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Documentary Photography Demonstrates the Need for Change

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Documentary Photography Demonstrates the Need for Change Test Review Documentary Bring Scantron # 4521 DSLR Exposure and settings In addition to the following material, the test will High definition (high rez.) video, most cover information on all handouts and discussions. common options: HD 1280 x 720 DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY Full HD 1920 x 1080 Demonstrates the need for change best quality, largest frame size that most Based on precepts of photojournalism current HDSLR cameras offer. Social conscience of photography Frame rate: rate at which camera produces unique Unlike journalists, documentarians: consecutive images, expressed in frames per a. often demonstrate a bias second – FPS. b. spend longer on stories (months or years) Turn in-camera sharpening off, to reduce contrast. Use manual exposure settings, to avoid loss of DSLR versus A CAMCORDER high-value detail. DSLR, the good: Shutter speed Cheaper / more accessible than prosumer Must be constant. camcorder. Should be twice the camera’s frame rate: More cinematic look: 24 fps = 1/50 sec. — “movie look” larger sensor 30 fps = 1/60 sec. — a “TV look” improved color, detail, exposure control 60 fps = 1/125 sec.— a “video look” larger pixels (less noise) shallow depth of field Adjust audio manually, if possible turn off auto can use longer lenses gain. (Automatic Gain Control or AGC) DSLR, the bad Accessories Uses LCD/Live view for focus and composition Neutral-density filter reduces the amount of light Auto focus inconsistent entering the camera Often lose high-value detail in video Used to Sensor can overheat, means short recording a. Adjust depth of field times b. Reduce exposure on bright portion of a scene Sound quality is poor Matte Box picks up camera handling noises a. Lens hood, shields lens from direct light often only mono, not stereo b. Used to hold filters audio monitoring often missing Follow Focus MEMORY CARDS CHARACTERISTICS A control mechanism for focusing on DSLR, film & Speed/ Class: video cameras - variety of designs & prices. Number of megabytes per second (Mb/ sec.). which can be transferred. Audio Class 2 SD cards write 2 Mb/ sec. Two of several microphone types: Class 10 SD cards write 10 Mb/ sec. 1. Dynamic Microphone Often hand held Storage/Capacity For interviews or, more often, vocals Number of images / or amount of video that can be Batteries not required saved. Minimum storage for video: 16GB cards Must be very close to subject 2. Condenser Microphone Requires Batteries More sensitive than dynamic mics Prone to problems due to: speaker’s mouth position popping & crackling Microphone pickup patterns Ducking 1. Omnidirectional microphones: Adjusts volume of audio clips playing a. cover a large field of sound. simultaneously so that one plays more b. effective if subject turns head while loudly than the other. speaking c. microphone type in-camera DSLR Voice-over Voice whose source is neither visible nor One type of omnidirectional mic: implied to be off screen. Lapel Mics (lavalieres): can be wired or wireless Talking head: mic is attached to clothing On-camera interview that typically shows the speaker from the shoulders up. 2. Directional microphones less sensitive to the side & rear Room tone The “silence” recorded at a location when no One type of directional mic: dialog is spoken. Used in final edit for Shotgun Mic: seamless dialog. predominantly picks up audio in a single direction Slipping sound: Detaching the audio portion of the original 3. Cardioid microphones video, to play with other visuals. “Heart-shaped,”pick-up pattern reduces pickup from side & rear Terms good for avoiding feedback. Jello Effect caused by CMOS sensor’s rolling shutters Built-in DSLR Mics occurs when: a. Omnidirectional a. camera is panned too quickly b. Often not possible to adjust sound b. photographing fast-moving objects volume levels. Jello Solution c. Records camera noise: focus motors don’t whip pan - record more slowly camera-handling use a lens with image stabilization Waveforms: Temporal duration: time covered by a story. A visual representations of the fluctuations in the volume of any clip. Temporal Continuity Assures that people / things don’t move randomly in time Decibel (dB): A measure of the intensity of sound. Spatial Continuity Range: Assures that people / things - 30 dB very quiet don’t move randomly in space + 6 dB very loud Optimum levels for voice: -3dB to -12dB Violation of aesthetic distance Never over 0 dB Something that breaks audience engagement with a story. Windscreen (Also called breaking the 4th wall.) Reduces clicks, pops, hiss, wind & motion noises from microphone used outdoors. Made of foam EDITING or artificial fur (“deadcat”). Continuity editing a. predominant style of editing Low cut filter (also called a high pass filter) b. smooths over the inherent Microphone setting. Turn off indoors, on out- discontinuity of editing process doors. c. establishes a logical coherence between shots. Royalty-free The right to use copyrighted material without paying royalties for each use. Most royalty free music/sound requires some initial payment. Cut - transitions Bruce Davidson Joins two video clips or still images. Documentary photographer, known for many In most cases, cut on action/ movement projects. Class viewed New York Subway series. Jump Cut Lauren Greenfield a. two sequential shots of same subject Known for exploring the influence of popular from slightly different camera positions culture on youth. Class viewed Kids & Money. b. causes subject to “jump” in a discontinuous way. Eugene Richards Known for diverse topics such as drug addiction, Cutaway hospital conditions & wounded combat veterans. helps to avoid jump cut Class viewed War Is Personal, focus on people used as a distraction whose lives have been profoundly affected by the used to cover a break in action. conflict in Iraq. used to speed-up action Mary Ellen Mark Parallel Cut or Cross Cut Photojournalist, advertising photographer, joining 2 parallel actions that are documentarian. Known for documentary work in happening simultaneously India. Class viewed Falkland Road, prostitutes in India. Match Cut Joins 2 scenes with similar elements Sebastião Salgado to reinforce a symbolic or visual Social documentarian known for documenting the relationship -- i.e. Hitchcock’s Psycho, existence of displaced people around the world. with blood shown flowing down the shower drain, then a cut to a shot of Errol Morris murder victim’s eye. The Thin Blue Line reveals perjured testimony and a botched investigation of a Dallas police Split Edit office’s murder. Bridges two shots with sound. Audio may proceed or follow video. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy & Daniel Junge Saving Face about acid attacks on women in Fade Pakistan and the doctor who is helping them to A shot gradually fades to (or from) a heal. 2012 Academy Award for Best Short single color, usually black or white. Subject Documentary Often used to denote a change in location or time. Frontline Rape in the Fields collaborative effort with Center Dissolve / Crossfade for Investigative Reporting at U.C. Berkeley Grad A gradual fade from one shot to the next. School of Journalism about sexual exploitation of undocumented female workers. Ellipsis When unnecessary action Is removed Rebecca Cammisa by editing or while shooting. Which Way Home follows unaccompanied children traveling from Mexico & Central America DIRECTORS / PHOTOGRAPHERS to the U.S., on top of a train. Carol Guzy Documentarian and photojournalist, Washington Post, Class viewed Sierra Leone Maternity Hospital series. Walker Evans Best known for his Farm Security Administra- tion photographs documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Class viewed black and white New York Subway series, shot with a hidden camera. .
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