After 40 years working in TV, you might be asking why I’ve decided to start writing a blog?
1. Sharing
After 40 years behind the camera, I decided it was time to share some of what I have learned over all those years in the business. Interestingly, the principles of shooting video haven’t changed a lot. Television is still a close-up medium and whilst we now capture video images digitally, it’s still worth looking at the guidelines of shooting analogue video, as they still apply today.
2. Lighting
Video cameras need good light to capture an image. Today’s cameras are a thousand* times more sensitive to light than the first video camera I used (an RCA TK 76) but good lighting will always mean a good image. Here are three things to consider:
- Look for a location with good, even light. It will give a better result.
- Stay away from walls, (white walls in particular), windows that look out on a bright sunny day and any distracting background activity or movement.
- If possible, try and get some backlight on your subject – especially indoors. (This helps separate your subject from the background and create a three dimensional look to your image)
3. Location sound
Location sound recording needs careful attention. Using the microphone built into the camera is never a good option as it’s meant for general location sound – not for quality recording of a person being interviewed.
4. Editing
Editing is one area that has seen a lot of changes. Audiences these days will accept far quicker edits than when television was first introduced.
My plan is to cover all the above and more in this blog. If you have any other topic suggestions, you can make them here.
* Slight exaggeration
