b-roll.net » tips & tricks

How to Back Focus an XDCAM EX Camera

Kevin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:54:56 +0000

New technology brings smaller cameras and smaller controls. The new changeable lens EX cameras from Sony have a much more menu driven method to correct the back focus.

Andy Shipsides of AbelCine takes us through the process.

Read the full story here…

Filmmakers Produce Lesson in Capturing Moments

Kevin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:26:43 +0000

“Without Us, It’s Radio”

A famous rallying cry of photographers here on b-roll.net. But after listening to some amazing writing on National Public Radio from shows like This American Life, Planet Money and Radiolab, I have found a lot about storytelling can be learned from the AUDIO ONLY medium. These shows break the mold on the process of telling a linear story.

Back in July, WNYC’s Radiolab did a show about moments of death, called “After Life.” This inspired New York film director, William Hoffman and DP Julius Metoyer, III to produce the video “moments.” Rather than moments of death – this is all about moments of life.

This is a great work on its own, but I think it shines as an example of capturing great moments. Granted it’s not the framework of your normal TV news story, but it has elements that would help punch up any story.

What do you think?

Createasphere Gives Us a Quickie on White Balance

Kevin — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:56:21 +0000

The folks at Createasphere (formally HD Expo) have put together a few quickie training videos to help illustrate some basic principles of motion pictures and digital filmaking. In this one, Jeffery Seckendorf discusses and demonstrates principles of color temperature. Shooting 101, to be sure, but a nicely put together introduction to our friend Lord Kelvin and his HOT lights!

Quickies from Createasphere: Color Temperature Basics for Film and Digital

Check out all the QUICKIES.

b-roller Shows Off His “Hood Box”

video — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:37:24 +0000

I thought i would share my hood box. I had problem with my rotating filter on my 2 stage mattebox and was looking to just go back to a sunshade/hood. I have searched everywhere for a basic hood that allowed me use of flags and couldnt find it. So i thought i would do my own. Basically i got rid of the trays and merged the clamp on the back to the shade on the front. Thus create a hood that still allowed me to keep my flags for when i need them. The only downside is i cant use grads but i shoot news so using grads is not really an option. But the upside is i have a flags for blocking sun and i can finally get my fingers around the circular poly with ease not like my fujinon hood.

Let’s Go Camping

Kevin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:41:08 +0000

From: David Dahlquist, Freelance News Photographer San Juan Capistrano, CA

I was covering a three day breast cancer walk last month and we were on location 24/7 for all three days. While shooting interviews with some of the volunteers at night in small dome tents. I needed to light the interviews but did not want that camera light look.

I had packed a fluorescent camp light with my gear.

My camera light is a 5600K LED With a dimmer. So I grabbed the camp light and set it just out of the shot. I used it as my key and used my led light dimmed way down as a fill the combo provided a flattering soft light.
When I pulled wide for a two shot the camp light was in the shot but it did not look out of place.

The camp light worked great and provided a fast set up as it ran on its own battery.