a. Success or failure in hand-held camera operation depends primarily on
the proper stance.
You must stand with your feet about 18 inches apart for
good support, thus preventing body sway.
b. Hold the camera with both hands and use any aids which may be provided
by the manufacturer.
Many cameras are made to rest naturally against your
forehead as you look through the view finder, providing another point of
support.
c. Pull in your elbows and press them firmly against your sides, if you
can, while videotaping the scene.
d. Practice the proper
stance while holding a camera and see just how
steady you can be.
It will
help if you can hold your breath while taping,
provided the scene isn't too
long. This eliminates the rise and fall of your
chest.
Try to relax, being
tense can cause the muscles to jerk, producing
jerky footage.
e. You must strengthen your skills as a cameraman.
If it is possible,
practice your skills as follows:
(1) Maintain subject size as a talent walks towards or runs past camera.
(2) Maintain focus, follow a moving object, maintaining focus as a
subject approaches or moves away.
(3) Practice finding, focusing and composing a scene during unfolding
action.
The purpose is to find the object, focus and compose quickly and
accurately.
(4) Practice tracking, following an object, such as a horse, while
maintaining good composition. The horse should be properly framed with proper
lead space.
(5) Practice steady-hold. Hand-held camera work can only be done by a
calm person who possesses adequate strength.
(6) Find as many interesting shots as possible from a single camera
position.
(7) Look for difficult shots.
4. Types of transitions. A simple method of going from scene to scene is a
transition.
These include the cut, blackout, swish pan, fade-to-black,
defocus/refocus, and black surface.
There is also the sound transition and
montage. The director creates an appropriate transition.
a. Black out. Talent walks toward the camera until the entire picture is
blacked out from lack of light.
The next scene may start with the talent
walking away from the camera.
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