Exposure

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 pictures.

Shooting in a low light setting is more than just turning down the lights or opening your camcorder's aperture. You can't take low light shooting lightly.

Sony HVR-A1U HDV Camcorder

In a digital video camera there is no physical shutter, but, because there is a body of understanding about how film cameras work, we still call the electrical signal "shutter speed."

Natural lights sparkle, shimmer, flutter, flare, glimmer, gleam, revolve, reflect and radiate. Here's some tips to dazzle your viewers with lively photoplays.

If better-looking video is your goal, maybe it's time you took control.

Letting in Some Light

Put yourself in control of your camcorder's automatic features.

Deconstructing AE

Explore and understand your camcorder's optics and take even greater control of your images.

The presence and location of manual camcorder settings play an important role in video production.

Camcorder buttons and their uses.

Available light can be all you need if you patiently think through your options and wisely exploit the location.