There are many tutorials for beginners and intermediates that cover shooting video, and even though I happen to think Ryan's own Cinematography Guide is where most people should start, sometimes watching a video can be more helpful. Until tomorrow, August 10th, Lynda.com will be showing for free a 3 hour training series called Fundamentals of Video: Cameras and Shooting with Anthony Q. Artis. The series covers a wide range of topics, and all that's required to view this normally $50 video is a Facebook like.

Here is a description of the series:

The course is just shy of 3 hours and introduces the core ideas behind how video cameras capture moving images. The course covers foundational concepts of lighting, such as why light is important, what kinds of lights to look for, and where to put lights relative to a subject. In addition, Anthony discusses sound, an often-misunderstood aspect of video, and shows how to properly set up mics and adjust audio levels on a shoot.

These are some of the topics covered:

  • Exploring the different types of video cameras
  • Understanding how to focus
  • Shooting with shallow depth of field
  • Understanding exposure
  • Using ND filters to correct overexposure
  • Using gain to brighten an underexposed shot
  • Choosing the right shutter speed
  • White-balancing a shot
  • Working with a tripod
  • Shooting handheld
  • Using a boom microphone
  • Setting up a 4-point lighting scene
  • Using corrective gels

While we've covered most of these topics at some point in the history of No Film School, having it all in one place could be very convenient for some beginner and intermediate users. Some may not like that they have to "Like" Lynda on Facebook in order to view the video, but it's a small price to pay (none at all), to watch the video in its entirety. Keep in mind that you don't have to share the video even though that option pops up immediately, and if you really aren't happy about liking the Lynda page -- you can always unlike it later.

You can find the video by clicking on the link below and logging into Facebook (assuming you already have an account). If you want to read some of the content that is in the video before watching it, you can read transcripts of every section right on Lynda. Also below is the link to purchase the series outright if you like what you see.

Links:

cinematographytutorialtutorials
Cinematography & Cameras