A2 G324: CAMERA RESEARCH

CAMERA RESEARCH:

Before I started the planning section I wanted to ensure I knew enough about the camera I will be using, and the shots I can take with it. The camera techniques and angles is what makes a music video work and look effective, otherwise, the post production stage would take a lot longer. If I can research into the Canon 500D DSLR camera and understand different shot types and angles, it will be much easier for me when planning my production. 

SHOT TYPES:

I made this table on Power Point presentation to show the different camera shot types.

ANGLES:

1. High Angle Shot - A high angle shows the subject from above for where the camera is angled down towards the subject. This has the effect of diminishing the subject, making them appear less powerful.
2. Low Angle Shot - This shows the subject from below, giving them the impression of being more powerful or dominant.
3. Bird's Eye - The scene is shown from directly above. This is a completely different and somewhat unnatural point of view which can be used for dramatic effect or for showing a different spatial perspective.
4. Slanted - Also known as a dutch tilt, this is where the camera is purposely tilted to one side so the horizon is on an angle.
5. Eye Level - This is the most common view, being the real-world angle that we are all used to. It shows subjects as we would expect to see them in real life. It is a fairly neutral shot.

DSLR CAMERA:

I came across a website that allows you to interact with the features of a DSLR camera. It was a very helpful informative site and I have learnt a lot more about the manual settings of a Canon. 

http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/learn/

I scrolled through each section of the page to find the Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed introduction and examples. Reading through the information helped me understand how to adjust these settings and how the quality improves significantly when changed. Therefore, I decided to go on the 'play' section of the website which allows you to adjust the setting manually to see which photograph will look the highest quality. 

This page allowed you to capture an image after adjusting the settings to see the difference between each photograph. As seen below, there is a before and after image of the toy plane which clearly looked brighter and more colourful in the image on the right. 

DSLR CAMERA STABILISER:

When filming my music video production I want to use a camera stabiliser in stead of holding the camera with my hands. This is because the footage comes out shaky and it does not look professional and smooth. Since my video will have a gentle and soft pace I do not want any added shakiness due to handheld shots. This may work for other genres such as rock however, with R&B and Soul a smooth finish is guaranteed.

However, before I attempt to use the stabiliser, I need to know how to use it to ensure I do not damage it or use it incorrectly. Therefore, I went on YouTube and found a helpful video that explains what the camera does and why you need to use it. He shows the difference between a handheld shot and a shot with the stabiliser which is very intriguing.

ADVANTAGES OF A CAMERA STABILISER:

• Stability - You do not need to worry about keeping your hands still when used a camera stabiliser because the weight balances the weight out evenly. 
• Versatility - Most camera stabilisers come with universal mounting plates that allow you to add microphones, strobes and much more.
• Positioning - With a camera stabilizer, you simply have to tilt the arm of the stabilizer downwards or upwards to capture the footage that you need, without putting a strain on your arms and neck.