Camera workshop

From the workshop today, we were shown camera equipment that we will be using throughout the rest of the year for our opening scene. The equipment we were shown is the camera and the tripod which will be holding the camera throughout are filming. 

The full name of the cameras we were using in the workshop is Black magic 4K mini URSA

The 'yours', 'mine' rule must be used when handling camera equipment, this is to avoid dropping the expensive equipment, by simple telling a person 'yours' and whilst they receive the equipment say 'mine', you avoid miss-communication ensuring that you safely pass along equipment. 

On the tripod a spirit level is also used, this is an instrument that is designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical. 

When setting up the tripod it has to be set on the floor, meaning that it is open on its three legs. When setting up the tripod you have to turn the nobs on the side loosening the height adjustment, meaning you can change the height. With tripods there are 3 on each level, 3 on the base which need to be turned anti-clockwise and once the height is adjusted you turn the nobs clockwise in order to lock the height in place, this process is repeated for the next level.

On camera focusing is changed on the lens, in order to focus and zoom, you have to zoom all the way in to your shot, then change the focus until it is clear. Once this is done you zoom out to the correct distance you want for the shot. The zoom lens is adjusted at the end of the lens and the focus is adjusted further back. 

You have to zoom all the way on a person first and then adjust the focus because if you focus first then zoom in the camera will go out of focus, this is due to the lens view being changed. The focus point of a person is their eyes, this is because a persons eyes contains the most amount of detail, and when focused on the eye you can easily infer whether the shot is clear or not. 

Lighting is also a great importance when coming to camera work, white balancing is used to make sure the lighting is right for the environment you are filming in, some these environments include being outside, in shade or inside. This is adjusted on the touch screen and it is important to change because if you have the white balancing on the wrong setting the camera shot will look wrong. 

Putting the equipment away is also known as striking the kit, this includes making sure everything is put away properly, and that the equipment is easy to get out for the next time it is used.