Lesson 1: keep camera STILL

Why oh why would you do that:
Let me tell you a story: I once was shooting a jookin competition. (Jookin is a style of dancing created in Memphis TN, I advise you to look it up) I was in a corner with my camera and my tripod and there was also a gentleman, also recording, on his HUGE phone. Now it was standing room only and sadly yours truly was having to protect his camera and telling people I can't see through them. That was ok, I have been in trickery and crazier situations to grab a shot, so I didn't mind it too much. But the guy next beside me, this one guy, shooting beside me, was dancing to the music while holding his phone. This guy was moving his phone up and down, with the beat, and halfway paying attention to what he was doing. Afterwards he tells his buddy beside him how good his shooting was and how good it look on his phone. Well, from one videographer to another, no it wasn't good.

SO what makes a good shot:
Now I could go pages and pages into eye level, rule of third, composition of shots but I will keep this insanely simple for this post. If you want to record something, don't move your camera unless you need to. You don't need to move it to the beat, you don't look at your friend and start bragging how good you are while shooting, and please what ever you do don't shoot the ceiling while your guy is on the ground. So Here are, what I am calling, the Rules of creating a shot.

1. Put you camera on a tripod: Put that camera on the tripod and it will make a world of a difference,  but if you don't have a tripod then find a way to stabilize the camera as best as you can so you can have a decent shot.
2. Put subject or object into focus: Auto or manual, I prefer manual because I have more control over the shot.
3. Push record: And there you have it, only move your camera when needed.

There are so many other rules and ways to make your shot amazing but I believe that until you have those rules down you can't sharpen your craft. How many times have you thought. " ah if I pan right while tilting up I could create the perfect shot" and failed because the last thing in your shot is out of focus. Or you paned too far right and you get something that wasn't suppose to be in there. Always keep it simple until you have practice and perfected a certain technique. And that time will come when that shot needs a extra tilt or pan and it will make all the difference.  Better safe than sorry

Next Time: 
movies

Speaking of go check out thenetflixhorrormovieguide.blogspot.com. 

later