Every hour spent in the editing suite has an impact on budgets, and as the industry looks at new ways to keep costs down, camera crews receive more pressure than ever to deliver the right shot quickly. Regardless of the type of production, getting it right the first time, versus capturing massive amounts of content, saves time and money.
Tom Guilmette chooses Vinten Vector 75 to shoot at Fenway Park
The most common scenarios that lead operators to do pick up shots range from technical issues such as poor framing, camera shake, or the shot being out of focus, to the camera operator not capturing the precise shot the director wants for the edit, says Tom Guilmette, a Boston-based director of photography and television camera operator who has worked in the professional sports market for over 10 years.
Good planning at the production stage is vital, he continues. The director needs to provide an exact brief, so the camera operator knows precisely what to capture to meet the edit requirements. Secondly, to facilitate the capture of those perfect shots, selecting the right equipment to complement the performance of the camera is crucial. Ultimately, if the equipment doesnt enable the operator to get the shot the director requires, or the image does not meet the quality standards of the production, another shoot will need to be scheduled. Clearly, that is not a cost effective option.
A lack of full control of the camera makes it more difficult to achieve a precise shot, which can affect transitions in the edit as well as the shots themselves.
If control is compromised it could mean attempting the same shot two or three times, and even make it impossible to get the right shot at all, which would have to be worked around in the edit, says Andrew Butler, Applications Manager for Vitec Videocom This underlines the fact that camera operators simply cannot afford to be compromised by the products they use.
Andrew Butler, Applications Manager for Vitec Videocom
Following the action and nailing the shot every time requires the right gear. High-quality camera supports can provide the perfect balance and drag necessary to keep an operator shooting without the worry of mechanical issues.
The most fundamental support in any camera operator's arsenal of equipment is the tripod, advises Guilmette. It is the one piece of equipment that can be used in most applications and helps operators to get the best out of their camera's lens for the majority of shots. The right tripod should be perfectly balanced with precise control of movement so the camera behaves predictably, thus enabling the operator to be completely responsive in unexpected situations.
The same applies from selecting the highest performing lenses and lighting to choosing the best power source. The equipment needs to be appropriate for the specific job and make the camera crew's role easier and quicker. Basics, such as uninterrupted battery power, are vitally important, particularly for today's 4K camera set ups as well as DSLR shooting.
Guilmette points out that the way cameras are mounted into support systems or handheld rigs can obstruct the battery door from opening properly. Dismounting the camera, changing the battery, and then remounting the camera all costs time. Selecting a battery solution that allows operators to power their cameras for hours at a time from a single source removes the need for frequent changes. Each equipment choice needs to be carefully considered to facilitate a smooth shoot where an operator doesn't miss any vital action.
The challenge of capturing the right shot the first time varies dramatically across applications. In news reporting, roughly one tenth of the rushes make it through to the program. In every other application, a much larger percentage hits the cutting room floor. Feature film production is the clear winner, with the proportion of footage captured that is actually used in the final picture is nearer to 500:1. With any given application, everything in a scene could be perfect, but if a piece of equipment fails, the shoot will be disrupted or the opportunity could be entirely lost.
For example, when shooting baseball at Fenway Park where wind is a factor, I choose the Vinten Vector series of fluid heads, Guilmette relates. They allow the operator to move very slowly when following a subject super tight, but also give them the ability to whip pan to the next shot. All this can be done without changing the friction level. This results in no surprises, smooth response and expected behavior in the head, when shooting in all conditions.
Camera operators choose equipment and products they are familiar and comfortable with, but Guilmette recommends they do their research: Invest in a tripod system that is built to last. The initial outlay will pay off in the long run because it is such a vital tool in your arsenal and a good one can last throughout your career.
He concludes, The camera crew know the ups and downs of various support gear on the market. Utilizing this knowledge will increase every production's chances of getting the shot right the first time.
Tom Guilmette is a Boston-based director of photography. He has worked in OB sports television for over 13 years. More recently, he has worked on documentary projects that have taken him to the corners of the globe.
Andrew Butler is Applications Manager at Vitec Videocom, a Vitec Group company. Butler joined Vinten as a production engineer. He went on to product management, and today he leads the company's strategic product planning for the professional videography & cinematography segments of the industry. Butler is dedicated to understanding and assist in solving a wide range of creative and technical challenges, and incorporating those solutions into the Vitec Videocom product portfol
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
18/04/2024
Tom Durant Pritchard as Alexander Blake
Thursday 18 April 2024 Tom Durant Prit...
18/04/2024
Alone Australia goes from strength to strength
18 April, 2024
Media releases
The program again delivers for SBS with significant uplifts in digital BVOD vi...
18/04/2024
ORANGE COUNTY, Va., April 18, 2024 - L3Harris Technologies [NYSE:LHX] has entered into an agreement with Orange County, Virginia, to fund the expansion and mode...
18/04/2024
L3Harris Sky Warden multi-mission aircraft, equipped with the WESCAM MX-15 and WESCAM MX-20 EO/IR sensor systems, was selected for USSOCOMs Armed Overwatch prog...
18/04/2024
MELBOURNE, Fla., April 18, 2024 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has received ...
18/04/2024
LAS VEGAS The National Association of Broadcasters is reporting that more than 61,000 people attended the 2024 NAB Show, where artificial intelligence and the c...
18/04/2024
Ann Keefe, Regional Director - UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology, explains how storage and memory decisions made now are underpinning creativity in the futu...
18/04/2024
Krisha Marcano Announced as Dean of Theater for Boston Conservatory at Berklee The theater educator, choreographer, and performer will join Boston Conservator...
18/04/2024
The newly acquired UKVI licence enables Escape Studios to recruit and retain international students
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 18, 2024
The newl...
18/04/2024
Attendees from more than 163 countries were present, including 34 delegation buying groups from around the world
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 18, 202...
18/04/2024
In August 2023, Dyn Media launched as a new broadcaster in European sports, aimed at giving sports beyond football the exposure and viewership they deserve. The...
18/04/2024
Hitomi Broadcast, market leader in audio/video alignment and latency tools based in the UK, has signed a partnership deal with global broadcast rental specialis...
18/04/2024
18 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Dynamic Television announce new Scripted Initiative
Savage River
Screen Australia and Los Angeles-based telev...
18/04/2024
Vislink's DragonFly V - The Company's Smallest-Ever Transmitter Debuted ...
18/04/2024
MediaSilo to Offer Camera to Cloud with Atomos
Brie Clayton April 17, 2024
0 Comments
Integration between MediaSilo and Atomos Cloud Studio unlocking ...
18/04/2024
MultiDyne Updates its SilverBULLET Series to Serve More Fiber-Optic Links
Brie Clayton April 17, 2024
0 Comments
MultiDyne Fiber Optic Solutions intro...
18/04/2024
Cinedeck Partners with Paramount to Revolutionize Content Delivery Process
Brie Clayton April 17, 2024
0 Comments
Cinedeck, a pioneer in integrated de...
18/04/2024
Unreal for video adding rocks and foliage
Graham Quince April 17, 2024
0 Comments
Welcome to my series on learning Unreal Engine for After Effects u...
18/04/2024
Best Budget Beginner-Friendly 4k Drone
Sean Alami April 17, 2024
0 Comments
Potensic Atom 4k 3 axis Gimbal Drone, ideal drone for beginners.
Some con...
18/04/2024
Rocky Mount Mills will be overflowing with runners, families and friends, all fo...
18/04/2024
Berklee's Yoon-Ji Lee Receives Guggenheim Fellowship Lee, an assistant professor of composition, creates music based on unconventional and nonlinear struc...
18/04/2024
Ben Sherwood, former president of Disney ABC Television Group, has been named CEO and publisher at The Daily Beast. Joanna Coles, former chief content officer a...
18/04/2024
Ping pong for the masses: Bringing an old sport to a brand new audience with Wor...
18/04/2024
Fanatical fans: IMG on bringing the world of table tennis to a new global audien...
18/04/2024
Back to All News
Netflix Follows Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in New SeriesPlay Video
Play Video
Entertainment
18 April 2024
GlobalUnited States
Link copie...
18/04/2024
Back to All News
Chinese-Language Revenge Thriller Series The Resurrected'...
18/04/2024
Back to All News
The Witcher Season 4 Begins Production in the UK and Netflix A...
18/04/2024
Apple has reduced its overall greenhouse gas emissions by more than 55 percent since 2015, the company shared today in its 2024 Environmental Progress Report. T...
18/04/2024
Prison Journalism: April's experiences of black boudoirThabo Mthembu was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2014 to 2019. Read Thabo's story
by Tha...
18/04/2024
Prison Journalism: Can gangsterism and violence be reduced in prison?Dean Mashimbwe, a Zimbabwean migrant residing in Cape Town, was incarcerated at Pollsmoor C...
18/04/2024
Software making music: How DJs are doing itSoftware plays a big part in music production, recording, and performances. Here's what DJs are using, and how yo...
18/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele later blindsides an unwitting Faith into meeti...
18/04/2024
Debut author stuns with international bestselling thriller Anna O'Matthew Blake burst onto the book scene with his bestseller Anna O', a deliciously d...
18/04/2024
It's time to get a little wicked. Members can now stream No Rest for the Wicked from the cloud.
It leads six new games joining the GeForce NOW library of m...
18/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 17 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African ...
18/04/2024
Watch: Trailers for the best Afrikaans movies ever madeDon't know what to watch? Here are some of the best Afrikaans movie trailers ever made, including Too...
18/04/2024
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales alongside partners SISINT and CONECTICABO...
18/04/2024
In response to growing concerns raised regarding the adverse impact of TikTok co...
18/04/2024
We were saddened to learn this morning of the passing of our friend and former colleague, Alf McCarthy who died yesterday.
We remember Alf as a popular present...
18/04/2024
NVIDIA today recognized 18 partners in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for their achievements and commitment to driving AI adoption.
The recipients were hon...
17/04/2024
Opening today, the exploration is aimed at selecting a location that will preser...
17/04/2024
On April 18 and 19, experts from across the audio industry-including artists, pu...
17/04/2024
With its particular combination of talent, ambition, culture, and, of course, wo...
17/04/2024
At Spotify, we want to equip student creators with the tools and resources neede...
17/04/2024
L3Harris Communications Australia Field Service support continues to grow with a...
17/04/2024
An optical technician lays on a diving board suspended between NASAs Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescopes primary and secondary mirrors. The photo is a projected ...
Every hour spent in the editing suite has an impact on budgets, and as the industry looks at new ways to keep costs down, camera crews receive more pressure than ever to deliver the right shot quickly. Regardless of the type of production, getting it right the first time, versus capturing massive amounts of content, saves time and money.
