This article is the first in the series about basic sound, specifically microphones. We'll cover pickup patterns, mic types and their uses.

This article discusses an approach to shooting documentary material, specifically in how you think about what you shoot when on location and how to give yourself the most possibilities in the edit.

This is a follow up to Shooting for the Sequence, where we discuss shot and sequence continuity (rather than conventional continuity which is focused on art direction and blocking in narrative films.) Serving to point out what rules you should follow to improve your documentary shoots.

This article focuses on simple techniques for Handheld cinematography; how best to hold the camera and move to produce smooth results.

This article provides a more in depth (but still beginner friendly) discussion of "Depth of Field", the range of distance rendered in focus by your camera. It discusses the various ways it is controlled outside of just adjusting your Aperture.

This article discusses ISO, or sensor sensitivity, the third member of the "Triad of Exposure. It also discusses noise in video, the primary bi-product of ISO adjustments.

"Tokyo Train Platform, with multiple white balances" Tea L I find that White Balance is often a concept that is a bit confusing to...

This is an overview of Shutter Speed, one of the primary ways we control exposure in cameras and part of the "Triad of Exposure." This also discusses motion blur, the bi-product of shutter speed adjustments.

This article explores Aperture, one of the basic controls for exposure and part of the "Triad of Exposure" the three principal controls you use to manage exposure when operating a camera. This also discusses "Depth of Field" which is the primary bi-product of Aperture adjustments.

This is the "cheat sheet" quick reference for some best practices when it comes to preparing for a video shoot and taking on the video shoot itself.

Welcome to the technician's blog here at the GEM Lab. This post features information about the tutorial series of posts in general as well as an organized index of those posts.