Video

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Digital Video Production

The Basics

Video Basics
Common terms and definitions in video, the basics of how film and video work, digital sampling, video formats and connectors.
Camera Basics
An overview of the standard fetures available on most digital video cameras: Focus, Iris, Shutter Speed, White Balance, and Zoom. How and when to use them as well as a discussion of manual versus automatic operation of these features.
Compression
A discussion of the technology and techniques behind video compression; includes definitions of various formats, how compression works, and considerations when shooting video that will eventually be compressed.

Composition

Framing the Image
Definitions of standard compositional terms - long shot, medium shot, etc - commonly used in film and video. Illustrated with examples of each type of shot.
The Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a guideline for placing your subject within the video frame to achieve stronger compositions. (Illustrated)
Focus
A discussion of focus and depth of field as compositional tools. (Illustrated)
Camera Movement
Definitions of common terms used in video production to describe the movement of the camera.
Lighting
A description of the standard "three point lighting" setup which is a default starting point for lighting a subject. (Illustrated)

Workflow

Start to finish overview
A general overview of the entire video production process, from pre-production to delivery.
The Editing Process
An overview of the editing process from logging your tapes to final output.