Studio Workshop - Camera Lesson 1

During our classes first studio lesson we have been taught how to manually set up three different types of cameras, a tripod, as well as the importance of setting up a camera manually. Effectively all cameras can be set to function on an automatic shooting mode, allowing people to easily shoot various types of media pieces. This however possesses a number of disadvantages which all relay to the same issue, which is that a camera cannot recognise footage the same way a person can. In other words only a person can identify whether the focus, white balance, ISO and etc. are appropriate for what it is that they are shooting.

One of the most significant features of every camera is its white balance function. This utility allows the camera operator to identify what it is that either he or she would like the camera to perceive as white within the current shooting setting. By doing so the camera adjusts the way in which it receives every colour in accordance to what you set to be white. For instance a camera placed outside may perceive everything with a tint of blue, although after its white balance is set using a white piece of paper all the colours lose their blue tint and thus become more naturalistic. Together with our studio tutor we have explored this function using the Sony FS100 by placing it inside, and than outside, whilst adjusting the white balance.

Another crucial function of a decent camera is its focus. The function allows the camera operator to set what will the camera see as focused and out of focus. Through the use of different lenses the area in front of the camera that is either in or out of focus can be adjusted to great measures. Furthermore even though it may seem that the camera is capable of automatically setting about the focus, digitally zooming in and manually adjusting the focus contributes towards a more crystal clear image. I explored the various ways in which focus can be used and adjusted in the 5D Mark III Canon, which we have been provided with throughout our lesson.

Another feature worth mentioning is the ISO, which is the cameras sensitivity to light. Increasing the ISO increases the cameras sensitivity to light, which in turn causes the camera to display a brighter image/video. Decreasing the ISO does exactly the opposite, and dims the image/video. By adjusting the camera sensitivity to light the camera operator can portray a mood within a shot. For instance most comedies are filmed with a high ISO setting to relate to their comedic mood. At the same time most thriller are filmed with low ISO settings to built upon the tension and suspense present within them. The Sony NX5 is the third camera, which I have operated within our first studio lesson and used to test out the different capabilities and techniques of using the ISO function that the camera provided.

Finally we have also been taught how to operate a tripod. Our teacher slowly went through how to set up the tripod and mount the camera on top of the tripod, which due to my previous experience with cameras it was knowledge that I was able to quickly grasp and apply throughout the lesson. In my opinion the first studio lesson was a successful period of time, throughout which I learned how to operate different cameras, tripods and the functions present within does and other cameras.