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Camera Tips - from the professionals

1. Keep the subject's eyes at two-thirds of the way up the frame. Closer is better.

2. If what you see in the viewfinder looks like what you see on TELEVISION, then it's good.

3. Trust your instincts.

4. Start rolling BEFORE the shot you want and stay on it for at least a count of 10 after it's finished.

5. Zoom in. Focus. Then zoom out to the framing you want.

Housekeeping notes for camerapersons:

1, NEVER NEVER NEVER LEAVE CAMERA UNATTENDED.

2. LABEL ALL TAPES WITH

Event
Time, Place, Day
YOUR NAME.

3. DO NOT REWIND. Use the 'go' light/counter to determine if you are rolling.

4. CHECK YOUR BATTERIES THE DAY BEFORE THE SHOOT.

5. SHOOT THE ACTION.Stay on wide shot unless you are SURE only one person is talking for a while.

7. Shoot IDENTIFIERS: signs in front of people, etc. and try to either say names into the camera mike yourself, or get people to say, "my name is..." and get correct spelling if possible.

8. IF YOU DON'T SHOOT IT, WE WON'T HAVE IT TO LEAVE ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR.

9. WHEN A TAPE IS FINISHED, POP THE TAB. AND BE SURE IT IS LABELED.

10. "IF YOUR PICTURES AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH, YOU ARE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH."