getting started copy the technical terms. you do not have to write the definitions word for word....

GETTING STARTEDCopy 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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


Basic Camera Controls

• Power switch• Record switch• Zoom control• White balance switch


Power Switch

• Turns camera on and off• Includes a small light• “Standby” or “sleep” mode


Record Switch

• Starts and stops recording process• Sometimes two switches:

– On hand grip– On camera body

• Does not have to be held down continuously


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


Rocker Bar

Most zoom controls are rocker bars.


White Balance Switch

• Matches camera to color quality of light• All cameras have “automatic” setting• Sometimes controlled via menus on screen


Automatic Camera Controls

• White balance• Auto focus• Auto exposure


Auto Focus Control

• Focuses incoming light• Keeps picture sharp and clear• Estimates distance to central subject• Sets lens for estimated distance


Auto Exposure Control

• Regulates amount of light admitted through lens• Delivers precise amount of light to form a good

picture


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.


Recording Media

• Videotape– Roll to raw stock

• Discs• Hard drives• Flash memory cards


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


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.


Tripod Controls

A typical tripod head.


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


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


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


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


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


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


Good-Quality Video

• Head room• Look room• Lead room• The rule of thirds


Head Room

• Position subjects at a pleasing distance from top of picture

• Subject’s eyes in top third of frame


Proper Head Room Framing

Subject centered Proper head room framing


Look Room

• Shift subject away from direction of look


Lead Room

• Look room with the subject moving• Position subject away from frame edge toward

which she is moving


Proper Lead Room Framing

Too close to the frame edge Proper lead room


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.


Proper Use of the Rule of Thirds

Centered Grid of thirds


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


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


Correcting Common Mistakes


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.


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.


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


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

getting started copy the technical terms. you do not have to write the definitions word for word....

Documents

camera lens

automatic camera control

camera control system

educational use

actual camera recording

power switchturns camera

hand gripon camera bodydoes

technical termshead