Award-winning videographer Upie Guava is a creative force of nature. Always creating in his mind’s eye, he has found the perfect partner in our Alpha series. Let Upie take you on a journey to an alternate reality and discover the secrets of his success.

What does videography mean to you?

I use videography to communicate my ideas and creativity. Through it, I craft an alternate reality that transports my audience to another world, where they can see and feel through my perspective. You can say it is a journey of mind, and I am the guide and author. Through videography, I give my audience a myriad of experiences. From a Bladerunner-type adventure to a celebration of natural beauty. It can also be funny or dramatic. My creativity knows no limits.

Tell us, what’s in your camera bag?

Going into a hectic film set I know I can trust the Alpha 7S III with its wide range of G Master lenses to deliver the quality and reliability that I need. The low light sensitivity of the camera combined with amazing slow-motion capability opens up many creative possibilities and allows me to easily explore more exciting visual ideas. It’s also super compact and easy to work with. With professional video profiles, it integrates into my video editing profile seamlessly.

I love the G Master (GM) lenses, and one of my go-to lenses is the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II. Its flexible zoom range covers both wide and close-up shots so I rarely need to change lenses. The sharpness, colour, and skin tone reproduction renders each scene accurately, making it a joy to use. I also enjoy its excellent resolution across the frame and very fast autofocus performance.

What are you looking for when you are out on a shoot?

I am looking to bring ideas to their full potential. That means injecting more emotion, more beautiful lighting, and capturing spontaneous reactions as the shoot progresses. That usually means getting up close and personal with handheld shots. I like the fluidity and intimacy of handheld videography. It allows me to capture not just the visible image, but also the “soul” of the scene. I turn the camera into a paintbrush, and I become the artist wielding it. When I get behind a Sony camera, I connect with it like a guitarist with his instrument.

How does Sony’s mirrorless system benefit you for your work?

The Sony mirrorless system truly excels in videography because it gets the fundamentals right. Having an extensive library of high-quality E-mount lenses with fast, decisive, and silent autofocus is key for video production. Combined with 1-mount compatibility across Sony Alpha to Sony Venice systems, it helps to keep the cost of investment low.

Having professional video profile support is very important in my work. My Alpha 7S III comes with S-Log3 and is able to capture in 10-bit 4:2:2 format for the best dynamic range and colours. It makes it so easy to grade the footage for a wide range of applications from green screen to cinematic productions.

The camera’s Eye Autofocus (AF) is a game-changer for videographers. It cuts down setup time for dynamic movement shots. Traditionally, I would need to manually focus and rehearse extensively with the actors. With Eye AF, the camera latches on to the eye of the actors and keeps them in focus as they move across the frame. This has resulted in smoother on-site production.

I have a penchant for handheld shots. The Alpha 7S III’s compact size plays right into my strength. It allows me to produce great visuals with minimum effort. Thanks to its compact form factor, I am better able to get the best angle for the best moment.

To sum it all up, I am glad to have a partner like Sony who believes in the 5 fundamentals of superb image quality, speed, expansive lens line-up, long battery life and compact size. It has made my work as a videographer that much easier and allows me to fulfill my vision.