Podcaster's Portal: vision acquisition

Vision acquisition

IN THIS ARTICLE

Professionals never blame their tools
Camera tips for shooting video for the Web
Importance of proper training and skills
Shooting home movies does not cut it

By Jonathan Halls

We have seen a revolution in television production over the past ten years. This has included the introduction of digital video cameras and desktop editing software.

These new technologies have dramatically reduced the cost of production equipment. Manufacturers have introduced lightweight cameras, some of which do not have removable lenses and many of which have plastic lenses.

These cheaper, lightweight cameras are often blamed for the poor quality of video content you often see now populating our TV screens.

Professionals never blame their tools

While these factors may be the causes of some evil, they are not the cause of all camera evil.

Many of my colleagues, who include some of the best television camera trainers in the world, roll their eyes when they see poor footage. They admit that cheaper cameras are poor and give you less control over your shots.

However, they are generally quick to point out that the operator, rather than the camera, is usually responsible for the quality of the pictures.

The key to success with low-end cameras is how they are used. Applying professional techniques will ensure a good picture.

However some novices who have shot home movies believe their amateur production skills are sufficient to produce professional video.

Sadly this is not the case for 98% of circumstances. There is no substitute for professional camera training. I make this comment based on my experience at the world’s largest broadcaster.

First thoughts about cameras

I’ve personally seen the difference between well-trained and self-taught operators. And with the exception of 1 or 2 percent of people, the majority of camera novices turn out questionable video.

I’ve listed a few tips below. These are based on the conversations I’ve had with some of the world’s leading television camera trainers. These are just a few of the highly-rated pieces of advice they’ve shared.

These won’t qualify you to make terrific video content, by the way. They’re a great start but really just the very beginning. Consider this the start of your journey to understanding the camera. Make sure you get some training as well.

Tripod – Don’t shoot without a tripod. It will always be wobbly, especially if you are using a lightweight domestic camera. Get a decent tripod that has a spirit level to be sure the camera is set up correctly.

Use manual focus – Novices trust the auto-focus – a chip in the computer that guesses what you want to focus on. Professionals don’t trust a chip in the computer to make that decision for them. They trust their eyes. The camera’s auto-focus may focus on the wrong subject if you allow it. Make sure you do it yourself.

Manual settings – Learn the exposure and white balance settings on your camera and opt for them. Especially if you are panning your shot. Do not rely on automatic level control for the sound. If you’re taping someone in an interview, every time they pause or take a longer breath, the automatic level control will increase the volume of the ambient noise. Avoid this by using the manual settings only.

Sound – Many novice camera operators fail to capture the sound. The sound is just as important as the picture. Make sure you understand the different types of microphones, how to adjust and monitor recording levels, and how to capture the sound you want.

Zooming, panning and moving background – Remember, your video will be displayed on a mobile device, PC or notebook. It won’t be a big picture on a widescreen television. It is also likely to be compressed which makes the quality and level of detail in your picture lower.

To keep the file size down, and avoid jerky awkward movements, limit your pans, zooms and moving backgrounds. Such movement requires more data and more memory for the computer to process.

Also, I’ve noticed that it takes a lot of practice to learn the art of a smooth zoom or pan without making it look awkward and jerky. Leave that to the professionals. Amateurs often get hyper happy with zooms which can lead to quite nauseating video.

What you need to know if you’re to be a terrific camera operator

You don’t need an expensive Sony DSR 500 camera for a simple vodcast. A domestic camera will often work fine, and if used well, it may even be hard for the average punter to see the difference.

The key of course is how you use your camera. My experience running one of the world’s most respected broadcast training organizations taught me that it is very, very important to get proper camera training.

My colleagues in our camera training unit have trained thousands of camera operators.

This includes professionals within our global television corporation which is respected for having some of the best-trained camera people in the world. And they’ve trained broadcasters around the world who have come to us for training.

Some people think it’s easy to pick up a camera without training but believe me, it could be a big mistake. A few days on a training course requires a simple investment of time and some money.

Shooting home movies does not cut it

What you do on a home movie camera is not good enough for professional video production. Wedding videos also don’t qualify you to shoot broadcast quality video.

An investment in training will more than pay for itself over many years in vodcasts that look stylish and professional.

If you’re a manager or executive and on the verge of commissioning vodcasts, don’t turn corners and think you can get away with home movie quality.

Have your camera people trained to use cameras to tell your stories. Do this and your VODs will shine out from all the others.