Digital Cinematography Articles

• Camcorder Care
• Camcorder Controls
• Camera Angles
• Camera Movement
• Composition
• Continuity
• Format
• Shot Types

• Surviving a 48-Hour Film Challenge
  July, 2010
  by Christa Sadler
  Film and video festivals are great ways to meet other enthusiasts just like you, and nothing gets the blood pumping faster than joining a 48-hour film…
• A Checklist To Find The Best Digital Video Camcorder For You
  September, 2009
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Thinking about getting a new camcorder? Here are 10 points to consider while searching for the best digital video camcorder to suit your needs and budget.
• Slick Camera Shots
  April, 2012
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Good video producers have more than a few camera angles up their sleeves. From trick angles to smooth operation, here are some tips for some slick camera shots.
• Cinematography Techniques
  April, 2012
  by Peter Zunitch
  The art of cinematography is more than using the camera, lights and other tools to their best abilities, the art also includes knowing how to tell that story&he…
• From Music Video Maker to Hollywood Director
  February, 2012
  by Mark Montgomery
  Editing music videos isn't too hard... all you need is a band, a camera or two, some editing software and a lot of patience! Music video editing is all about…
• How to Make a Video
  January, 2012
  by Kyle Cassidy
  You gotta start somewhere. Sometime along your path, you contemplated shooting video or you shot some footage and decided you liked doing it, now what?
• 5 Tips for Handheld Shooting
  December, 2011
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  Whether you're out for a quick shoot, or are lugging your gear a long distance, you can't always take a tripod along. Here are some tips for hand-held shooting…
• Smartphone Cinematography
  December, 2011
  by Jay Montana
  In your front pocket sits a more sophisticated filmmaking tool than all of Hollywood had for the first half of last century. It's your smartphone, and in…
• Blocking People
  December, 2011
  by Kyle Cassidy
  How do successful movie directors get their actors to move and interact so naturally? By blocking the scene and giving the actors good direction concerning…
• Color Temperature for Video
  October, 2011
  by Michael Fitzer
  Why is color temperature awareness important in the AV industry? Whether it's setting white balance for iPhone 4 or Nikon D90, your camera needs a starting…
• The Mechanics of Interchangeable Lenses: Working with 35mm Adapters and Lenses
  September, 2011
  by Heath McKnight
  Many filmmakers and videographers are turning to 35mm adapters and interchangeable lenses to achieve a more cinematic look.
• Shooting with Interchangeable Lenses
  September, 2011
  by John Devcic and the Videomaker Editors
  One of the biggest developments in the camcorder industry lately isn't about formats, recording media or 3D imaging, it's the ability to shoot a film-like…
• DSLR/HDSLR Buyer's Guide
  September, 2011
  by Videomaker Editors
  DSLR - Short for Digital Single Lens Reflex. Since all marketing departments these days love an acronym they decided that cameras needed a new one. The birth&h…
• Cinevate Atlas 10 FLT Slider Dolly Review
  September, 2011
  by Dan Bruns
  With its extreme versatility, carefully machined aluminum and sleek design, Cinevate's Atlas 10 FLT is an incredibly useful piece of gear.
• 3D Field Monitoring
  August, 2011
  by Gary Tomsic
  What You Can't See is What You Get
• Make Wedding Videos that Wow!
  July, 2011
  by Jay Montana
  Weddings are big business for videographers. But in an industry where most everyone relies on the same tried-and-true techniques, how do you stand out? By…
• The Art of Suggestion
  June, 2011
  by Kyle Cassidy
  A collection of shots strung together can make a movie, but a good story will have shots that motivate the next shot in a powerful technique known as the Art…
• Fun and Entertaining Vacation Videos
  June, 2011
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  Vacation videos don't have to bore your viewers - you just need to understand how to edit while you're shooting on location.
• Expand and Condense Time
  May, 2011
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Video editors have the fortunate ability to control time. You can move it faster, slow it down, and even stop the tide. The pace of space and time is limitless…
• Selling Your Green Screen Shots to Your Audience
  March, 2011
  by Mike Sullivan
  Yes, the tools to create green screen composites have changed and, yes, it is cheaper and easier to produce green screen FX shots, but that doesn't mean it is…
• Creative Camcorder Mounting
  March, 2011
  by Terry O'Rourke
  We advocate using a tripod or steadying device, but there are times when a lot of gear gets in the way when you need to get mobile. Enter the Cave Dweller…
• Tips for Making Professional Looking Interviews
  February, 2011
  by Percy Ledbetter
  From having only one camcorder at your disposal to preparing your interview subject, these tips used by the pros can help you record a professional interview…
• Teaching Video
  February, 2011
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Video is one of the most predominant story-telling mediums today. It only stands to reason that children will want to learn how to record and produce video…
• Viewfinder: Storytelling in Just One Frame?
  February, 2011
  by Matthew York
  When we decide where to point a camera, we are composing a shot. The choices are infinite.
• Shooting in 3D: Very Early Days
  January, 2011
  by James Careless
  Do you remember the first household on your block to own a color TV, an Atari, Nintendo or a VHS player? Being the first is cool, but it has its drawbacks -…
• 10 Common Video Mistakes
  January, 2011
  by Kyle Cassidy
  There are a few common mistakes that amateurs make over and over again when capturing video - that's why they're amateurs.
• Interview Styles
  December, 2010
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Interviews on TV are quite common, and not just during the news. Interviews are so popular, entire shows are built around the idea of one person asking another…
• Videomaker's Annual 2010 Camcorders Buyer's Guide
  December, 2010
  by James Careless
  Price matters when buying a camcorder, but not as much as what you want to use it for!
• Sony NEX-VG10 Camcorder with Interchangeable Lens Reviewed
  November, 2010
  by Mark Holder
  If you're looking for near-prosumer performance on a sub-prosumer budget then you'll want to have a serious look at the Sony NEX-VG10.
• Adjust Shutter Speed for the Best Video Images
  October, 2010
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Your camcorder has many manual settings - focus, white balance, aperture - that can make better images, but why would you want to set your shutter speed?