Test Review Documentary

Bring Scantron # 4521 MEMORY CARDS CHARACTERISTICS: In addition to the following material, the test will Speed/ Class: cover information on all handouts and discussions. Number of megabytes per second (Mb/ sec.). which can be transferred. DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY Class 2 SD cards write 2 Mb/ sec. Demonstrates the need for change Class 10 SD cards write 10 Mb/ sec. Based on precepts of photojournalism Social conscience of photography Storage/Capacity Number of images / or amount of video that can be Unlike journalists, documentarians: saved. Minimum storage for video: 16GB cards a. often demonstrate a bias b. spend longer on stories (months or years) DSLR EXPOSURE AND SETTING OPTIONS High definition (high rez.) video, most ACCESS TO PROPERTY & PEOPLE common options: Photojournalists may photograph a person or HD 1280 x 720 place, for editorial purposes, as long as what is HDV 1440 x 1080 being photographed can be seen from a normal (for tape-based camcorders) perspective. (No shooting through windows with Full HD 1920 x 1080 long lenses, climbing over fences, etc.) As long best quality, largest frame size that most as the purpose is news or information a model current HDSLR cameras offer. release is not required. Downside: more processing demands on computer. Photographers may photograph in public areas: such as: universities, City Hall, parks, airports. Frame rate: rate at which camera produces unique Exceptions: hospitals, classrooms, military bases, consecutive images, expressed in frames per court rooms, jails and Congress. (Since 9/11 second – FPS. many federal buildings.) VIDEO & DSLRS DSLR COMPARED TO A CAMCORDER Turn in-camera sharpening off, to reduce contrast. Use manual exposure settings, to avoid loss of DSLR, the good: high-value detail. Cheaper / more accessible than prosumer Exposures changes: camcorder. as subject moves Easy to switch between video & stills as camera pans More cinematic look: Shutter speed larger sensor Must be constant. improved color, detail, exposure control Should be twice the camera’s frame rate: larger pixels (less noise) 24 fps = 1/50 sec. — closest to “movie shallow depth of field look” can use longer lenses 30 fps = 1/60 sec. — a “TV look” 60 fps = 1/125 sec.— a “video look” DSLR, the bad 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: Short recording times Adjust depth of field Nikons limit a single take -- 5 minutes f/5.6, used by many cinematographers. Canons Panasonics stop after 29 min. Reduce exposure on bright part of a scene Sound quality is poor picks up camera handling noises often only mono audio monitoring often missing Matte Box: Slipping sound: a lens hood, shield lens from direct light Detaching the audio portion of the original can be used to hold filters video, to play with other visuals.

Jello Effect: Two of several microphone types: caused by CMOS sensor’s rolling 1. Dynamic Microphone shutters Often hand held occurs when: For interviews or, more often, vocals a. camera is panned too quickly Batteries not required b. fast moving objects enter the Must be very close to subject frame. 2. Condenser Microphone Jello Solution: Requires Batteries don’t whip pan - record more slowly More sensitive than dynamic mics use a lens with image stabilization Prone to problems due to: speaker’s mouth position SOUND popping & crackling Waveforms: A visual representations of the Microphone pickup patterns: fluctuations in the volume of any clip. 1. Omnidirectional microphones: a. cover a large field of sound. Decibel (dB): b. effective if subject turns head while A measure of the intensity of sound. speaking Range: c. in-camera DSLR microphone type - 30 dB very quiet + 6 dB very loud One type of omnidirectional mic: Optimum levels for voice: -3dB to -12dB Lapel Mics (lavalieres): Never over 0 dB can be wired or wireless mic is attached to clothing Royalty-free: Refers to the right to use copyrighted material 2. Directional microphones: without the need to pay royalties for each use. less sensitive to the side & rear Most royalty free music/sound requires some initial payment. One type of directional mic: Shotgun Mic: Ducking: pickup audio in single direction Adjusts volume of audio clips playing pickup environmental noise simultaneously so that one plays more loudly than the other. 3. Cardioid microphones: “Heart-shaped”, pick-up pattern Voiceover: reduces pickup from side & rear Voice whose source is neither visible nor good for avoiding feedback. implied to be off screen. One type of cardioid mic: Talking head: Dynamic Microphones On-camera interview that typically shows the speaker from the shoulders up. Built-in DSLR Mics a. Omnidirectional Room tone: b. Often not possible to adjust sound The “silence” recorded at a location when no volume levels. dialogue is spoken. Used in final edit for c. Records camera noise: focus motors seamless dialog. camera-handling EDITING VISUALS Bruce Davidson Cut - transitions: Documentary photographer, known for many Joins two video clips or still images. projects: Class viewed color images: the New In most cases, cut on action/ movement York Subway series.

Jump Cut: Lauren Greenfield a. two sequential shots of same subject Directs/produces films that explore the influence from slightly different camera positions of popular culture on youth. Class viewed: b. causes subject to “jump” in a Kids & Money. discontinuous way. Eugene Richards Cutaway: Known for diverse topics such as drug addiction, helps to avoid jump cut hospital conditions & wounded combat veterans. used as a distraction Class viewed: War Is Personal, focus on people used to cover a break in action. whose lives have been profoundly affected by the used to speed-up action conflict in Iraq.

Parallel Cut or Cross Cut: Mary Ellen Mark joining 2 parallel actions that are Photojournalist, advertising photographer, happening simultaneously documentarian. Known for documentary work in India. Class viewed: Falkland Road, prostitutes Match Cut: in India. a. joins 2 scenes with similar elements to reinforce a symbolic or visual Sebastião Salgado relationship--i.e. Hitchcock’s Psycho, Social documentarian known for documenting the with blood shown flowing down the existence of displaced people around the world. shower drain, then a cut to a shot of murder victim’s eye.

Split Edit bridges two shots with sound. Audio may proceed or follow video.

Fade A shot gradually fades to (or from) a single color, usually black or white.

Dissolve / Crossfade A gradual fade from one shot to the next.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Carol Guzy Documentarian and photojournalist, Washington Post, winner of 4 Pulitzer Prizes.

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.