Light in the dark

Being a Video Journalist, is a challenging task to shoot in the night. But lack of light is an opportunity to let your creative juices flow. Below are just a few tips which can make your task a bit easier.

Shoot wide

When you shoot in wide, you get better shots and have a greater depth of field which results in crisp shots. As you zoom in especially in low light it becomes difficult to focus on the subject. It is always better to stay wide and move your camera closer on the subject. 

Do not zoom

Avoid zooming because when you do so you restrict the amount of light that enters the camera. Twice the amount of light is available at the widest angle of a lens than at the tele- photo angle of angle a lens.

Focus manually

Disable the auto focus function on your camera and set the focus manually. As in the dark the auto focus gets confused. To set the focus you can zoom in on your subject and set focus manually and pull back to compose the frame to your liking.

Use the gain

As the gain is increased (where increments of 3 decibels equal one f-stop), so does the grain. This effect can become significant at levels above 9db, but sometimes it means the difference between having an image or not.

On-camera light

An On-Camera light has to be used in conjunction with other lights as it does have enough power to reach out by itself. But it can be used to light the reporter or the subject if he is placed close to the camera and there is no action to be shown behind him.

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Close-up Videography

As a Video Journalist you have an opportunity to show your audiences images which they would normally not be able to see for themselves. And by shooting extreme close-up is one such way. But zoom lenses cannot take you as close as you would like to go. The solution? A close-up shot.

Close-up video is a great way to add production value to whole range of videos including news, features and documentaries. One can define close-up shot as a shot in which the object appears larger than the actual size.

Before you can start shooting you have to keep few technical issues in mind.

·         How close you can get:  Lens and its focal length will determine how close you can get. Generally, the rule is get as wide and as close you can get. So take your zoom and pull it as wide as you can and physically move closer to the subject.

·         Depth of field:  Very small area of the frame is going to be in focus. The best way to get a large area in focus is to stop your lens down to very small aperture e.g.  f11

·         Use manual focus:  Make sure you clean your lens before the shoot as even a little dust on the lens can be in sharp focus due to the shallow depth of field. And using manual focus will help choose the desired spot you want to be in focus.

Why Close-up?

Close-up shots have a variety of uses. They add variety, information and interest. Productions about hobbies or collections cry out for macro shots showing the details of coins or stamps

Footage of old photographs is another opportunity for the use of close-up techniques. Historical productions benefit from close-ups of old photographs or documents. They not only convey information but also relieve the visual monotony of a talking head.

Your dramatic presentations can benefit from close-up shots as well. Macro shots are easy to create and can add a great deal of interest to your productions. Start thinking about ways to enhance the videos you make, and you will find more uses for close-up shots if you look for them.

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Bring the covers on

Cover up
During the rains an umbrella is a must. It not only protects the camera but also covers you from the rains. But the only problem with an umbrella is the convenience of operating the camera.  Generally, the cameraman attaches the umbrella to the tripod but a strong wind can bring down the camera along with the tripod.  So, if you have an assistant it is a luxury you can afford.

If you are single-man-army use a plastic rain cover, which allows you to operate the camera and prevents the moisture from entering.

Shoot from inside
If the location permits, try and shoot from inside. You do not need to get wet to shoot the rains and scenes in the streets. You can shoot from a building or from inside a car.

Shut the door
Your camera is most vulnerable to moisture when the tape door is open. The open door exposes the record head to the weather, which can damage the camera. If you must open the door in bad weather close it as quickly as you can.

Wrap the cables
When you are using XLR cable to do sound during rain, make sure that you keep the ends dry. If the moisture makes its way through it can ruin the audio. You can wrap a plastic and put it in place with rubber-band to keep it dry.

Use the right tissue
During this weather your camera is will get wet but avoid wiping the lens with your handkerchief or with your sleeves. Even though they are soft they may scratch the lens. Get into the habit of using the photographic lens tissues and don’t use anything else for it.

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Frame it !

Composition is an artful arrangement of objects and people within the frame. You do it day in and day out while on shoot. The left-of and right-of frames you arrange for bytes are compositions. Even the centre looking frame for LIVE is a composed shot. And this arrangement of the frame decides how the audience interprets your video.

Camera positionCamera can be positioned at the eye level suggesting neutral relationship between the camera and the subject.

It can also be positioned below the subjects’ eye levels. When done so, the subject becomes grand and dominates the frame.
At times the camera can also be positioned above the subjects’ eye level to make it look mean in eyes of the viewers.

Rule of Thirds

This is the most widely used and propagated rule in visual art. It is nothing but two vertical and horizontal lines that divide the frame in equal halves.

It is believed that when you place your subject at one of the points where the lines intersect, it makes for a compelling composition. You can use the GUIDEFRAME or GRIDLINES in your camera to compose your subject in such a way.

Framing
When, you have to frame a tight close-up of a person you are always in a fix- where to place the head in the frame and from where to chop it from.

If you chop it from the chin, composition wise it does not look good. But if you chop it from the forehead it looks pleasing.

Looking Room
Always, leave some space in front of your subject because psychologically it creates a space for your subject to look through. If not it will seem as if the subject is looking into a wall and it is very uncomfortable for a viewer.

It's All About Communication
Composition is really about communicating. If your image communicates clearly, regardless of what you are trying to communicate, the composition works. And it is also subjective. One may like your composition someone may not.

With so much visual stuff out there we need something to cut through the clutter and make people look at our work. So keep exploring !

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