I experimented with different focal lengths on the sony. By using the wide Sony lens (18-200mm) for the duel log it meant that I could either make the actors look closer by zooming in which I did at times to make them seem closer or zoomed fully out in an extreme wide shot, which made the actors look further apart. This happens because as the focal length of the lens from the camera changes the focal distance from the lens to the subject changes the depth of field altering how much is in focus and creating more of a closer and 2d effect to anything, not in complete focus. I did this because I wanted to add to visually and subconsciously add to the dialogue and plot in the scene further telling the story.
Why is this explain the technical reasons for this – DSLR lens focal lengths / Filters – (50mm, 70 – 300mm)
I experimented with different time-lapse settings and with filters and with the 50mm vs the 70 – 300 mm lens.
This impacted the shots in different ways vs the difference in the field of view as well as creating a little less physical looking space between the trees and the sky at 200mm vs 50mm focal length. In the time lapses shots above I experimented with using colour camera filters and different strength ND filters. This had different effects using the nd filter at different strengths made the sky pop more and made the trees become a silhouette, which was the intended effect. As well as this on the 50mm, I used a orange and half blue horizon filter and other strength colours / ND strengths on the other shots above which for the 50mm gave the sky an blue colour with a hint of orange which meant less colour grading was needed if any in some of the shots such as the first two above.
Ninja blade
I experimented filming with both the 77d internal recorder and recording through the ninja blade the effect was there was a more dynamic range in the shot a little more greys than blacks and there was a wider range of colour and luma information in the clip recorded on the ninja blade compared to the canon internal recorder, which meant that if it was used there would be more room for creative uses in post-production colour grading. Although there are a lot of advantages as talk about above, there are some disadvantages. these are that it somewhat takes away from being able to quickly get a shot with the DSLR, the ninja blade is something that should only be used on a well thought out production, not on just a quick shot as having it on top of the camera without a tripod makes it a little precarious.
Ronan
The Ronan is an electrical motorised gyro stabiliser, using software the Ronan counteracts movement on the x,y and z-axis. I experimented with the Ronan. For the Ronan shots, I first needed to set up put the Ronan together and put it on a stand. Then I started manually balancing the 60d onto it which was difficult because it was time-consuming and even the slightest mistake meant it would go completely off balance again. although after I had finished this I turned the Ronan on and set the correct resistance times on the Ronan’s motors and its different axis – z, y and x. this meant that I could get the appropriate slow panning and tilting movement I wanted. These were some of the disadvantages of the Ronan as it is time-consuming to set up the Ronan at first, although once set up it is reasonable ready to go as soon as it’s turned on.
I experimented filming as shown above with and without the Ronan, I did this to see the difference and the impact the Ronan had on the shot. The differences were that without the stabiliser the shot was a lot more shakey although in some cases that could be effective depending on what the production was, although for the short film I wanted a smooth panning motion as it contrasts the madness and killing with a calm pan. So I experimented with some zoom and panning in the shot above to get the desired effect I wanted.
In this shot, I experimented with using the Ronan with the remote controller which required me to have an assistant operator behind me to tilt the camera up when it got to the actor walking up the stairs. However, this did not work because using the controller made the Ronan become a lot more rigid and less flowing than in the shot below. This was because the panning motion was all up to the assistant and the shot wasn’t achievable because not only was it a fast shot it was to space restricting for two people to be walking sideways through a doorway which meant when it came to panning the controller was inverted. So I decided to just do the shot to the stairs and then the shoulder mount was used to show the stairs shot. The disadvantages of the Ronan are that with the remote panning is restricted to 180 degrees, which means that turning corners such as to walk alongside and around and then up the stairs is impossible. Which means that to do so requires the Ronan to be used without the remote which meant that tilting upwards wasn’t really possible making the shot impossible to fully complete.
Here I experimented with a tracking, panning and tilting shot of the actor as well as different low and high angles. In this shot, I got the desired panning motion I wanted and used it alone and without the remote, this is because I knew that from experience in the clip above using the remote wasn’t working. So I operated the Ronan alone which is supposed to be operated by 3 people I think I did this well and achieved the look I was going for. I did this buy my self, as I had gotten used to the feel of when the Ronan would turn and managed to manipulate the Ronan to do this, an example of this when I was following him and panned to him at the mirror I did this by doing a slight pre-pan with my body which made the motor correct the movement and pan. The impact of the Ronan in this shot was that it made it look a lot more appropriate as it lulls the audience into a sense of calm with the slow pans making them think everything will be fine which then adds to the horrors later in the film.
Shoulder Rig / Mount
The shoulder rig is a dynamic piece of equipment that moves with the camera operator. It allows the camera operator, flexibility of movement, which can really help increase efficiency during production. The shoulder rig also has negatives such as some slight jerky movement on panning and tilts which could have been corrected by using a tripod, although depending on the look of the shot the jerkiness can be appropriate as is the shot above for the feel in the current shot which is fear that a dangerous character may find the other character which the jerkiness conveys this to the viewers.
Dolly / Track
The dolly tracks are a piece of equipment used as a shooting platform on any surface but are often raised onto a track, to create smooth movement on a horizontal axis known as a tracking shot. This piece of equipment can be used to create introductory shots to introduce a setting or character and could also be used to follow/track a character. The dolly track also has disadvantages to it which is why I did not take or use it on the Whitby horror con short project, this is because of space restraints it would not have fitted in the hallway which would have made doing the shots I wanted and succeed doing with the Ronan impossible to do.
Dale 
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