Friday 29 August 2008

Background Support

'There are situations when setting up a tripod or even a light stand will indeed pose a threat to the environment...'




In our line of work, I meet with many decision makers and business owners who are admired for their passion towards their products and services. They are the same folks who award us projects and sign our cheques.

It comes as no surprise that during our meetings, they are reluctant to stop production for Videography sessions. Factories continue operations, banks will continue to serve customers, showrooms display and sell, hospitals treat patients. The success of a business depends on maximum operational time. Taking an unscheduled break will add a crimp in their bottom line.



WOLFANG DIGITAL's Videography team have adapted to this environment by working efficiently- our equipment set-up and deployment drill is constantly rehearsed and improved upon.

We are able to work on-location without having to interrupt our client's operations. Sometimes, this means using the environment to our advantage. Where sunlight is available, we deploy our video cameras in positions that leverage on natural light.

As a part-time lecturer, I used to tell my students that to produce professional looking looking videos, a tripod is a video camera's best friend. There are exceptions, however.

Whenever a video camera is detached from a tripod, we collapse and hide it. What's worse than having a 'stray' tripod being captured on tape is a tripod being a hazard to the client's workforce.

There are situations when setting up a tripod or even a light stand will indeed pose a threat to the environment, such as a busy factory floor where forklifts are zipping along, where colossal robotic arms bend red-hot metal daily.



WOLFANG DIGITAL's team are trained to use objects in the background for camera support. A banister, a chair or table, a railing, a stationary car, walls, the world is littered with 'tripods' that can help us get a stable shot. We are trained to be aware of our surroundings.



Oftentimes we aren't allowed the luxury of deploying our equipment whenever or wherever it pleases us. Producing videos for the corporate world puts us in a situation of constant change. As professional Videographers, we have to assess the situation quickly, improvise and roll with the flow.

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