Posted by PTravel on 07/04/06 17:47

"Toby" <kymarto123@ybb.ne.jpp> wrote in message
news:44aa589d$0$65962$bb4e3ad8@newscene.com...
>
> "PTravel" <ptravel@travelersvideo.com> wrote in message
> news:gznqg.79814$4L1.63026@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
>>
>> "Toby" <zdftokyo@gool.com> wrote in message
>> news:44a9f2f1$0$26093$bb4e3ad8@newscene.com...
>>
>>> In documentary work and features we usually use a wide shot or pan as an
>>> establishing shot in new locations, to give an overall picture of where
>>> we are, followed by the interesting stuff that we want to focus on and
>>> which tells the story. Personally I always shoot a nicely framed wide,
>>> then I stop to look around at what catches my eye and try to find ways
>>> to frame those elements, paying attention to trying to get different
>>> sizes (tight, medium and wide). Moves are fine too, used judiciously,
>>> and never in the same direction one after the other.
>>
>> That's what I do for my "normal" travel stuff. The Amsterdam video is
>> one of a series of "At Night" videos I've done that are more
>> impressionistic and less "travelogue-y." However, very good points in
>> your post. Thanks.
>>
>>>
>>> A general rule of thumb is also not to edit similar framings or sizes
>>> one after another. Of course you have a lot more leeway if you are just
>>> putting pretty shots to music, but the general rules of what is nice and
>>> interesting to watch still apply. Think about the way you observe
>>> things. You first look at the whole scene, and then you tend to
>>> concentrate on specifics in the scene, sometimes pulling back to have a
>>> look at the whole picture again in search of other things that are
>>> visually interesting or important. Let your editing generally mimic how
>>> you see and you can't go wrong.
>
> Let me just throw out one more thought that you probably know. Your best
> night shots are going to be just before it gets really dark, when there is
> just enough light for a bit of differentiation between ground and sky. Of
> course that condition doesn't last for long. Also, shooting during the
> so-called "blue hour", just at dusk, is prime time. Many of the really
> good documentarists with whom I have worked plan their entire day around
> that magic time, and will sacrifice a lot to be sure they are where they
> want to be when that (alas much too short) moment rolls around.
>
> China can be great shooting, especially in summer when the late afternoon
> seems to last forever and all that pollution and dust from the Gobi desert
> (at least in Beijing) creates wonderful, soft, low-angle rosy light. The
> only place I've ever seen nicer lighting is in Laos in March, when a
> particularity of the season creates an amazing reddish haze, cutting the
> sunlight in half at midday but diffusing it greatly, as well as adding
> great warmth. Get out to the parks where the traditional life is really
> happening, with all the old gents hanging out their birdcages. Early
> morning is also great, with all the people out doing their tai-chi.
>
> Toby

Interesting idea about the "blue hour." I generally like to shoot later
because I like it when a location is less populated -- there's something
about a single, lonely person walking away from camera. I'd need a pretty
long dusk, though, as the "At Night" series usually take a minimum of 3
hours or so each to produce 2-3 minutes of usable footage. My wife would
kill me if I spent more than one evening on a project like this --the first
one I did was the result of developing an abscessed tooth in Venice, not
being able to sleep and deciding to go out and shoot. It's probably one of
the better ones that I've done:

http://travelersvideo.com/venice%20at%20night.wmv

Whereas I'm merely a dilletante at video, China is something I know well.
My wife is Chinese (I met her there on a business trip 12 years ago), so we
go back quite often. If I go this summer, it will either be to Beijing, for
which an "At Night" video would be quite difficult in just a single
evening's shoot, or Shenzhen, which is about as unphotogenic a place as I
can imagine.




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