Camera Skills

Before we attempt to go out and start the filming for our music video, it is very important that we learn and master a few basic skills of the camera before hand. Not only will this give us more experience, but it will save time when we are actually shooting, to know exactly what to do, and what things we need to check for before we begin. This is also important, because we are using actors in our video, and we need to ensure they are not simply hanging around, and loose interest in the process, therefore not making the video the best it can be.

When picking up the camera from the technician it is important that we check:

* always check when using a tripod that you have the tripod plate.
* check you have a fully charged battery, and a spare in case this runs out.
* make sure you have a head cleaning tape, which can be used to clean the camera before filming.
* carry lint free material to clean the screen, or to wipe the screen in certain conditions.
* shoot test footage before heading out, and to check the overall quality of this.

Handheld Techniques:

There are many techniques which can be used when trying to film some of the shots using a handheld camera. It can be very hard to keep the camera still, especially when zooming in or out of the subject and so these things need to be done to ensure the filming is at its best quality.

* use the equipment around you to help balance the camera when producing a zoomed shot. For example, a chair or a table.
* if there is no equipment, use a body part, such as knees and shoulders to steady the camera, and allow you to film and see what you are doing at the same time.

White Balance:

When setting out to film it is important that you take into consideration the amount of lighting used, and whether the light used is natural or artificial. To make sure the camera picks up everything you are seeing, it is crucial that the white balance is altered. This can be done through 'auto settings' on the camera and set to either:

* artificial = filming under a fluorescent lights (if this is not changed the footage will appear blue)

* natural = filming under natural light from the sun (if this is not changed the footage will appear orange)

Flat Plans

These are the designs that I have created fo my inital ideas for my digipack. I have tried to make some of the designs consistent to the video - such as Brighton Pier, but I have also included the individuality of some of the 'Florence and the Machine' videos, and to pick up on the unique and slightly weird ideas featured on her covers and in her videos.

For these designs, I have played around with the theme of 'you've got the love', and just like we feaure the song throughout the video, I have also featured the theme of love througout my digipack. The hearts used in this digipack, could be a representation of any kind of love, and so have I have used them in a general sense, to not just mean love in a relationship, but it also could mean the love of a friend.

I have used the idea in two of my designs, of using heart shapes fairy lights. Not only do i think this is a slightly strange concept and links in with Florence's personality. but I also feel it represents the theme of the song, by having love all around you. I also want the lights in this image to show up amoung everything else, and for the image to stand out on the digipack. I am however unsure where about I want to place this image, and whether I want it to be featured on the main cover for everyone to clearly see, or whether to use it in the inside cover, among with other abstarct images.

For the colours of my digipack, I want to use bright shades of colour, and to have certain aspects of the photos highlighted, and for the colours to stand out. Once of my inital ideas is to enhance and edit the colours of the costumes worn and to have the background a plain white or cream, so that the main focus is on the character. This has been inspired by one of Florence and the Machines vidoeos 'kiss with a fist', where a similar concept is adopted.

When taking images for my digipack, I want the images to be strange and unusual, and to try and reflect the quirky personality of Florence and the Machine, and the randomness used in most indie artist videos. I am going to take a variety of different shots, some close ups of the model, and some long shots showing off the costume, and the setting in which the image is being taken. Once I have taken these, I will be editing them in Adobe Photoshop, and choosing the best ones to be featured in my digipack.

This is the inspiration for the bright colours used in my digipack against a plain coloured background.

This is an image from the 'Florence and the Machine' video Rabbit Heart. I have been really inspired by this image, as I find it very interesting and it really shows of Florences unique and different style. I want to create a similar effect of this image when taking pictures for my digipack, and to bring across the unusual style of Florence in my work. However, when using the mirror, I want to enhance the image, by adding in using 'Adobe Photoshop', the words LOVE, as if they have been written on the mirror with a pen.