1. Picture Basics Disclaimer: I am NOT a camera guy
(but I own a couple of cameras...)

2. You know some of this Frequency and intensity
Light's behaviour can be modeled as a wave
Different frequencies = different colors

3. Some differences 300,000 km/s vs 340 m/s
Electromagnetic vs. acoustic energy
You could never hear a light wave anymore than you could see a sound wave
What we “see” is reflections of light off of objects; what we identify as a sound comes right from its source

4. Some things I've noticed
lighting/framing = microphones/placement
Lens/sensor = preamp/converter

5. Setting up for a shot Perspective – what angle?
Level – make sure camera is level
White Balance – effects color & “temperature”
Exposure – important not to lose detail in light or shadow
Frame – what you will show in the shot (vs. what you won't show in the shot)
Focus – what's in? What's out?

6. Exposure Three controls Size and type of sensor matter
Aperture: size of lens opening
gain/ISO: boost from camera electronics
Shutter speed: faster = smoother motion
Size and type of sensor matter
Bigger sensor = better in low light
Three chips are better than one

7. Aperture Size of the hole in the lens over the sensor
Larger Aperture lets in more light
Measured in “f-stops”
Smaller f-stop = larger opening

8. ISO/gain ISO was a measure of film grain
Larger ISO number is the equivalent of more gain. More gain can mean more “noise” or graininess in the shot
Don't use more gain than you have to.

9. Field of view
Determined by distance from subject and focal length of lens
Knowing what a certain focal length means in terms of “tightness” allows you to know what microphone or techniques you might have to use.
Larger number = longer length
20mm = wide; 50mm = “normal”;
100mm = “telephoto”

10. Depth of field
Refers to the range at which things will be in (or out) of focus
i.e. subject in focus, background out-of-focus
Helps to determine what a viewer will be focused on in the shot
Focus “peaking”

11. White balance Determines the “color temperature”
White is not quite the same in different lights – white balancing sets the baseline
Bluer = colder; orange = warmer

12. Shutter Speed
Slower shutter speed = more time for light to “soak in” to the sensor
Too slow can result in anomalies

13. Frame Rates SMPTE HH:MM:SS:FF
Film is shot at 24 frames per second ( fps)
Color video is shot at 30 frames per second (29.97 fps)
Two flavors: drop and non-drop
Know what frame rate is being used!
“p” vs. “i” - progressive vs. interlaced scanning
- “p” is better (30p is the same as 60i)

14. Resolution 1920 x 1080 “High Definition” 1280 x 720 “High Definition”
720 x 480 “Standard Definition”
“1080/24p”

15. Aspect Ratio Ratio of width:height Common Video:
4:3 – old “square” TV aspect ratio “Full Screen”
16:9 – Most common HDTV and video monitors “Wide Screen” (1.77:1)
Film: 1.85:1; 2.39:1 “Cinemascope”

16. Things to remember Every shot needs a hero You can't fix overexposure
Zebras or highlights, histogram, light meter
Emotion is in the eyes
Watch out for shadows
Keep your lens clean
You can't always trust “auto” to get it right
Especially wrt focus!