Digital Cinematography Articles (Page 3)

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

• Tutorial - Perfecting the Pan and Scan Effect
  February, 2009
  by Paul Del Vecchio
  Known as 'The Ken Burns Effect', the Pan and Scan technique has become the norm when combining still photos with your moving images. Step-by-Step tutorial.
• Cameras Need Lovin' Too: Camera Maintenance and Cleaning
  January, 2009
  by Brandon Pinard
  As a videographer or photographer, you might have multiple lenses and filters that you lug around wherever you go and change whenever the shot requires their use. Over time and even with proper storage and care, your gear begins to wear out from use.
• Shut up and Drive
  January, 2009
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  There's nothing like seeing the blur of the asphalt a few inches away while cruising 60 miles-an-hour inside the sidecar of a motorcycle. Or the odd feeling…
• About Face!
  January, 2009
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Many video cameras now seem to include face detection capabilities. But what exactly is face detection? Our primer explains how it works and how it might stump…
• 35mm Lens Adaptors for Video
  December, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Why on earth would you want to put a 35mm camera lens on your video camera? It's already got a perfectly good lens on it. One word - bokeh. bokeh is a Japanese…
• Focus More on Focus
  November, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Unlike color balance or underexposure, which you can fiddle in post, you get only one shot at getting your focus right. Focus isn't everything, but it's close.…
• Intro to White Balance
  September, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Why would we want to concentrate on white when we shoot in color? Because incandescent, fluorescent and sunlight differ a lot, proving that white isn't always…
• The Divine Proportion Balancing the Golden Rule
  July, 2008
  by James Williams
  Nature created it; visual artists follow it. Using aesthetically-pleasing framing creatively draws your viewer into your shot composition.
• Tutorial - Getting That Film Look
  July, 2008
  by Brian Peterson
  Shooting video to look like film
• Camcorder Supports Buyer's Guide
  April, 2008
  by Brian Peterson
  Nothing screams 'amateur' like shaky and jerky video. Sure, there are times when you want to keep the camera moving, even erratically, but for the other 95%...
• Controlling Exposure
  February, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Most of the time, you can't just point-and-shoot for great video design; sometimes you need to control the light going into your camcorder to get better…
• Young Filmmaker gets a boost from Videomaker
  February, 2008
  by The Editors
  Reader's Letters - Young Video Producers; Upgrading the Reader on the Changing Technologies; Double Credit; Shooting Steadier Handheld Shots.
• The Art of the Cutaway
  February, 2008
  by Eric Ossohou
  While you plan the scene and dialog details for your videos, you need to remember to plan for cutaways as you take that journey down the path to good…
• Dynamic Chase Scenes
  January, 2008
  by Peter John Ross
  Introducing an exciting new feature from Videomaker: Interactive tutorials! Every month these articles will link to an on-line training video and clips you can…
• The Rules of the Grid
  January, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Knowing the technical workings of your camera is half the battle of shooting a good video. Understanding good composition can really give your work some pizazz.
• Lighting Car Interiors
  January, 2008
  by Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D.
  Did you ever notice that in the movies we never have a problem seeing a person's features while he's driving down the road? Even at night?
• Hold On!
  January, 2008
  by Michael Reff
  A pro's look at holding your camera. There’s a lot of different ways to support your camera while shooting, many of which don't need the death grip to…
• Composition Tips for 16:9
  December, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Shooting for widescreen doesn't mean just shooting wider. It's how to creatively get your entire subject in frame and what will be lost if viewed on a 4:3…
• Focus on Focus
  October, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  There's more to getting your camera in focus than meets the eye. But what is focus?
• Nine Digital Cinematography Tips
  August, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  So you know about medium shots, wide shots, closeups and even extreme closeups. But why do your videos still lack that special zing?
• Back to Film School
  August, 2007
  by Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D
  Watching films is a classroom in itself, yet you really have to have the right tools to become a critical viewer. All good directors are students of film. They&…
• The Difference Between Depth of Field and Depth of Focus
  August, 2007
  by the Editors
  Readers' letters
• What is Multicam Editing?
  July, 2007
  by Morgan Paar
  Shooting performances or group discussions is difficult using one video camera, but it can be a nightmare with several cameras and without good planning.
• Dive In! The Water's Fine!
  July, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  There's something about water that fascinates us. We're drawn to it, for travel, food, and entertainment.
• Maintaining Continuity
  June, 2007
  by Dr. Robert Nulph
  Even in blockbuster movies, continuity errors happen, and eagle-eyed viewers love to find the mistakes.
• Videomaker Presents Recap
  June, 2007
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  Mixing it up with Videomaker Presents - Like the changing technology, Videomaker Presents is moving with the times, and once again we are in the design stages…
• Family Video Help
  June, 2007
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  Some tips to help you enjoy the fun that you usually only experience after viewing the tapes. It's June; you know what that means: weddings, graduation,…
• Videotaping Sporting Events
  May, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Football, baseball, hockey, tennis. Swimming, cycling, running and lacrosse. Sports shooting is an art unto itself, and every sport has shooting hurdles to…
• Vidcast Recap: Videomaker Presents
  May, 2007
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
• Shot Lingo
  April, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Tips to define the shot you want, and the language to create it.