Search results for: video tips solutions powering your camera rig
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by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
For macro photographers, having the right gear is essential. Magnification and lighting are key, but you don’t necessarily need the biggest, priciest macro lenses out there to get close-up shots. If you’re a macro photographer yourself or buying a gift for one, we have some excellent recommendations for every budget.
Gifts Under $50
1. Close-up macro filters (like this
by Luke Rollins · Posted
Achieving a standard of production value is an essential component of establishing a brand and growing a following. For part-time, burgeoning, and mid-level creators, it can feel like bridging that gap is less a matter of learned skill and more about the equipment you can afford.
In most cases, the problem isn’t budget at all. Acquiring the specific know-how can give your content professional sheen with little to no financial outlay.
Lighting design is arguably the most immediately visible production component—and the one most capable of
by Jennifer Hahn · Posted
Many moons ago, when the economy was unstable and layoffs were rampant, this author decided to switch careers to pursue filmmaking. With a new perspective and energy, but without any guidance, knowledge, or tools, going back to school for digital filmmaking was a no-brainer. The aim was to tell real stories in documentary form, and it became a challenging but ultimately rewarding adventure.
Tips for Starting Out
If you’re just starting out at the dawn of your student career, or find yourself older and wiser looking for a change, and you want
by Steven Gladstone · Posted
Lighting hasn't really changed in the past few decades. Sure, new fixtures, faster cameras and lenses, and shooting styles may change, but the essence of lighting really hasn't changed. The look of the scene is still driven by the DP and still created by the lighting designer; it is still all about ratios, and no matter how technology advances, lighting is a powerful tool for putting realism and drama on screen.
What Is Image-Based Lighting?
Simply put, image-based lighting (IBL) is using lighting fixtures to mimic the effects of natural
by Zack Young · Posted
On-set virtual production (OSVP) is the real-time mixing of live-action footage with computer-generated imagery to create amazing in-camera visual effects (ICVFX). These days, most OSVP happens on a volume, a studio space with seamless LED panels (or cabinets, as they’re known in OSVP) grouped together to display rendered images that are then captured live in-camera alongside human talent. These cabinet configurations can be as simple as a flat backdrop stacked from the ground up, and as complicated as a full curved 360° wrap hung from trusses
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
If there’s one area of wildlife photography that challenges even some of the most consummate artists, it’s birds in flight. A dynamic flight shot shows action, and a bit of technical prowess. As you can imagine, capturing birds in flight is no easy feat.
To consistently capture these shots, one must be proficient with their gear and have a knowledge of animal behavior. We’d go as far as to say you need a bit of luck too, but what is luck if not preparedness meeting opportunity. In order to make the most of the opportunities that present
by Zack Young · Posted
With so many podcasts competing for attention, sometimes you only have a matter of seconds to rope in a potential viewer and convince them to stick around. Interesting subject matter and compelling hosts can help, but the visual aesthetics of your podcast could be the X factor that leads to success. Thoughtful lighting choices often have an even larger impact than your camera or lens, so let’s dive into four important considerations when plotting out the lighting scheme of your podcast.
Size and Power
The first step is figuring out what kind
by Atane Ofiaja · Posted
As the surveillance industry expands, it's easy for many to get bogged down and confused by the finer details of all the products that are out there. It doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, it can be simplified with this basic approach: The consumer must understand that the form and function of surveillance devices vary, and that each one is built for a specific purpose. Once the consumer
by Zack Young · Posted
For decades, classic three-point lighting has been the conventional approach to lighting most sit-down interviews in film and TV. While this type of lighting looks nice, it can feel stale at times. By mixing up the lights you use and how you place them, you can shake up your cinematography game and shoot visually dynamic interviews that keep viewers engaged. In this article we’ll explore three unique ways to light your interview subjects, so they pop
by Zack Young · Posted
Compact mirrorless cameras have revolutionized the video world, packing massive sensors into small bodies and making professional-level production accessible to budget-minded creatives. Aspiring filmmakers can now achieve a level of visual detail, color fidelity, and exposure control that previously could only be achieved with cameras that cost six figures. But that doesn’t mean these devices are perfect. Their smaller size comes at the cost of a variety of physical features and ergonomic advantages that are standard in larger cinema camera
by Zack Young · Posted
Enter the Sony BURANO 8K Digital Motion Picture Camera, Sony's newest jack-of-all-trades cinema camera that aims to combine the best features from the company's CineAlta, FX, and Alpha lines. Part of its versatility comes from the array of recording formats and resolutions it can capture, as well as a physical camera body that can accommodate a range of accessory options. So, what recording modes should you be using and how
by Zack Young · Posted
So you just signed up for another corporate documentary shoot for another tech company at another local high-rise. They don’t want you filming in their super-secret proprietary lab and they’re definitely not flying you to China to see where the products are made, so you’re stuck in a cube farm trying to scrounge up useable b-roll for your interviews. Fear not. With some thoughtful planning and a little bit of ingenuity, you can get enough clips to make your piece shine.
Have I done my prep?
Fortune favors the prepared mind, which is why the
by Mary Latvis · Posted
Welcome to Filmmaking 101, where we offer some tips on how to go about creating your movie masterpiece. Read on to discover suggestions for your pre-production, production, and post-production phases.
Pre-Production
Scriptwriting
You have your idea for an arthouse masterpiece or an action-based blockbuster; now how do you translate that into a script―the backbone of your production? You can use MS Word, Google Docs, or another document program. But using dedicated screenwriting software provides the standard formatting, outline tools,
by Stepan Andranikian · Posted
So you just finished watching a great white shark feeding video and thought, “Wouldn’t it be awesome to be in the water with a camera to film this feast?” I'm right there with you, which is why today we’ll be diving into the world of underwater video creation, from the gear you’d need, to tips for getting the perfect action shot.
Before we get into it, I’d like to leave a little disclaimer: while venturing out into the vast and expansive deep blue is a riveting adventure, please practice caution and, if you’re not experienced in underwater
by Stepan Andranikian · Posted
Cinematographers and videographers are, by nature, some of the greatest tinkerers of doodads and thingamabobs that you’ll ever stumble upon. Don’t believe me? Ask a seasoned DP to show you what their current cinema rig looks like and I guarantee you, nine times out of ten, it’s going to be a devious contraption with all sorts of gears, articulating arms, monitors, and rods. The other one out of ten is just traveling and doesn’t want to carry all that equipment. More often than not, a complete cinema rig is much more than just a camera and a