Documentary framing

E

End of Fall

Carbonite Member
I'm shooting a documentary what's the ideal framing? I'm shooting with a dvx100a with a Letus Extreme. What lens should I use? I have a 28mm, 50mm, and a 105mm which of the bunch so I use? I was thinking of usig the 50mm since the 28mm is used the wide angles.


But feel free to give me any advice.
 
Framing – I don't think this word means what you think it means. Framing is composing your shot to focus the viewer's attention where you want, or to evoke a feeling.

If your question is "Which lens should I use for a documentary?" then it makes me wonder why you think you need to choose only one for the whole thing. Sit down interviews in a studio lighting situation?
 
kyotonils said:
Framing – I don't think this word means what you think it means. Framing is composing your shot to focus the viewer's attention where you want, or to evoke a feeling.

If your question is "Which lens should I use for a documentary?" then it makes me wonder why you think you need to choose only one for the whole thing. Sit down interviews in a studio lighting situation?
Click to expand...

Location hasn't been decided yet. We're doing it at a hospital, and the media relations hasn't given us that info so we'll show up 2 hours before to try to get a idea of the location of interview.


Worst case it'll be done out side how ever I would rather do it in side. I have a cheap lowel 3 epic light kit that I'm using for the interview.

As for that, if anyone could post up some screen grabs of some examples that'd be great.
 
I think a wide lens could be better for a documentary where you don't know exactly what's going to happen, because you have a deep DOF.
 
I was actually talking about when I'm sitting down with the doctor who I'll be interviewing. I figured since I'll be with out my boom poll with this shoot I'll attach my shotgun on the camera and sit with in 3 feet from the doctor... That I was thinking a 28mm would do fine, yes?
 
if you can avoid it, its not ideal. if theres anyway to get the mic off the camera, get it close. camera wise, its going to be less flattering and getting up in his grill wont effect his responses well or look very good. distance makes for more comfortably in this scenario and prolly generaly as well
 
Sorry, can I ask, are you getting paid for this?

Anyway I have a boom arm that I attach mic mount and mic to if I have no dedicated sound person, but I would also lav the Doctor up if thats a possibility. (watch your shadows). Then I can monitor sound (not as well as a dedicated guy could) and adjust framing as we go through.

I have no idea whats to occur in the shot during the interview so I cant comment on your lens choice. But for sit downs a 50mm will do a nice job. Use your controls such as aperture, lighting, relative distance from subject to BG, camera distance to subject to make it pretty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top