Posts Tagged ‘photography’

Tips for Organizing Your Image Library

Monday, November 16th, 2009
card catalogs by bfurlong via flickr

card catalogs by bfurlong via flickr

I will always say that it’s better to have more footage and photos than not enough. But there is one problem that many companies have uncovered – the hard way – about having an adequate library of materials, and that is finding what you need when you need it.

There is nothing more frustrating than knowing you have the image/footage you need, but not being able to find it. To solve this problem, you need a system of labeling every file, and recording it somewhere that makes it easy to search.

When organizing your library:

  • Create a name/number for each reel/disc. This can be as simple as “Disc 1,” “Reel 2.”
  • Make sure each tape/disc is labeled so that the number is easily visible, and permanent.
  • For each reel/disc, create an excel file with set data fields (so you can sort to find what you need). Categories that should be included in the data fields are:
    • Tape/Reel number
    • Brief description of the image
    • Date image was taken
    • You may also want to consider:
      • Expanded description
      • Key words (tags for easy search)
      • Client, product, or project for which the image was taken
  • Make sure the database is accessible to anyone who may need to update it.

It’s easiest if you set up your library this way from the start. Then, you just have to get into the habit of updating every time you add images/files. But if you already have a library and you don’t have your Dewey Decimal System in order, you’ll need to go through all your old files to organize it. This is a great task for interns.

Some additional advice: digital makes things easier – you can store your videos and images electronically and save space. If you’re keeping your files electronically, you’ll want to make sure you name each file with the information that you’d have put in the data fields of the excel sheet, as well as use well-named folders so that sorting and finding images is easier. Make sure you’ve got a back-up digital copy, too. External hard drives are great for this. And just to be safe, keeping the hard copies off-site, with that same excel database to organize the library is still a good idea.

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Creative Shooting for Impact

Monday, July 13th, 2009

When looking at photography and video shoots, you can usually group cameramen (and women) into one of three categories.

The first is the professional. I use this term for them not necessarily because they get paid to shoot, but because they know what they’re doing. Professionals take lighting and other factors into consideration, and have an artistic reasoning for their on-screen message.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the consumers. Consumers simply push the record button and go. You remember those painful-to-watch home movies your Aunt Edith used to show? That’s what I’m talking about.

photo by sean dreilinger, via flickr

photo by sean dreilinger, via flickr

The third group are the ones I call “prosumers,” and it’s my hope to convert as many of the consumers in the world into this kind of shooter as I can.

Prosumers utilize techniques for personal videos. They build a story and give viewers a reason to watch. Their videos, although “homemade”, are actually entertaining to watch. These prosumers give dynamics to the shoot and aren’t afraid to used forced perspective or shoot “challenging situations” like snow falls and sunsets.  People’s actions and offhand comments can’t be relied upon to make a video interesting.

The key thing, though, that changes a consumer to a Prosumer is the desire to try new things. And to discard them if they don’t work. A prosumer has a lot more takes than you’ll ever see. Because he needs to see if it worked. But if it doesn’t, he picks up and tries again. Prosumers will try audio and effects. And maybe even download some shareware to edit the videos into something more enjoyable for everyone.

Best of all, Prosumers are the ones whose videos people look at and think, “Wow! I wish mine were that good.” All because they expended just a little extra effort.

So the next time you’re shooting something, please act as a prosumer. It really only takes a little effort to liven up your content – and not only will you want to show your work to others, but they will actually want to watch it.

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The Lens is Different Than The Eye

Friday, March 27th, 2009

There’s a huge difference between the lens and the eye, and those of us who try to capture images on film know, that difference is paramount.

Photo by ~ Tahmid Munaz ~ courtesy of Flickr

Photo by ~ Tahmid Munaz ~ courtesy of Flickr

While the human eye allows you to see objects from a first-hand view, a camera takes a picture so that the image can be seen over and over again. The eye sees everything in context, in a 360° multi-dimensional way.  Conversely the lens is a mechanical instrument that only sees colors, shapes, light/dark, and flat images.

Both capture moments, but they have many differences along with their similarities, and a skilled photographer needs to grasp the unique characteristics of each, so that they can utilize different techniques and lead viewers to see what they want them to see.  The challenge that faces us is making the lens “see” things the way the eye would.

One way you can manipulate the lens into “seeing” like an eye is through the use of focal points.  With image isolation, the viewer focuses on the image while the camera moves around the point. Not being able to see all views within one motion, a camera sees only its focus point.

Additionally, the camera views scenes based on mechanical settings – which can be manipulated.  While the eye would tell a viewer that it’s bright outside because it’s daytime and sunny, the settings of a camera can be manipulated to make sunrise appear to be sunset and daytime to darkness.

The trick is to utilize the lens to guide the viewer into the same experience they would have with their own eyes.

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