|
Terminology
-
Shot: All video is made up of shots. A shot is basically from when you press record to when you stop recording in a video camera. Like the individual photos which make up an album, the shots get put together to make a video.
-
Framing & Composition: The frame is the picture you see in the viewfinder (or on a monitor). Composition refers to the layout of everything within a picture frame — what the subject is, where it is in the frame, which way it's facing/looking, the background, the foreground, lighting, etc. When you "frame" a shot, you adjust the camera position and zoom lens until your shot has the desired composition.
-
Transition: Shots are linked (edited) in a sequence to tell a larger story. The way in which any two shots are joined together is called the transition. Usually this is a simple cut, in which one shot changes instantly to the next. More complex transitions include mixing, wipes and digital effects. A moving shot (e.g. pan) can also be thought of as a transition from one shot to a new one. The transition is very important in camera work and you need to think constantly about how every shot will fit in with the ones before and after it. The key is not so much how the transition is achieved technically, but how the composition of each shot fits together.
-
Pan: Side-to-side camera movement.
-
Tilt: Up-and-down camera movement.
-
Zoom: In-and-out camera movement (i.e. closer and more distant).
-
Iris (Exposure): The opening which lets light into the camera. A wider iris means more light and a brighter picture.
-
White balance: Adjusting the colours until they look natural and consistent.
-
Shutter: Analogous to the shutter in a still camera.
-
Audio: Sound which is recorded to go with the pictures.
Planning
For general camera work, one can divide the plan into two parts: The "Shoot Plan" and the "Shot Plan".
-
Shoot Plan: In this case, the word shoot refers to a shooting session. If you think of everything you record as being part of a shoot, and have a plan for every shoot, then you're well on the way to having better organised footage. First of all, be clear about the purpose of every shoot. Generally speaking, everything you do should be working towards a larger plan. Plan the approximate length of the shoot: How much footage do you need to end up with, and how long will it take you to get it? Have a checklist of equipment, which could include: camera; tripod; tapes; batteries/power supply; microphones and audio equipment; lights and stands; pens, log sheets and other paper work.
-
Shot Plan: Once you have a plan for your shooting session, you're ready to begin planning individual shots. First of all, have a reason for every shot. Ask yourself: "What am I trying to achieve with this shot?Is this shot even necessary? Have I already got a shot that's essentially the same as this one? Is my audience going to care about this subject?" Once you're happy that you have a good reason to get the shot, think about the best way to get it. Consider different angles, framing, etc. The art of good composition takes time to master but with practice you will get there. Ask yourself exactly what information you wish to convey to your audience through this shot, and make sure you capture it in a way that they will understand. Take the time to get each shot right, especially if it's an important one. If necessary (and if you're editing in post), get a few different versions of the shot so you can choose the best one later. Also, for post editing, leave at least 5 seconds of pictures at the beginning and end of each shot. This is required by editing equipment, and also acts as a safety buffer.
Basic shot types
-
Long shot: Provides a general view of subject and setting; establishes the scene by showing viewers all the visual elements in the scene; when applicable, show the size of the subject relates to other elements in the scene.
-
Medium shot: Provides a closer view of subject and eliminates unnecessary elements and background; covers about two-thirds of subject from head room to knees of subject standing.
-
Close-up: Concentrates on subject, excludes all other details of background.
-
Medium long shot: Closer than a long shot and includes more detail than a medium shot.
-
Medium close-up : Covers subject approximately from elbows to head room when sitting; shows good facial detail and some background; the preferred shot for newscasters, it is considered the most comfortable distance for viewers watching a subject who is talking directly to the camera.
-
Extreme long shot: Shows all background and details of a scene; more comprehensive than a basic long shot.
-
Extreme close-up: Limited to the subject's face; creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy and has great impact on the viewer.
-
Objective: Camera records images from the observer's viewpoint.
-
Subjective: Camera records what the subject sees; shots of equipment operations or processes maybe taken from a high angle over the subject's shoulder.
|
Participants