Eye’s advantage
Eye adjusts to light quicker
Camera misses details
Time seems longer on the screen (ex. Watching a motorcycle move could seem forever)
The camera has to work hard to keep its focus, but not the eye
Camera does not compensate for movement as much as the eye
Camera exaggerates movement
Eye is more selective…Director does this with the camera, has to be selective where it shoots
Things look different on the eye
Strongly contrasting light is a problem for the camera
Real time can seem interminable
Focusing is more difficult with a camera
Camera exaggerates wobbles
The viewer doesn’t know where to look if you don’t direct the shot carefully
Camera’s advantage
It can zoom
It can show things from different angels
It can appear to be in more than one place at the same time
It can be left in places dangerous for human
You can change the speed
You can reverse it
It can alter reality (speed change, reverse)
It can suggest events which didn’t take place
It can show things in a way that the eye could never see
It can create something which takes life of its own
Lens & Aperture
Every time you select something for the camera, you have to decide what you would like the
viewer to see and what not to see.
To avoid out focus, camera person should be given time to zoom in and focus.
F1.6 F2.8 f4.6 f5.
Gain button compensate for darkness
Human eye sees 3 times as much without moving
The viewer sees only what you show them (ex. The person could not miss the river, but the
camera could)
The “times two” extender halves the narrow-angle end of the zoom and halves the angles along
the whole range of the lens
At the narrow-angle end of the zoom depth of field is restricted
Give the camera man time to focus before zooming in
Don’t over use the zoom
The aperture lets in light
When the aperture is wide open, the depth of field can be restricted
Modern video cameras work well in low light
In very low light use the gain
Light is not just a mechanical aid to the picture..use it creatively
Shot Sizes and Camera
Long Shot- Whole height of person
Medium shot-Waist and up
Medium Close-up- armpit and up
Closeup- neck and up
EXCU-Extereme closeup, zoom right in the face…good for grilling people
Pan -Camera stays in the same position, direct tripod to left or right
Truck-Use dolly or track (truck left or right)
Tilt –Camera points down or up (tilt up, tilt down)
Pedestal up/down camera height changes
Dolly-in camera keeps same angle, but physically moves close or far. With Dolly angle of view or
depth of field does not change.
ExLS Extreme long Shot
LS Long Shot
MS Medium Shot
MCU Medium Close-up
CU- Close up
ExCU Extreme Close-UP
Pan Left or right
Truck right or left
Tilt up or down
Pedestal up or down
Zoom selects a part of the picture
The dolly in, moves the camera closer to the subject
Crossing the axis
Crossing the axis confuses the viewer
Keep people facing the same way unless you crossover in vision
Avoid Crossing the axis complications by planning in advance
Plan in advance where and what you are going to shoot
Don’t overlook details
Ask people to move if necessary
Try and foresee sound problems
Work out when it is best to do cutaways
Do extra shots just in case
Plan for the expected so that you can cope with the unexpected