Page 38 - Australian Photography Dec 2020

RIGHT: It is important to have some additional lighting on hand, especially when filming in dimly lit environments such as in this old cathedral. LED light panels are a great option for a compact and mobile setup. This image also demonstrates a classic three-point lighting setup which is perfect for interviews or pieces to camera, and provides a balanced light on my subject here.
4SETTINGS
The seemingly endless lists of camera settings can be overwhelming so here are some ideas to get you on the right track. Fortunately, once you have your camera setup with your preferences, you don’t need to dive into the menus too often.
RESOLUTION At a minimum, you should record in full HD (1920 x 1080) but you may also have the option to record in 4K
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) which will give you a sharper image or the ability to crop in post-production for an HD output. My camera has the ability to record in 6K, however my preference is to shoot in 4K and then downscale to HD for broadcast delivery.
FRAME RATE The standard frame rate in Australia is 25 frames per second and this is the default setting for cameras and editing platforms. If you want to record in slow motion you can select a higher framerate (ie 50fps will be at 50 per cent of normal speed) or to speed up your video (time-lapse) you can choose a lower frame rate (ie 5fps will be 500 per cent of normal speed).
EXPOSURE It is a good idea to use manual exposure when shooting video. If left in automatic mode, the changes in exposure can be quite noticeable and distracting for the viewer. For example, when you change your aperture, there is a noticeable jump in exposure, which is fine for stills, but in video it is undesirable. Your ISO should be set at the base level to reduce noise, and increased when the avail- able light is lacking. Most modern cameras will have some helpful exposure tools such as zebra patterns, which indicates what part of your image is at a pre- determined exposure level. There are also wave- form monitors and histograms that you are probably familiar with as they are also used in photography.
SHUTTER SPEED This is an area where photographers often get caught out. As a general rule, to get natural movement in video, you need to set your shutter speed to twice that of your frame rate. This will give you motion blur in movement that is perceived as natural to the human eye. So if you are recording at 25fps your shutter speed needs to be set to 50/sec. If you are recording
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