Even though I have a background in aerial still photography and had a high-wing Cessna 172 at my disposal, shooting videos from the sky proved to be more difficult than I anticipated.
With the advent of small, high-quality equipment, moving to video was a natural progression. I decided to use...
light (lit) n.,adj.,v., lighted or lit, lighting. -n. 1: that which makes things visible, or affords illumination: all colors depend on light. 2: an illuminating source: the sun, a lamp, or a beacon. 3: the light, radiance, or illumination from a particular source. 4: that which differentiates good and...
A renewed interest in wildlife preservation has increased the frequency of animal "shootings." Fortunately, they're happening with video cameras!
There's no better way to capture the reality of the wilds than with the "aliveness" of video. However, taking a video camera outdoors to record animals in their natural habitats presents...
Video feedback training, once the province of the pros, is now helping weekend athletes and serious amateurs improve their short radius turns, backhand volleys, aerobics routines . . . and their videomaking.
The first time we realized the tremendous value of video for training - to help people improve a...
Good videomakers know how to divide their undivided attention to videomaker whenever location sound enters the picture.
Try this experiment: Turn on your TV, button the volume all the way down. Watch for 15 minutes, switching channels to try out a variety of programs. Get a sense of how well...
Yearning to give your videomaking a new look? Creative special-effect visuals are only a lens manipulation away.
If you're a photographer turned videomaker, you're probably already familiar with the tricks of the lens trade. If you're new to the game, however, prepare to let your videomaking creativity soar.
Getting super close-up...
With so much videotaping going on, it's been easy to notice something that protessional film and videomakers have known for years: People react to being taped and to seeing themselves on tape.
Now the significance of this observation may not be immediately apparent But any videomaker who has taped ordinary...
When the smell of burnt leaves hangs in gentle wafts in the snap of a Jack Frost day, thoughts of Halloween and the witching time come creeping on black kitten paws.Videomaking and All Hallows' Eve are a natural combination, because most of the celebrants are already in costume with...
Essential Learning
How Does Image Stabilization Work?
There are various ways for a videographer to stabilize their footage. If your camera doesn’t need to move, a tripod is ideal. Where camera...
10 Shorts every cinematographer needs to see
Orson Welles often had great ideas for movies and then spent years going from studio to studio in Hollywood trying to get someone interested,...
5 Tips for Shooting in Log Profiles
Video can be an unforgiving medium, and without proper lighting itâs easy to lose data in both the highlights and the shadows. The most...
10 Production-saving Accessories
Inclement weather, dead batteries, missing assistants, cars that break down, tripod legs that snap, shoots being delayed for hours, getting kicked off of locations,...
Choosing the right focal length
We’ve got this picture in our minds of a director holding her fingers up in twin L shapes, one inverted, and peering through the...
What is mise-en-scène? An essential filmmaking concept
Mise-en-scène means “placing on stage” and refers to props, lighting, wardrobe and blocking.
Take Flight with These 8 Must-have Drone Shots
Camera-equipped drones are capable of capturing brilliant, awe-inspiring shots, and chances are you’ll want to learn the essentials of beautiful aerial cinematography yourself.
Lenses: How does focus work?
If you’re new to shooting video, you may notice that fellow camera geeks like to talk a lot about “glass”. While there are a lot of things made of glass in the video world, there’s only one thing called “glass”: Your camera lens. Here's how it works to produce a useable, in-focus image.
This is How Your Camera’s Lens Produces a Usable Image
In its most basic form, a lens is a piece of glass or plastic with curved surfaces. Lenses are used to bend rays of...
What is B-roll and how do you shoot it?
One of the most overlooked areas of video production is gathering B-roll footage that tells a compelling story. Here's what B-roll is and it's so important.
How to Get Started with 360-degree Video
Within the last few years the video industry has seen the emergence of a handful of new techniques, technologies and methodologies. Aerial videography has...
How to choose the right frame rate for your epic slow motion sequence
Until recently, directors didn't have a lot of choice in slow motion without highly specialized equipment. 1987's Panaflex Gold II, for example, could only...
Drone Safety: Tips and Best Practices
Playing the OddsDrones are just like any other piece of gear; at times, they can and do fail. Similarly, pilots are just like any...
3 Tips for an Effective Multi-Action-Cam Shoot
The action camera market segment, popularized by GoPro, has made point of view (POV) filmmaking accessible to the masses. There’s something compelling about watching...
Understanding Bit-depth and Color Rendition for Video
A video camera’s ability to reproduce a smooth gradation between colors and shades is an important factor when seeking to capture filmic images. The...
What is composition and why is it essential in filmmaking?
There are actually shapes and alignments that people find pleasing. But photo and film composition also needs to tell a story.
A Primer on Live Video Production
Many people want to stream events across the country so far away viewers — whether millions or a select few — can enjoy. Live...
How Your Camera’s Limitations Change the Way You Shoot (and How to Get the Shot Anyway)
There’s a 19th century poem by American writer Edward Rolland Sill called “Opportunity.” It’s about a battle: a cowardly soldier leaves the field, complaining...
When to shoot RAW (and when to skip it)
A RAW image frame is like a film negative — different processing can give you different results.
10 vintage lenses to add to your kit: an in-depth investigation
Using vintage lenses lends a unique character to modern images while breathing new life into old glass.
