Over the past year creatives have faced plenty of limitations due to the pandemic, but in Ben Moon’s latest short film, the Sony Artisan shows there was still plenty of fun had with his pup in his own backyard. “The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to stay close to home this year and it was really special to document all the places I love to explore with my pup Nori that are within walking distance of my door.” The entire short film, “Nori By The Sea,” follows Nori around their home of the Oregon Coast and was shot exclusively on one lens – the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master.
“The 35mm f/1.4 G Master lens was an utter joy to use,” says Moon. “The versatility, beautiful rendition across all apertures, and the pinpoint autofocus all enabled me to capture each moment exactly as it unfolded. It was liberating to be limited to a single camera and lens setup and it allowed me to focus on creativity without being hampered by gear decisions or a large crew. It was simply Nori and myself and my little Alpha 7S III and 35mm f/1.4 G Master setup that I could toss in my bag and go.”
In the short film, Moon documents some of the places he and Nori have frequented together throughout the pandemic. Many dog owners would attest that they’ve developed an even tighter bond with their best friends from being home more often over the past year. The same goes for Moon and Nori, and he wanted to share that special bond that's been a constant throughout a year filled with changes and unknowns.
“My relationship with dogs has always brought a lot of joy, and this past year Nori’s companionship felt even more special,” explains Moon. “After a few days of shooting, I decided to shift the focus to sharing the beauty of this coastline through a day outside with Nori. My favorite aspect of making this film was discovering new perspectives in the places that I frequent every day, and most of all capturing the joy that is so obvious every time Nori steps foot onto the beach.”
“I hope this film allows the viewer a moment of the simple joy of being immersed in the present, something our dogs embody so completely. This past year has been filled with heaviness and I simply wanted to bring a smile to whoever watches it. While I was writing my memoir Denali: A Man, a Dog, and the Friendship of a Lifetime I sought to capture the joy a life with our dogs bring us, through my relationship with my late pup Denali. In this film, I feel like Nori shares that feeling with all of us.”
