I can’t believe it’s been 11 days since my last post. So much is happening right now at Parc Entertainment and I unfortunately didn’t have time to update the blog. I’m sure a lot of faithful readers have been disappointed. Oh well, let’s get on with today’s thoughts:
Even when shooting on video, there are methods you can adopt to make your footage look more like film. I discussed some of these tricks in a previous post. But today I wanted to speak more specifically about the color of your image. Video tends to look flat and cool in comparison with film, which usually looks much warmer. The big advantage of film of course is its versatility. A good cinematographer can get a wide range of looks from film. However, the same now can be said of video. All prosumer and professional-grade cameras give the user a great deal of manual control over the image. So, when purchasing your next camera, look at some of these controls. If you already have a camera in-hand, take the time to learn how to get the most from your picture.
The way to achieve a warmer tone for your video is by white balancing on a light blue card, rather than a white card. In contrast, if you need a cooler tone, you can white balance off of a green card. I was on a shoot recently for Lewis Communications where I needed to film a couple walking hand in hand down the sidewalk of a quaint, cozy neighborhood. I used a warming card to give the entire scene a richer look. When shooting a pair of nurses examining some x-rays on an unrelated shoot, I allowed the scene to go blue, giving the entire picture a colder, more sterile look. Consider your subject matter before selecting the color palette. Visit WarmCards.com if you’re interested in purchasing a warming white balance system for your kit.
[...] Just remember to re-white balance every time you change locations and lighting setups. Read this post for tips on how to adjust your white balance to a warmer or cooler tone. var addthis_pub = ”; [...]