Advanced Camera Workshop

Shutter Speed and FPS (frames per second)

We will be using a black magic camera to film our music videos. The shutter speed on this camera is measured in degrees. The shutter speed is to do with motion and movement (especially blur). The main degree in which this cameras shutter speed lies is 180 degrees, this allows your image to be in neutral and allows the motion to look realistic and like real life. 75 degrees is much less realistic and this is normally used to film action which is taking place.

By adjusting the shutter speed you get a sense of different motions and movements which are being portrayed. A shutter speed at 360 degrees is much less useful but it can be used to create a dreamy and more romantic effect. Frames per second, is the amount of photographs the camera takes per second to produce media. 25 FPS is the set number for the UK. If you are shooting something in slow motion this number then increases. 

The camera and lenses 

You shoot typically using prime lenses for music videos. Prime lenses are used instead of zoom lenses, they have a fixed focal length. These lenses have much more detail and are much better quality as they are set to a specific job which results in them being ultimately better at shooting and capturing what you want to capture. All the prime lenses have numbers on them, this indicates the millimetres and tells us what millimetres the lens is. Using prime lenses when shooting is much more time consuming but it is worth it and produces much better results and outcomes. Prime lenses do not zoom, they have one focus and one set up, to focus the camera and lens you have to use a tape measure. 

You have the measure the distance from the camera and the individual you want to film, you then place the measuring tape in line with the focus plane which is a circle with a line down it. When you know how far away they are from the camera you then adjust the focus wheel and match how far the subject is.

 

The standard set up for filming a performance is for them to look like this:

To make your shot and music video to look better you need to dismantle the original set up and adjust it so that it looks better on the camera. Depth is extremely important, the depth of field will always make the scene look better and always adds something to make it more interesting.

Directing

Communication and directing is very important for setting up and filming. You must be very precise and strict with what you want from the individuals who you are filming. This will make the filming much easier for you and everyone else you are working with.