Depth of Field Pt. 3

What is the crop factor? What is lens equivalency? If you had a full-frame sensor and your cousin had an APS-C-sized sensor, how would you explain the differences between the cameras and lenses to your cousin?

    Crop factor is that a smaller lens will create a more zoomed in image when the focal length is the same. Lens equivalency is the crop factor times the lens focal length. The differences between the cameras and the lenses are that when they are at the same focal length, the field of view is different. In order to create the same field of view, you would have to either use a longer lens on the full frame or a shorter lens on the APS-C-sized sensor. But, focal length will deepen when using a longer lens so you will have to increase the f-stop and then the gain to make up for the change in exposure, both based on the crop factor.

Depth of Field Pt. 2

What is the circle of confusion? How does this affect what the viewer of the image perceives overall? How does the camera's sensor come into play with the circle of confusion?  Why?

    The circle of confusion is the leeway for the point of focus as it is difficult to get something perfectly in focus. Looking at it more technically, when a point of light reflecting into the sensor, it forms a single spot of light if it's in focus; however, the further from the point that the subject is, the bigger that spot of light gets, making the image more and more blurry. The circle of confusion is how big that spot of light can get before it affects the image. This affects what the viewer perceives as the bigger the spot of light, the blurrier the image. The camera's sensor comes into play regarding the circle of confusion through the size of the sensor. This is because the smaller the sensor, the shallower the depth of field will be, meaning that the circle of confusion will be smaller and there will be less leeway for the image to be in focus.

Depth of Field Pt. 1

In your own words, explain what depth of field is. What is deep depth of field?  What is shallow depth of field?  What might you use it for in a video?

    Depth of field is the focal length where the image is in focus, i.e., the area in front of the camera where a subject can be clear and sharp. Deep depth of field is when this area is large, which can allow things both near and far from the camera to be in focus. This can be achieved is by increasing the f-stop. Shallow depth of field is when the range that a subject can be in focus is smaller, which can create a cinematic look with an out of focus background and clear subject. This is done with a lower f-stop. I can use it for my videos to create more filmic looking images and/or to show or conceal different elements in the frame. By having the shallow depth of field, it increases the visual aesthetic of the image. A usage that can enhance the storytelling is by using deep and shallow depth of field to conceal and reveal parts of the image to direct the audience's attention. For instance, if there is something important in the background, I could either shift focus with a shallow depth of field to make it the subject, or I could use a deep depth of field so both the main subject and the background element are in focus.

Snorricam

What is the snorricam used for?  What is the intended effect on the audience?  What could you use this tool for coming up?

    The snorricam is used for convey a sense of disorientation through its unique look. It can be used to show physical or emotional dizziness, drunkenness, etc. The intended effect that it has on the audience is to disorient and bring discomfort. The effect acts as a subjective pov of the character as it communicates the character's state of mind. I could use this tool in my upcoming projects to further develop the visual storytelling and emotional impact that my film has.

The Camera Jib

What kind of movements can you do with a camera jib?  What kind of shot does it communicate to the audience?  Reflect on the concept of "production value," which we've talked about in the past.  How can the jib enhance this?

    With a camera jib, you can... It communicates to the audience... The concept of "production value" is the appearance of technical quality of the film and image. A jib is able to enhance this as 

Balancing the Ronin-S

What are the key points in this video on how to balance a camera on the Ronin-S?  What challenges might be presented when balancing the Sony FS5 on the Ronin?

    The key points in the video on how to balance a camera on the Ronin-S are mounting the quick release plate, adjusting the roll motor, and .... Some challenges that might be presented when balancing the Sony FS5 on the Ronin are...

Using a Slider

What are 3 key tips you learned in this video that you can put to work in your videos going forward this year?  Why do you think they are useful?

    Three key tips that I learned in this video that I can utilize in my videos going forward this year are eliminating user error, the basic uses, and using foreground elements. The most important part of using a slider is that it should be smooth, so you should practice and do a test run to spot any shakiness of the clip. If there is any issues, try to identify what is causing it: a bad slider, an issue with the tripod head, or user error. If the problem is the way you are using it, ensure that the technique that you use to slide the camera is effective. He recommends lightly pushing with one finger or having your fingers along the base of the slider, so that it is as far from the camera as possible. He also demonstrated both trucking and dollying, which are the two primary ways to use a slider, with trucking/tracking being the more common usage. These are able to add more visual interest and production quality to your video. A third tip that he shared was to include foreground elements to your trucking shots. This can either be a dirty shot or a reveal, where the subject is revealed when the camera trucks past a foreground element that was blocking the view. Sliders are useful as they can massively increase the production value of a project in a relatively cheap and simple way, which is why I should consider all of these tips in future projects.