How to use the video cameras

Today I learnt how to use all the different features and effects on a video camera. I was also taught how to set up and use a tripod.

There are three main features on a typical video camera.

• Zoom
• Focus
• Exposure

Zoom - Enables us to magnify a certain image through 'zooming'.

Focus - Helps us to see the image more clearly once we have zoomed in. It prevents a blurred shot.

Exposure - Allows us to control the quantity of light reaching the film.


On the screen of the video camera, you will be given information such as battery life and the exposure setting. The higher the exposure setting, the less light you are letting through. You are also told how many minutes are left on your memory stick and given a time code.


How to read a timecode

The timecode is found on the top right of the screen. It may read something similar to this

01:03:52:24



01: One hour

03: three minutes

52: fifty-two seconds

24: Twenty-four framed shots per second

Through the timecode, we can establish the fact that we have recorded for one hour, three minutes, fifty-two seconds and we are currently on our twenty-fourth frame.

The video camera will take at least twenty-five shots per second. It is important that we know how many shots per second we are dealing with so as to be precise when editing our film.



White balance (Wht Bal)

This is the process of removing unrealistic color casts, so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in your photo. The video camera has to take into account the "color temperature" of a light source, which refers to the warmth or coolness of white light. 

Here are, for example, two pictures which portray different 'temperatures' and demonstrate the importance of white balance.

Incorrect White Balance - Cool  

Correct White Balance - Warm

To fix the white balance we need to aim the video camera at a blank white wall so that it will then be able to pick up all the colors from the spectrum.

Signs and Symbols

STBY - Standby

REC - Record

Wht Bal - White Balance

F2.2 - An exposure of 2.2 (F5 - an exposure of five)

Dialogue before action

Before recording a piece of action it is important that we have set up the equipment correctly and that the director and crew are prepared. The actors also need to feel that they are in good hands and working with a professional crew.

Typical dialogue before recording could be

Director  'Standby'  

Crew 'Standing by'

Director 'Roll the camera'

Crew 'Rolling'

Director 'Action'

Creating and editing posters

Hey there,

In today's lesson our task was to create a film poster. We were given a camera and told to take pictures on campus. We had to think a lot about Mise En Scene and how to create the desired effect we wanted on our audience.  

My partner and I decided to make a poster for the 'horror' genre of film. We tested different locations to see what was suitable for this theme and experimented a lot with camera angles. We also thought a lot about body language and what impression this might give the audience.

Considering we wanted a horror/thriller approach for our poster, we thought that it would be best to have a tilted camera shot to create an un-easy feeling. However we couldn't find a good angle to work with, so instead took a picture on a hill that was slanted - which still gave an unsettled perception. Also notice that my head and hair are the centre pull of focus. This is where we used the idea of 'The Rule of Thirds'.

Here you can see the original image and the edited version of the picture we took. We edited the second picture using Photoshop software. I covered my hair over my face to create a mysterious and uncanny look. I also thought a lot about my physicality and

                                            what kind of posture I should adopt.

I decided to use lots of shadow whilst editing our poster. To create this shadow illusion I used the 'burn tool' on photoshop to add in shaded areas. I felt that this really helped to enhance the dark nature we were trying to portray. I also used the 'sponge tool' to give the impression of some natural light coming through. I thought that the light streaks I added would create a more naturalistic approach.



Sounds and Signs

Learnt a lot of new vocabularly today which I must share!
There are specific names for different media signs.

Sign: This is an image, object or action that carries meaning or significance.

Denotation: Discussing the image we are observing. What do we see at first?

Connotation: This involves analysing the image in more detail. What do the elements signify that we see? For example, does a character wearing a red t-shirt symbolise an angry nature?

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols.

Please refer to the attached picture of the dog.

• The signifier is the dog.
• The signified (implied) is the cute expression on the dog's face.
• The overall sign is that it is a cute dog.

Today i've also learnt a bit about sound techniques.

Diegetic Sounds - They are realistc sounds heard in the scene (eg; a telephone ringing)

Non-diegetic Sounds - This is background music that actors cannot hear, only the audience. It's purpose is to enhance the atmosphere of the particular moment in a scene for the viewers.

Panning Sounds - This is when we hear a sound that travels through the left speaker to the right, or right to the left. It can make viewers feel uncomfortable and works particularly well in horror movies.

Watch this Jaws clip off youtube which uses both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcjjB0OOu9Y&feature=related

At first we hear a typical beach ambience and the sounds of the waves, and also later a radio. These are all diegetic sounds.

Then at 3:07 we hear a non-diegetic sound of strings building up to create tension and fear.

First lesson on Media!

Today i've been learning how to use Photoshop software. We learnt a lot about the basic tools on it and how to use them within pictures and posters to create effect. For example, we experimented a lot with the 'Lasoo Tool' and the 'Burn Tool'.

I also discovered how to edit and switch characters' heads from the posters. Some of the results were very funny and I was glad to be learning in a fun, productive way. I, in addition, came across a colour enhancing feature which was very effective for some of the posters I edited. In one I enhanced the colour of a character's blue eyes, and it really added to the eerie image the poster was already portraying.

I was later taught the term 'Mise En Scene'. This phrase literally means 'setting a scene' and is the French for 'everything in frame'. A photograph will portray an image to an audience member, and instinctively they will receive information about the style, genre and location of the scene.

'The Rule of Thirds' is a particularly important feature of Mise En Scene. It consists of two, invisible horizontal and vertical lines crossing one another across the image. This is very similar to that of a noughts and crosses game board. It is common that the main focus should be placed at the very centre of the image, however, to create different effects the image can be moved to either side of the frame. Furthermore, I experimented with this too.

Introduction to myself

Hey there!

Just a quick introduction to me! My name is Sophia and I attend Hurtwood House sixth form college. I like socialising, singing and laughing at random things. I also enjoy watching thriller/suspense films - and a little comedy to lighten my day.

I found that Hurtwood taught Media Studies in an interesting, informal way and, due to the fact i'd always wanted to learn more about the media in today's society, I chose to take Media as an A Level subject. I thought it would be a good option considering I showed some enthusiasim and interest into this area before starting the course.

So considering i've only just begun the whole process, i'm beginning to learn new things! My next blog will include the first few techniques i've learnt within the Media industry.

Till then!