Yes, 4K, 8K and 12K are three different pixel resolutions. 4K stands for “four thousand pixels,” which is usually short for 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition). 4K is rounding up the horizontal pixel count, which for 4k UHD is 3840 horizontal pixels and 2160 vertical pixels. Unlike 1080p, 720p, and 480p, which use the vertical pixel resolution as its naming “label”; starting with 4K, the horizontal resolution is used instead i.e. 4k = 3840(w) x 2160(v), 8k = 7680(w) × 4320(v), and 12k = 11520(w) x 6480(v). There is also a difference between 4k UHD and what is colloquially referred to as “Native 4k” or “True 4k,” which is 4096 (w) x 2160 (v). This wider frame is usually the preferred and default settings in cameras as well as cinema projection (DCI) standards. It scales to 8,192 x 4,320 and 12,288 x 6480 for 8K and 12K respectively. You can see that the vertical resolution stays the same, but the frame width increases in each instance.

The director / editor of the project, Adam Hawk-Jensen, asked me to come on board as his director of photography. As I understand it, the nonprofit organization “Victims of Communism,” approached him to helm a new series of documentaries that would tell the stories of these survivors. I knew going into the project that Adam needed me to bring a strong vision with a lot of creative autonomy on my end as his DP - he’s a great collaborator in that regard. I’ve worked a lot as a cinematographer on projects that explore themes of liberty and what it takes to sustain a free and prosperous society, as well as the inverse. While I have only shot three videos for the Witness Project, it’s been an absolute honor to capture the story of these heroic and inspiring individuals.