How To Read A Waveform Monitor & Vectorscope

When reading video scopes for the first time, it can be tough to figure out what you’re actually looking at. But tools like waveform monitors and vectorscopes can help with the exposure and color in your shots—and are definitely worth the time spent learning how to use them.
The primary thing to keep in mind is that these tools are more accurate than your eyes in providing an objective, analytical snapshot of your video signal. This week we’ll explore

• Why scopes are essential in helping you achieve better shots
• How a histogram complements the information on a waveform monitor
• How to use a waveform monitor to judge exposure and contrast
• How to use a vectorscope to analyze hues and saturation in a shot

Learning how to use both a waveform monitor and vectorscope can really aid you in getting beautiful shots that are properly exposed, and with vibrant, consistent color. Be sure to check out both the sample video below, and this week’s complete episode on lynda.com to learn how you can use them with your own projects.

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Use a Field Monitor for Better Shots

A common phrase among DSLR pros is that “everything looks good on the back of the camera LCD.” While intended as a joke, the phrase really means that it’s hard to judge aspects of your shot like critical focus, color, and exposure using the LCD on the back of a DSLR camera. As these LCDs are generally very small, it can also be difficult for on-set clients and team members (like a focus puller) to clearly see what the camera is actually shooting.

That’s where field monitors come in. Over the past few years, lightweight field monitors offering flexible connectivity, high-resolution large screens, and extensive features have become more affordable. This week, we’ll explore the benefits of using a field monitor, including

· What a field monitor is, and how it helps you in the field· How to connect a field monitor to your camera · Using peaking or focus in red to assist in getting sharp focus · Using zebra patterns and color assist options to get proper exposure · Passing the video signal thru a field monitor to other devices, like an electric viewfinder (EVF) or larger client monitor.

Field monitors can immediately improve the quality of your shots, so be sure to check out the episode to learn how you can use them in your own shooting workflow. And remember, each week’s DSLR Video Tips episode is free for seven days, so be sure to tell all your video and photography friends to watch it this week.
Often you’ll only have one chance to get interview audio right, so check out this week’s episode so you’ll be prepared before your next shoot. Remember, each week’s episode is free for seven days–tell your video and photography friends to watch for free.
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DSLR tutorial: You call this a mic?

This specific tutorial is from the DSLR Video Tips series presented by lynda.com authors Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman. The complete DSLR Video Tips course is presented as a weekly lynda.com series and covers the most common questions videographers encounter when shooting and editing with DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, from choosing a frame size and frame rate to understanding moiré. This digital video tutorial looks at one of the reasons the audio recorded with your DSLR sounds so bad: it might be your mic. Watch more at http://www.lynda.com/course-tutorials....

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Postprocessing choices for time-lapse photography

I love timelapse photography. And here's my new class all about the topic!
Get the class here – http://www.lynda.com/After-Effects-tutorials/Creating-Time-Lapse-Video/137903-2.html

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New Class on Time-lapse Photography

I love timelapse photography. And here's my new class all about the topic!
Get the class here – http://www.lynda.com/After-Effects-tutorials/Creating-Time-Lapse-Video/137903-2.html

Learn how to speed up time and create compelling visual effects with time-lapse photography. Join Rich Harrington in the field as he captures nature's patterns at Red Rock Canyon in southwestern Nevada, and shows how to frame your scene and choose the proper camera settings. He'll show you how to capture great images, whether you're using a DSLR camera and a motorized slider or just a smartphone you have handy. Then join him back in the studio to transform your still footage into a storytelling time-lapse video, using tools like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro.

Topics include:

• What is time-lapse photography?
• Why shoot with a still camera?
• Choosing a frame size and frame rate
• Using an internal or external intervalometer
• Selecting a memory card
• Tracking the sun's position
• Deciding how long to shoot
• Using a slider
• Shooting time lapse on a smartphone or tablet
• Removing noise and spots with Adobe Camera Raw
• Importing the image sequence
• Refining the duration and frame rate
• Blending frames
• Creating variable speed effects
• Exporting your sequence

• 

Get the class here – http://www.lynda.com/After-Effects-tutorials/Creating-Time-Lapse-Video/137903-2.html

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Recording Audio for an Interview: DSLR Video Tips

Having clear, crisp audio tracks is essential for effective corporate videos, commercials, documentaries—and particularly critical for interview footage. Audiences are often willing to forgive small technical mistakes with video, but far less so with problematic audio.
This week we’ll set up to shoot an interview, and look at ways to improve audio recording quality on location. It’s easy to focus solely on capturing great visuals while shooting an interview; but audio that’s hard to hear, distorted, or runs together between interviewer and subject can quickly ruin a production–and possibly even require a reshoot. To help you capture the best audio with interview footage, this week we’ll discuss:

• Why good audio is essential to an interview
• How to place microphones for the best results
• Best practices for positioning the interviewee, interviewer, and crew
• Interview techniques including making your subject comfortable, having questions prepared, and not talking over your subject’s answers

Often you’ll only have one chance to get interview audio right, so check out this week’s episode so you’ll be prepared before your next shoot. Remember, each week’s episode is free for seven days–tell your video and photography friends to watch for free.

Choosing a DSLR frame rate

This specific tutorial is from the DSLR Video Tips series presented by lynda.com authors Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman. The complete DSLR Video Tips course is presented as a weekly lynda.com series and covers the most common questions videographers encounter when shooting and editing with DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, from choosing a frame size and frame rate to understanding moiré. This tutorial discusses which frame rate you should choose, depending on your specific requirements. Watch more at http://www.lynda.com/course-tutorials...

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Correcting backlit subjects: DSLR Video Tips

Out in the field, you’ll often find yourself in a situation where the nicest-looking shot is extremely backlit. For example, an office interview scene with bright windows behind the subject can create a challenging shooting situation. The problem with strongly backlit shots is that they make it difficult for your audience to focus on what you want them to: your subject! Worse yet, you might not even realize how backlit your shot is until you begin the postproduction process.
This week, we’ll take a look at fixing a backlit shot from a recent music video shoot. Although it can seem that backlit footage is impossible to fix, we’ll show you some powerful tools and techniques to add to your toolkit that can help, including:

• Understanding what backlighting is
• Using scopes to verify your exposure, and detect a backlit shot
• Using Masks in Adobe SpeedGrade CC to compensate for backlighting
• Working with Tiffen’s Dfx plugins to relight and add texture to backgrounds

Be sure to check out this week’s episode so you’ll be prepared to fix any backlit shots that come up in your productions. And remember, each week’s episode is free for seven days, so invite your video and photography friends to check it out.

DSLR tutorial: Transferring from a card into Premiere Pro

In this tutorial, Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman explain how to bring footage into Premiere Pro from a card. Watch more at http://www.lynda.com/course-tutorials....

This specific tutorial is from the DSLR Video Tips series presented by lynda.com authors Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman. The complete DSLR Video Tips course is presented as a weekly lynda.com series and covers the most common questions videographers encounter when shooting and editing with DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, from choosing a frame size and frame rate to understanding moiré.

Start a 7-day free trial to lynda.com 

Shooting under bright lighting conditions: DSLR Video Tips

On this week’s episode of DSLR Video Tips, we look at techniques to control exposure and depth of field when shooting under bright light conditions. Outdoor lighting can be too much for a camera, so it’s important to master the exposure triangle—the critical relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and film speed (ISO). Join us as we head back out on a real-world music video shoot for musician Jason Masi, and discuss ways to achieve total control over your focus and exposure when natural lighting is in abundance:

• Use a neutral density (ND) filter to knock down exposure.
• Use a loupe to magnify the image on your camera’s LCD screen and knock out stray light, making it much easier to achieve critical focus and exposure.
• Use a variable ND filter to dial in the perfect exposure.
• Use a matte box to hold filters and block lens flares.

Check out this episode so you’ll be ready for your next production. Remember, each week’s episode is free for seven days, so tell all your video and photography friends to watch.
Watch the entire DSLR Video Tips Series