N-3 camera, the winner will receive the title of "The Speed of Life Inaugural Winner."
"With this first contest, we want to see what else is possible," says guest panelist Lawrence Johnson of Lab201. "We are interested in how fundamental abstraction of time changes perception. Motion pictures are made up of space and time. We've seen special effects in cinema for years focused on abstracting space. We focus on time and how it applies to storytelling."
The contest rules state that video files must be no more than 60 seconds in length, and at least 50% of footage must be filmed using high-speed (250 frames/s or higher) digital technology. Voting will be open Sept. 1-Oct. 20, 2009, and organizers encourage participants to build their armies of followers now.
For details and submission, visit www.IDTvision.com. Find high-speed video examples at YouTube.com/user/IDTvision.
