1st camera workshop

 Wed 19th 2021

First camera lesson in the studio

Today we went into the studio for our first camera workshop and learn how to set up a correctly. We were in the studio with Matt so he taught us how to do this safely and how not to damage anything! We were put into small groups so that we could each take turns setting up the camera and learning so we will have practice before the next workshop and the actual shoot day. Each of the camera's were assembled in boxes on the floor that we needed to unpack and set up.

Step 1:

We first learnt how to set top the tripod. We learnt that you have to make sure to lock all three sides or the camera will fall. The tripod enables the camera to film at different heights and also makes sure that what you are filming isn't shaky. When you have adjusted the bottom locks you can adjust the top ones, this makes sure everything is balanced. You wouldn't put the camera onto the tripod until you are sure that all the sides are locked and won't tilt.

Step 2:

We then learnt about the bubble which shows that the camera is level. To be able to work the bubble you have to undo a screw underneath the tripod and then move the head until the bubble is centre in the yellow bubble. We took turns to tighten the screw underneath the tripod to make sure that the bubble is dead centre. Making sure that your tripod is very important as it could ruin your shots is the frame is lopsided. Another interesting feature in the battery powered light which makes sure the camera crew can see the bubble even when the set is dark. 

Step 3:

The next thing we were taught about was how to make sure that the camera is set up correctly so it is safely used. In the box with all the camera equipment in it you have the camera, lenses, a battery and a microphone with its cover. We took times taking the camera out of the box feeling how heavy it was. I was surprised by the weight of it! We were then taught about the correct language that would be used on a professional film set. We were taught to use "yours" and "mine" whilst handing the camera onto someone else. This was so the person handing the camera over new that the other person was holding onto it and wouldn't drop it. I thought that was very useful as it made sure that no camera were damaged. 

Step 4:                                                                                           We then we taught how to put a camera onto the tripod carefully without it falling. Firstly you have to make sure that the camera is lined up to the grooves that are on the tripod. On the right side of the tripod there is a switch that locks the camera onto it and on the right side there is a button that helps the camera be in the right place. When I slid the base of the camera onto the top of the tripod I felt a click which reminds me that it is placed correctly and won't fall. When the camera is clicked onto the tripod you should turn the switch, further making sure that the camera is secure. We each took turns placing the camera on the tripod, making sure that we used the "mine" and "your's" terminology when passing the camera to each other. 

Step 5:                                                                                            In this picture you can see that the camera has been correctly placed onto the tripod and the pan handle has been assembled on the left side of the camera. At the front of the camera the lenses have been attached. This includes the focus part and the zoom part. We haven't attached the battery and the the microphone part yet. The tripod has been assembled to be nearly at the highest level allowing us to be able to still attach the required parts to make the camera work. 

Step 6:

In this step you have to assemble the battery which will make the camera work. We also were taught about the lexar pro memory card which stores the footage so that you can transfer the shots to an editing suit. To attach the battery onto the camera you have to slide it down the back on the camera into two metal clamps, until you feel a click; that means that it is locked in. We each to a few time doing this to make sure that we all understood how to do this. 

Step 7:

In this step we turned on the camera and learnt how to focus it. To switch the camera on there is a small red button on the inside of the camera. To find this you have to open the screen to the side. Once turned on you will see what is being filmed on the screen on the camera. It was very useful that the screen was touchscreen! To focus the camera on a person or an object you have twist the lenses at the front. One of the rotation lenses were to zoom in and out. The other one was to defocus and focus. To set up to film to have to zoom in very close to a stationary object; that way it will be easier to ficus. Then you have to twist the dial at the front to defocus the film and then twist it again to focus. When you have it perfect you then can twist the dial to zoom onto the object and person to film. 

Step 8:

In this step you have to adjust the lighting on the camera to make sure that the shots to naturalistic. On one of the setting on the camera you have the option to change the saturation of the film. To show you which one to use, each saturation has a different logo. For instance they are clouds, a house, a light and a sun. When learning this step we also got to practice moving the other settings.