It happens every time; at least sometimes! When I plan to film that special occasion, like a wedding or making a worthwhile record of a holiday. I tell myself that I won’t forget those little rules about producing a good video. So I know I will make sure I have enough close ups and cut-aways. Sadly, there I go again and have to make do with what I’ve got and editing can be tricky. Easily distracted I suppose - My excuse!

Although many of these points have been covered before, I feel it is worthwhile reiterating some of those old thoughts: GOOD
AND BAD!

COMPOSITION

Bad composition is in my opinion the most common let down with amateur camera work, some are much better than others, or should I say, worse than others! Well, I think it is a natural gift, but there are definite rules, easily forgotten during the excitement of the moment.

1. Tone balance; The picture must be well balanced both in colour and tone. The weight should not be all on one side, although a little more weight at the bottom of the frame is acceptable.
2. Colour balance; the same applies, a large area of the same colour on one side or a corner distracts from the subject. So you need to have both eyes open when using a B&W viewfinder.
3. Avoid a large gap between the top of actors heads and the top of the frame.
4. An important shape should be positioned at about a third into the frame.
5. The horizon should never be at the half way point (normally!).

6. With one person speaking, in a side or three quarter shot, the speaker must face into the frame - NOT THE EDGE!
7. If face on, the person should be near central, not near to one edge.
8. In big close ups, top of head is usually out of frame.
9. A person speaking must be in focus, not the background!

So obvious, many will say, but I keep on seeing these mistakes and they really can spoil an otherwise good epic and marks are lost when it comes to judging.

Another suggestion I made before was to study the way shots are composed in good films and TV productions. Professionals seldom make big mistakes, so I think it is a good idea to really study them. Analyse them as examples; you could even do better! There are sometimes far too many gimmicky shots such as The Dutch Tilt’, or too many zip pans from one side, then back, which are distracting. Only my opinion, but I look for nicely composed pictures that the Cameraman has obviously given much thought to. At the other end of the scale, a kind person offers to take a shot of you and your friends having fun (“Just set it for me and I’ll take a shot.”). The result from the inexperienced person is rarely good, but the shot is usually disappointing and a lot of tape wasted.

CAMERA OPERATION
SIMPLE RULES

Similar rules apply with camera operation, referring to the starting and stopping of a shot, where to start and stop. It sounds obvious, but

there again there are rules which, if overlooked, make editing an extremely tricky task.
1. Always allow a run in at the beginning and a reasonable run at the end of the take.
2. When panning, compose your picture at the start and at the finish, making sure that the camera is level, (check the verticals or use a spirit level). Hold the camera still for a few seconds before starting the pan and hold the shot after the pan.
3. Do not pan too fast! There is however a use for rapid zip pans if you are covering, candidly, a conversation. When a person is speaking, listen for a pause and zip pan to another or others in the group. This can be
done a few times during the shot and the zips are cut out when editing.
4. Use a tripod whenever possible, but especially with telephoto shots.
5. It is best to get an assistant to pull focus when taking a long telephoto scene of a person walking towards the camera in a crowd as the auto focus will hunt. So practice runs are essential. (Manual control cameras.)
6. On static shots, stand away from the camera or use a remote control. A colour monitor is a useful accessory.
7. A polarising filter is a useful accessory to reduce reflections in glass or water etc.

I’ll just pop off now to practice what I preach - that’s if I can find a battery that’s charged up! (But that’s another story.)


John Woolmer