Camera and Lighting Technique for Moving Image Production

The video demonstrates the pull focus technique on a DSLR, which was my first attempt at this technique too. I found that I had a good control with the camera manual focus which was also much smoother than the automatic focus, matching the film and professional overall look.  

Setting up your camera:

1. Set your DSLR to manual
2. Movie exposure - manual
3. 24/25 frames per second
4. To see the comparison between frame rates 
5. Movie rec. size - 25
6. Shutter speed - 25 X 2 = 50 
7. Aperture > depth of field 
8. Manual focus

ISO & LIGHTING:

High key example

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/48a4UfcOLg8" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Low key example

When experimenting with lighting, high key and low key, I also tested some different camera shots demonstrating a panning and tilt shot, using a tripod for stability. I could of improved the location of the high key video and also made the contrast between the two videos more effective by pre-planning the location and any lighting equipment to exaggerate and emphasise the extremities in lighting. 

SHUTTER SPEED:

Screenshots from the video:

In the shutter speed video I edited, I compared a fast and a slow shutter speed setting, taking screenshots from each clip and explaining how motion blur can effect the visual look of a sequence, being either sharp (with a higher shutter speed) or smoother (with a lower shutter speed) 


APERTURE:

75-300mm lens

With this experimental video, I used a 75-300mm lens on my canon camera to film a sequence. The video was quite unstable as of the weight of the lens and I struggled to have a smooth transition when zooming and changing focus. I could of also planned and had a better subject to film so then I could be prepared and use a tripod and the right equipment to make a less unstable video.


Film Shot Types:

From now having an understanding of the manual set up of the recording setting on my camera, I developed shooting with my camera and demonstrated the different shot types in film. 

Demonstrating shots styles of:

• Establishing
• Tilt
• Close up
• Extreme close up
• Dolly zoom
• Panning
• Long 
• Mid
• Tracking 

LIGHTING:

Shadow example 1

Shadow example 2

To demonstrate the use of lighting, I played with different set ups to create experimental shadows in different methods. I enjoyed this as I had some form of freedom to test and try new things. However, I found it difficult to show hard shadows as I didn't have a strong enough light. To improve this, I would borrow and use the correct LED lights to improve my lighting skills. 

Low key 

High key

When shooting my video evidence for high key and low key lighting, I found it difficult to get the contrast between the extremities, especially high key lighting without the yellow tint of artificial lighting as this was a feature I didn't want.