Exercises to learn/improve skills

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pkondo

New member
I recently bought a T2i. I thought I would be doing more video shooting but have found that I love taking stills with it as I never had a real camera before. But now I want to spend more time on learning how to shoot video with the camera. From a technical standpoint, I feel like I have a decent understanding of what I need to do (i.e. 180 rule, picture styles) but I'm looking for advice on subject matter that may help me learn.

More specifically, I usually don't have access to people, at least people that I can direct in any sort of way. So I'm wondering what other things people have shot and improved their skills. With stills, I could just go and shoot a door or a shoe.

Are there objects (i.e. waterfalls, busy streets, etc) that people have shot? Do you shoot yourself? Anything goes at this point. I guess I'm just lacking imagination on what to shoot. Or maybe it's the way to move the camera.

I've seen still classes where they give you homework. They tell you to go out and shoot this or that. I guess maybe this falls into the same line of thinking.

With my still shooting, I find it invaluable to come back and look at my shots in Aperture, especially with all the meta data available, and see how I can improve.

My camera setup is pretty minimal right now. I have a 24-70 L lens, the 50 1.8, a tripod, and a Fader ND. At some point, I will get a follow focus and maybe some sort of slider.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Paul
 
Take a class. Ive taken a few film classed adn they are tons of fun. If nothing else write a simple story, gets some buddies together and shoot it.

Thats seriously the best way to learn. Another good option is to make friends and get on set at whatever local shoots you can.
 
sounds like the skill you need to work on is gaining access to people

or gaining access to a person who can gain access to people (a wannabee director)

remember there are young actors and models who WANT to be filmed - drama college and bands that want to make music videos - music college

Hook up with these people

Id learn to film sequences, from making a cup of tea to a day in the life of

Filming still objects dosnt really translate, unless you want to be a studio videographer

Everyone want to be famous , - the local karate club, fencing club (http://www.vimeo.com/6960394) knitting circle whatever

The most important tool in photography .. is a phone

S
 
1. Play around with perspective. Shoot the same object from various
distances, heights, focal lengths, and apertures. (24-70 is a big range in
cinematic terms. You got it covered.) Do this at different times of
the day and under varying weather conditions. Study the results.

2. Shoot things that are moving. Go to a park. Or a thoroughfare.
Track moving objects. Study the results.

3. Move the camera and do 1. and 2. Study the results.

4. Tell a story with 1,2,3. This is called narrative filmmaking.

5. Post it here.

6. Get feedback.

7. Rinse.

8. Repeat.:smile:
 
The thing I dont like (in the UK) is going to the park or whatever, it feels invasive, you feel like a perv, people think you are filming their kids, even filming traffic everyone thinks you are cop doing them for speeding

Hook up with some people who are expecting to be filmed

as do as above

S
 
most film classes at a community college cost a pittance and hook you up with others interested in the same thing, actors, etc...
 
Ive also found myself in this situation. I had to do community service one and remember doing some trash pick up at this park with ducks and fish and a garden etc. Im going to ride my skate board for a joy ride along with my camera for my first time shooting RAW stills along with testing some low light video settings. Perhaps I will post it up, but yes, little ideas like this are helpful to me. I like to joy ride on my skate board in a lot of areas and it presents me with oppurtunities. Have a bike at all? Just ride and shoot, just be careful with your camera slung around you.
 
whatever you film, try to move the camera. that's an incredibly important aspect of cinematography. it's what differentiates just coverage of a scene from a real emotional piece you can connect with. a lot of photographers know how to frame a still very well, but wouldn't know how to move the camera to accentuate that mood even further. find something to shoot, (could be anything that interests you, doesn't really matter). what you then need to do is figure out how to shoot the object, space, or whatever you've chosen that will convey what you feel about it in a way other people can also experience by watching the video. like others are saying, you should telling a story about the subject, whether it's obvious or subliminal. just figure out the best ways to move the camera--jib, slider, panning, steadicam, handheld walking, etc. They can all work well, but they need to be justified and they need to suit the piece. try different things. soon you'll figure out why you're doing certain moves, why some things work and others don't. some things will just click, others will take some time. and always ask for feedback. other people can always point out things you don't notice or realize you're doing. i'm still having epiphanies about why i'm doing certain things with my camera. hope that's helpful
 
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