Creating my first professional looking video

Rant warning...

This week I completed SAIT's disappointing DSLR Video 101 program.

Class instruction relied heavily, too heavily, on bland PowerPoint presentations (with errors occasionally corrected mid-lecture), four thin module handouts, and YouTube videos that I could have accessed for free. The instructor also called upon an unsuspecting but accommodating classmate, a professional photographer, to basically co-instruct. Not surprisingly after two classes, he dropped the program.

The first class pretty much set the tone with the instructor geeking out with the students who already had some video experience. Leaving those of us who had no video knowledge to either tread forward on our own or ask the instructor questions after the lecture. So not everyone learned the same thing. During one of the class geek sessions, the Dragon RED 4K camera, a camera I could never dream to own, sidelined us a little. Still, while it was interesting to see on the Red.com website the films that were shot with it (I checked it out at home), I couldn't help but feel we were missing other things that could have been covered.

Module assignments had to be shot on the SAIT campus.  When one classmate asked why that was so, he was told that it was "the curriculum." He also dropped the class. There was no feedback on the assignments submitted, so no real idea if you were on the right track unless you asked the instructor during the next class.

During the video editing portion, using Adobe Premiere Pro, I learned more from the Adobe tutorials, figuring stuff out on my own, and co-classmates figuring stuff out on their own and sharing, than from the instructor's notes. The software ran so slow in class that I downloaded the trial version to my home computer so I could complete the editing before the final assignment deadline.

The redeeming feature of the SAIT program is the cool people I met. We floundered in the SAIT hallways playfully together as we tried to complete the assignments during the class times allotted.

Also not surprising, there wasn't a student evaluation at the end of the class. Here are links to a couple of the better YouTube videos shown by the instructor:

• Interlaced vs. Progressive Scan - 1080i vs. 1080p
• The Purpose Of Storyboarding

As I usually do when the instruction is lacking, I explored other means of learning and found the treasure that is the Studio Binder website. Studio Binder had everything covered in the SAIT program and more. And better! For free!

The Studio Binder page, "How to Make a Storyboard for Video and Film: A Definitive Guide," not only explains in detail about how to make a storyboard it also has online templates you can use to create your own storyboards (for free!). Plus brilliant video tutorials. There are other tutorials for basic movie-making needs like script breakdowns, shooting schedules, and call sheets. Did I mention it is free?

Another freebie I explored months before the SAIT program was "Video for Photographers: Shooting with a DSLR" on Lynda.com, accessible through the Calgary Public Library's e-Library. Very introductory, still it covered things like how still photographers need to think differently when shooting video. Also, how to position the camera to get the needed shots and how to focus (it's different with video).

A YouTube search for "videography for beginners" or "DSLR videography tutorials for beginners" results in a ton of video tutorials. My favourites:

• The ultimate Introduction to DSLR Filmmaking | Basic Tutorial by Fenchel & Janisch
• How to Shoot Video - DSLR Tutorial! 

Long story short, if you want to learn how to shoot video with your DSLR camera skip the video program at SAIT and instead search Google, search YouTube, search the Library, and then go out there and shoot.

Here is my final assignment submission. Not proud. I had problems with my camera's sound (because I didn't know what I was doing and had calibrated the audio wrong). When I tried to reshoot the audio in the next class, the environments had changed from a near dead campus to one bustling with open house visitors. So I had to improvise with some of the background sounds. (One is a sound-clip of Sexy Bingo in the SAIT bar. See if you can spot it.) I hope to do better with practice.

Links:

• Interlaced vs. Progressive Scan - 1080i vs. 1080p

• The Purpose Of Storyboarding

• The ultimate Introduction to DSLR Filmmaking | Basic Tutorial by Fenchel & Janisch

• How to Shoot Video - DSLR Tutorial! 

• How to Make a Storyboard for Video and Film: A Definitive Guide - Studio Binder

• Studio Binder Blog

Some books that I've placed on hold at the Library (keyword searched DSLR video and subject searched Cinematography):

• 130 Projects to Get You Into Filmmaking by Elliott Grove. -- Hauppauge, N.Y. : Barron's, 2009.

• Cinematic StorytellingCinematic Storytelling : The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know byJennifer Van Sijll. -- Studio City, CA : Michael Wiese Productions, c2005.

• The DSLR Filmmaker's HandbookThe DSLR Filmmaker's Handbook : Real-world Production Techniques by Barry Andersson. -- Sybex, a Wiley brand,, 2015, ©2015.

• Digital Filmmaking by Mike Figgis. -- New York : Faber and Faber, c2007.

• DSLR CinemaDSLR Cinema : Crafting the Film Look With Video by Kurt Lancaster. -- Amsterdam ; Boston : Focal Press/Elsevier, c2011.

• Master Shots, Vol. 3Master Shots, Vol. 3 : The Director's Vision : 100 Setups, Scenes, and Moves for your Breakthrough Movie by Christopher Kenworthy. -- Studio City, California :, Michael Wiese Productions,, 2013, ©2013.

Experiment : Shutter Speed / Capturing Action

This is a super simple lesson on how shutter speed works and how to capture movement in your photos.  First, I’ll cover some basic shutter speed terminology, and then get into a couple easy step-by-step experiments you can do on your own.  At the end are suggested links to places to shoot action.

For the experiments you will need:

o  a camera that has a shutter speed priority setting (either TV or S).  Check your camera manual if you're not sure where the shutter speed setting is on your camera.

o  your favorite lens.

o  a constant light source

o  a moving object

[optional: tripod]

Shutter Speed

“Shutter speed” refers to how fast an aperture shutter opens and closes and is measured in seconds.  (See Experiment : Aperture and Depth of Field to learn about aperture.)

A camera’s preset shutter speed can range from as fast as one eight thousandth of a second (1/8000) to as slow as 30 seconds. You can go even slower when you use your camera's B or Bulb setting.

Setting your camera to shutter speed priority allows you to change the shutter speed to whatever you like. The camera will automatically decide the best aperture and ISO.

How does shutter speed work?

It’s all about letting in light.  When you set the shutter speed on your camera, you control how long you let light hit your camera’s sensor (or film).

Getting Creative - Capturing Movement

Besides controlling how fast light hits your sensor, you can use shutter speed to stop the action in your photos.  The speed of the shutter opening and closing decides how much action is stopped.  

Fast Action

The faster the shutter speed the more likely you are to "freeze" the action.  Shutter speeds higher than 250 are best when you want no blurring in your photos.

Blurred Action

The slower the shutter speed the greater the action blur.

If you wanted to capture action, but you want to show movement you would set your shutter speed to something slow.  How slow depends on how much blur you want.  

 The slower the shutter speed the more blurred the action. A tripod that allows you to move your camera from side to side is really handy, especially if you choose really slow shutter speeds.

Unless you are made of iron or don't breath, the slow shutter speed will also show camera shake.  

Points to Ponder

Angle

The angle that you shoot from plays a part in how your action photos turn out. 

It's easier to capture objects that are moving directly towards or straight away from you.  Objects moving from side to side in front of you are a little more difficult to capture.  For objects moving from side to side, you might want to try panning.

Panning

Panning is when you follow your moving subject with your camera.

To show how it's done, here's a quick One Minute with Willy video by photographer Willy Foo.

__________

Experiments

The following experiments will illustrate what happens when you change shutter speed.

Set up:

1. Set your camera to shutter speed priority – TV or S.  The camera should automatically select the proper ISO and aperture setting. Your camera settings might blink if the shutter speed you have selected exceeds what the settings the camera thinks it can handle.  (Think deer in the headlights.)  Unless you make adjustments, your photos might be extremely over or under exposed.
2. Find or create a moving object.  Examples: a running pet, a jumping friend, a waterfall or water fountain, rolling pool table balls.
3. A consistent light source.

Experiment 1

Question: What happens when you focus on a moving object at various shutter speed setting?

1. Set your camera’s shutter speed to as fast (e.g. 1/4000) as your camera will go.
2. Shoot your moving subject.

What do you see?  What aperture did your camera choose?  How sharp is the action in your photo?

1. Reset your shutter speed to 1/125.
2. Shoot your moving subject.

What do you see?  What aperture did your camera choose?  Is there any blurring in your photo?

1. Reset your shutter speed to as low as your camera will go.
2. Shoot your moving subject.

What do you see?  What aperture did your camera choose?  How much blurring is in your photo?
 

Experiment 2

Question: What happens when you focus on a moving object at various shutter speed settings, shooting from different angles?

1. Have your subject move towards or away from you.
2. Repeat the steps from Experiment #1.

What do you notice?  Is it easier or harder to focus on your subject?

1. Have your subject cross in front of you and try panning.
2. Repeat the steps from Experiment #1.

What do you notice?


______________

Suggested places to shoot action:

• Marathon Races
• Roller Derby Events
• Festivals
• Skateboard Parks
• BMX Bike Racing
• Bird Watching Areas

For more shutter speed information have a look at the Allversity Moments and Motion lecture.

Calgary Photographers

In 2009 photography became a serious habit again. Some of that is due to the amazing technology now available. Digital cameras have opened up the creative flood gates, especially my little Pentax K-5.

Still, I keep hearing that a photograph is only as good as it's photographer. I'd have to add that a photographer is as good as their influences. I have been lucky to have found some pretty amazing local photographers through group pages on Flickr, the Calgary Public Library Photography Club, and the Start to Photograph (STP) Meetup group. Some I only know online, these people have Flickr sites I troll on a regular basis, but quite a few I have actually met in person and would consider friends. They are great fun on photo outings and ever eager to share what they've learned.

These are links to web sites of a few of my local influences.

• Andre Harms (STP founder)
• B-RadPhotos
• damndan1
• Gladys Rojas
• Helen Duwors (Helen Number Two)
• Helen_Wheels
• James Turow (Sherlock77)
• Kalpesh Modi
• Leanne Smith (heyitsmelea)
• Nathan (Witty nickname)
• thivierr

Buying the right camera

Tim's goofing with camera 1, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

The most primary question when it comes to buying a digital camera is which one to buy. The one you pick depends on a lot of things, some logical, some emotional. When I was doing research for my first DSLR I asked myself questions like:

• what will I need it for (how will I use it),
• how much money to spend,
• what my photographic goals are (future aspirations), and
• what kinds of accessories (lenses) could I buy

Then there's how it feels in your hand. Is it heavy and cumbersome or light and easy to figure out?

Here are some camera reviews that I found useful and kept as bookmarks:

Digital SLR Camera Guides for Beginners -- Low tech, high information reviews for beginner digital photographers.

C/NET Reviews -- Reviews by camera price, brand, and more. Plus under the "Find a Camera" links are everything you need to know (or didn't know you needed to know) about digital cameras.

ConsumerSearch DSLR Camera Reviews -- ConsumerSearch lists the top 3 best reviewed cameras, but it also has information on what to look for in a camera.

Digital Camera Info -- I like this one because it categorizes cameras by how you would use them.

DPReview Side-by-side Camera Comparison - you pick the cameras you want to compare.