This is a quick overview of some considerations in creating video for a web journalism format. Topics include lighting and camera angle/aesthetic considerations.

1. Video Production Basics
Presented by
Brett Atwood

2. Video Recording Apps
• Most Smartphones have a built-in video
recording app
– There are also additional video apps available in
the App Store and Google Play
• Consumer-grade video recorders are also an
option for recording video for the web

3. Lighting
• Three purposes of lighting:
– Provide adequate illumination for the picture to
be processed correctly by the camera
– To tell us what the objects on the screen look like,
including space/depth relationships and time of
day
– To establish the mood of a scene

4. Hard and Soft Light
• “Hard Light” – Very
pronounced;
Directional; Casts
strong shadows
• “Soft Light” – Light is
diffused/spread out;
less shadows
– People look better
with soft lights

5. Directional vs. Diffused Light
• Example:
Directional Diffused

6. Directional light
• Hard light casts a sharp, clearly defined shadow.
• When hard light is used to illuminate a face,
imperfections in the skin stand out. The result is less than
flattering.
• But in other applications, such as bringing out the texture
in leather, or the engraving on a piece of jewelry, this can
be an advantage.

7. Diffused light
• Soft (diffused) light has
the opposite effect.
• It tends to hide surface
irregularities and detail.
• Diffusers are used over
the front of lights to
soften and diffuse their
beams. At the same time,
diffusers also reduce the
intensity of light.

8. Soft Lighting
• Since soft light is
more scattered, you
may need more light
• Soft light may be
created using
bounced lighting
– Light source hits
subject indirectly
since it bounces off
a reflector

9. White Balance
• White Balance – Used to balance the color of
your shot.
– Point the camera at a white object (piece of blank
paper or white wall)
– Object should be in the same light that you will
use in shooting
– Press “white balance” button to adjust the
sensitivity of the camera to the current light
source

10. White Balance
• An improperly white
balanced camera can
cause your video to
appear yellow,
greenish or reddish or
yellower than it should.
• Example:
– Bad (Top image)
– Good (Bottom image)

11. White Balance
• If you move the camera into different light or
the light source changes, then you will need to
redo the white balance setting
• Some cameras do automatically re-balance
the white

12. Establishing Shots
• Many directors follow this
simple formula:
– First scene shot: Wide,
establishing shot to orient
the viewer
– Second scene shot: Closer
proximity to main subject
– Third shot: Main subject

13. Camera Angles
• Use angles to keep
the production
interesting
• Angles can be used to
manipulate audience
perception

14. High Camera Angle
• Positions the camera
above eye level
• Camera shoots down
at subject
• Used to show
overview of area
• Used to make subject
appear smaller

15. Low Camera Angle
• Positions the camera
below eye level
• Camera shoots up
toward the subject
• Used to give sense of
power to subject

16. Canted Angle
• Camera is tilted on a
horizontal plane
• Used to convey sense
of excitement or
instability
• Simply tilt the
camera to achieve
this effect
• Use this sparingly

17. Subjective Camera Angle
• Places the camera in
the place of a
character to show us
a scene from their
viewpoint
• Also known as point-
of-view shot (POV)
• Used to engage
viewers in the action

18. Capturing Motion
• You should always
consider the path of
moving subjects and,
generally, leave space
in front of them into
which they can
move.

19. Capturing Motion
• If you don't, here's
what can happen!
This jogger looks like
she's going to run
right out of the
frame.

20. Capturing Motion
• By placing the
subject in the lower-
left position, we've
used the rule of
thirds and given the
jogger plenty of room
to run within the
frame.