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down at the beach

Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 8:29 am
by john ingham
Well I received the new camera yesterday and thought ide charge the batteries and start filming :lol:

No story line .no special effects..just point and shoot...I think i need a new tripod as the one I used is far too light

john

https://vimeo.com/42799842

[Sadly the film was deleted from Vimeo in mid June. - editor]

Re: down at the beach

Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 11:55 pm
by Peter B
Nice shots, John. I liked the composition on the boat shots and the dog looked like he/she was having fun.

Re: down at the beach

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 5:24 pm
by Dave Watterson
I added this comment on the Vimeo website, but maybe I should have echoed it here:

First video ... pretty impressive. Notice how it really comes to life when the dog is on screen? Your photographer's eye makes lovely images from boats on the sand but the only movement is what you introduce by moving the camera. After a short while that restless camera becomes disturbing for the viewer. Give yourself an easy life: let the subject move while you stay still !

Your choice of music not only helps tie the images together but the guitar's sound echoes the wide open skies in the pictures.
What's next? A day in the life of the dog ... ?

Re: down at the beach

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 7:18 pm
by FredD
Some advice John 8)

Get a new tripod with a fluid head and some bubbles. Dont skimp on this purchase.
When you've got it, and set it up for a shot with the bubbles so that it pans level,
DON'T pan left and right all the time, that is almost as 'amateur' and disturbing to the viewer
as using the lens zoom control continuously !

DON'T use the camera with everything set to 'Auto'. Your short piece on the beach is very
overexposed.
In fact I would say don't use the camera with ANYTHING set to 'Auto'. Learn how to evaluate
all your 'settings' and make them manually.

You seem to have 'a good eye' for a shot, so continue to work on this element of your cinematography.

And finally, try and get some structure to your work, like starting with a script or a storyboard.
Don't worry about the 'Special Effects' or post production 'trickery' yet, there will be plenty of time
for all of that, after you have progressed with your basic 'content gathering'.
You can spend hours in your Fianal Cut suite, but don't forget the old adage : "Rubbish In : Rubbish Out" !

And most importantly... Have Fun ! :D
I am looking forward to seeing your next work !
Kind regards,
Fred D.

Re: down at the beach

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 7:42 pm
by john ingham
Thaks Guys...
Dave..your so right in what you have said... and now it has been pointed out, it makes sense
I want you guys to jump on any mistake i make.. I'm here to learn

kindest regards
john

Re: down at the beach

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 10:01 pm
by Dave Watterson
Fred is right ... but, hey you have had the camera two days now! His sign-off "have fun" is the key.

As for "auto" even in our hobby world the VAST majority of people leave everything set that way. But it IS an excellent idea to get used to setting things manually while learning your camera. That can get better quality pictures ... but more important is it makes you think for a moment about the next shot. With experience you can sum-up the light conditions, where you want the focus to be and so on. And when shooting gets hectic. auto will usually get you something useful.

Re: down at the beach

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 8:38 am
by john ingham
Tripod on order :lol: and I won't skimp :lol:

No problems with me fidddling in manual mode, I guess the conditions were not great for shooting, as the upper sky was producing a haze rolling down from the hills on the other side of the estuary, creating a very boring and bright sky..i did use a ND filter but still far to bright
off out today to build up some footage and practice practice practice :D

thankyou guys..all taken on board


john