advanced techniques

[Kevin Packer]

Hi My highschool has just bought a flyer new this year, and i've got 50 hours on it, using a 14 pound camera. I've been practicing, walking the line, going around corners, stairs, whip pans, going through tight paces in class rooms, and changing from different hieghts, but i was wondering what else i should pratice? My teacher did order Advanced steadicam techniques but i haven't watched it yet, and he said it wasn't as good as he thought it would be. Any suggestions are welcome as far as techniques, or simply furthering myself as an operator.

 

Thanks,

Kevin Packer

[joe mcnally]

Hi Kevin

my suggestion would be to start getting other people and disciplines involved.

That way you can start learning about the choreography of movement of actors or talent.

Also when working with sound and lighting and directors etc things that you may not of considered start to crop up.

On a more practical level I find a good exercise is to put up a couple of lighting stands about 10 feet apart, with maybe a baseball cap on each one, then practice doing figure of eights and circling being sure to reverse direction periodically.

Try to compile some great shots from films or TV work on tape that you can refer to.

Try to recreate these shots yourself and with friends.

Hope this helps a bit and good luck.

Regards

Joe McNally

[Kevin Packer]

Hi Kevin

my suggestion would be to start getting other people and disciplines involved.

That way you can start learning about the choreography of movement of actors or talent.

Also when working with sound and lighting and directors etc things that you may not of considered start to crop up.

On a more practical level I find a good exercise is to put up a couple of lighting stands about 10 feet apart, with maybe a baseball cap on each one, then practice doing figure of eights and circling being sure to reverse direction periodically.

Try to compile some great shots from films or TV work on tape that you can refer to.

Try to recreate these shots yourself and with friends.

Hope this helps a bit and good luck.

Regards

Joe McNally

 

Wow thanks joe

thats exactly what i was looking for. Right now my teacher is trying to get me to keep objects in compostion when i don't know where there going which i can see would be useful, but i really like the idea of planning out a shot with the exact movement of actors. Also the figure eights exersize sounds really good, i'll be sure to try that right away.

 

For anyone else, feel free to fill me with your wisdom :)

 

Thanks alot Joe

KevinP.

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Kevin,

 

Wow, times have changed. What part of the world are you in? In a strange way, I'm jealous that you have these tools at your age, but... I suppose when I was in high school we got (then) brand new professional state of the art 3 tube cameras with 3/4" decks that set-up the foundation of my video knowledge. Funny, I couldn't wait to get into film and now these video skills have made the HD world much easier on me than some.

[Hervé Colosio]

something interesting for practice ,

set the lens near closeup mode (not to mutch) , set the focus to 4/3 meters .

do the movements (baseball caps idea of joe mcnally are good) and try to keep in focus .

this is helpfull to get a full precision work , not easy as fisheye operators .

krashtest

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

something interesting for practice ,

set the lens near closeup mode (not to mutch) , set the focus to 4/3 meters .

do the movements (baseball caps idea of joe mcnally are good) and try to keep in focus .

this is helpfull to get a full precision work , not easy as fisheye operators .

krashtest

 

 

Huh???

 

I don't get this

[Hervé Colosio]

:D i need to learn more english to explain what i want :D

[DavidWest]

something interesting for practice ,

set the lens near closeup mode (not to mutch) , set the focus to 4/3 meters .

do the movements (baseball caps idea of joe mcnally are good) and try to keep in focus .

this is helpfull to get a full precision work , not easy as fisheye operators .

krashtest

 

 

i think----

 

shoot wide open with a narrow depth of field and focus set about 10 feet away...

then practice...

 

 

right Krashtest??

[Hervé Colosio]

:D shoot middle wide with a narrow depth of field and focus set about 10 feet away...

thanks for your help davidwest :D

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

:D shoot middle wide with a narrow depth of field and focus set about 10 feet away...

thanks for your help davidwest :D

 

 

Why? that really doesn't teach anything.

[LeighWanstead]

Hi Kevin,

 

Your high school seems really great place to study. :) I only had limited chance to use a computer in my university as I was studying computer science. :(

 

Regards

Leigh

[BirdBoy]

Boy I'm a bit envious too... my High School had metal shop, wood shop & football. Jazz band got cut to finance a new wielder & we didn't even have a photo club ....

 

 

To be 18 again....

[Charles Papert]

I can see value in the exercise that krashtest is suggesting, which is to circle a c-stand with a baseball cap or whatever on it at a mid-telephoto lens; the focus suggestion is to give an indicator when one is straying too close or too far. Obviously that's a recreation of a shot we've all done, the endless roundy-round. I would also suggest doing it both directions, and with reversing the position of the rig (i.e. walking forwards clockwise and backwards counter-clockwise, then forwards counter-clockwise and backwards clockwise).