GETTING STARTED Copy the technical terms. You do not have to write the definitions word for word. Chapter 2

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Objectives Recall how to operate basic video equipment. Explain the process of recording a simple program. Identify steps to avoid common shooting mistakes. Understand how to conduct a safe and courteous shoot.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Technical Terms Auto exposure: An automatic camera control that regulates the amount of light admitted through the camera lens; may be disabled for manual operation. Auto focus: An automatic camera control that focuses the incoming light to keep the picture sharp and clear; may be disabled for manual operation. Default: An action or condition that is selected automatically by the equipment, but the user may change it manually.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Technical Terms Head room: The distance between the top of a subject's head and the upper edge of the frame. Lead room: The distance between the subject and the edge of the frame toward which the subject is moving. Look room: The distance between the subject and the edge of the frame toward which the subject is looking. Pan: To pivot the camera horizontally (from side to side) on its support. Power switch: A camera control that turns the camera on and off.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Technical Terms Record switch: A camera control that starts and stops the actual camera recording. Roll to raw stock: To advance a videotape through previously recorded sections to a portion of blank tape in preparation for additional recording. Rule of thirds: An aid to pictorial composition in the form of an imaginary tic-tac-toe grid superimposed on the image. Important picture components should be aligned with the lines and intersections of the grid.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Technical Terms White balance: A camera control system that neutralizes the color tints of different light sources, such as sunshine and halogen lamps, and matches the camera to the overall color quality of light in the shooting environment. Zoom: Change the focal length of the camera lens while recording to magnify or reduce the size of an element in or a portion of a shot. Zoom control: A camera control that zooms the camera lens in to fill the screen with a narrow portion of a scene, or zooms the camera lens out to fill the screen with a wider portion of the scene.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Basic Camera Controls Power switch Record switch Zoom control White balance switch

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Power Switch Turns camera on and off Includes a small light “Standby” or “sleep” mode

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Record Switch Starts and stops recording process Sometimes two switches: –On hand grip –On camera body Does not have to be held down continuously

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Zoom Control Two possible setups: –Pair of buttons –Rocker bar Forward button or end of bar: –Zooms in –Fills screen with narrower part of scene Rear button or end of bar: –Zooms out –Fills screen with wider part of scene

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Rocker Bar Most zoom controls are rocker bars.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. White Balance Switch Matches camera to color quality of light All cameras have “automatic” setting Sometimes controlled via menus on screen

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Automatic Camera Controls White balance Auto focus Auto exposure

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Auto Focus Control Focuses incoming light Keeps picture sharp and clear Estimates distance to central subject Sets lens for estimated distance

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Auto Exposure Control Regulates amount of light admitted through lens Delivers precise amount of light to form a good picture

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Default Settings Automatically chosen by equipment –Auto focus –Auto exposure The default is the setting of a control that is selected automatically when the camcorder is turned on.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Recording Media Videotape –Roll to raw stock Discs Hard drives Flash memory cards

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Batteries Charging –Leave in camera and plug in power cord –Dock directly in camera’s charging unit Handling –Do not drop –Do not leave outside in cold weather –Do not short-circuit by bridging contact terminals

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Tripods Provide support for steady images Adjustable stiffness for sideways and up and down movement Quick-release mechanisms Place one leg forward (so you can stand between the other two) and level the head.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Tripod Controls A typical tripod head.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Pre-Shoot Checklist Battery charged and inserted in camera Spare battery charged and ready for use Blank recording media provided White balance control set to automatic Tripod included in shooting kit

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Checking the Viewfinder Displays several types of information Avoid many shooting problems by checking data: –Battery charge –Time code or counter –Record symbol –White balance –Date –Zoom

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Checking Camera Settings White balance set to automatic Auto focus and auto exposure are enabled Check other camera controls Review viewfinder information Ensure camera has not gone into standby mode

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Using the Tripod Make sure tripod head is level Screw camera onto head firmly, but not too tightly Do not raise center column unless needed Point one tripod leg at subject When panning, stand facing the center of the move

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Hand-Holding the Camera Brace yourself on something Do not walk while shooting, if possible Hold your breath as you shoot Use the widest angle lens setting

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Avoiding Camera Problems Avoid swinging the camera around to center on different subjects Do not make shots too brief Do not pose subjects against backgrounds lighter than their faces Avoid zooming while shooting

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Good-Quality Video Head room Look room Lead room The rule of thirds

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Head Room Position subjects at a pleasing distance from top of picture Subject’s eyes in top third of frame

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Proper Head Room Framing Subject centeredProper head room framing

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Look Room Shift subject away from direction of look

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Lead Room Look room with the subject moving Position subject away from frame edge toward which she is moving

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Proper Lead Room Framing Too close to the frame edgeProper lead room

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. The Rule of Thirds Achieves good pictorial composition People tend to divide images in half Divide image into thirds for more interest The rule of thirds is an imaginary tic-tac-toe grid laid over the image. To use it, align important parts of a composition with the lines and the intersections between them.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Proper Use of the Rule of Thirds Centered Grid of thirds

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Good-Quality Audio Camera with mike as close as possible to subject Minimize background noise –Aim camera away from sources of noise Moving subjects away from noisy backgrounds is a way of reducing unwanted sounds. Provide silent direction

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Directing the Shoot Shoot to obtain raw material Edit in the camera –Record every shot in order –Leave screen empty between continuous action shots –Make each shot look different from preceding one A new camera angle should differ from the previous ones in two ways, usually image size and horizontal position (though vertical position can be changed instead). –Keep crew quiet during each shot

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Correcting Common Mistakes

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Camera Security Assign someone to camera and tripod Never set camera down on anything except tripod Detach camera from tripod when transporting Protect camera from weather.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Jump Cuts A jump cut is an edit between two shots that are too similar. To avoid jump cuts, vary the camera angles from one shot to the next.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Safety Do not ask people to perform feats they would not normally attempt Do not put the crew at risk to get interesting camera angles Assistant should guide the cinematographer during moving shots

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Courtesy Observe rules of law and good manners Do not shoot indoors without permission Do not use passers-by as subjects without permission Respect people’s right to privacy