KitPlus | Articles

Capturing Eagles In Flight

Capturing Eagles In FlightAs a highly regarded wildlife cameraman, Mateo Willis is in great demand from blue chip broadcasters such as the BBC and the Discovery Channel, which employ him to work on many of their most prestigious nature documentaries. Mateo’s speciality is long-lens work and he often spends large amounts of time in remote locations...

Submitted by Kieron Seth#

Published 01 July 2012

Syncing or swimming in Vegas......

I've never been to America. I went to Canada for a month a few years ago, I have family living in Kentucky, but I've never been to the US before. My family are much more the Devon beach holiday types rather than a week in Disneyland every couple of year’s type. And my first trip to America will be for NAB. In Vegas. I have been reliably informed th...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 May 2012

My first BVE

The problem with Premier Inns, is that they can be quite disorientating. All the rooms are decorated the same, whichever hotel you're in, be it England or Scotland. It is especially confusing just after your alarm goes off, as you're not quite with it and I often struggle to remember where I am, and what I'm supposed to be doing. To some extent I t...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 April 2012

The new world of live acquisition

While the debate rages over the future of broadcast television with discussion of OTT (OTT – over-the-top delivery – think iPlayer on Virgin Media as a key example – or LoveFilm. It means an on-demand content service that is delivered over the top of another network) and time-shifting increasingly hogging the limelight, there’s one arena in which t...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 April 2012

How to choose a Location?

How to choose a Location?Clearly it depends on what your script or brief says so we need some examples to work with:Location 1: two back-gardens with a low fence between them. Script: one householder is envious of his next-door neighbour's new lawn mower. Location 2: a school playground. Script: a cuddly-toy monster is handing out a new range of ch...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 April 2012

ARRI LED technology

With a growing range of LED products, ARRI is providing industry professionals with all of the benefits of using a Low Energy Lighting source with familiar characteristics. The L-Series LED Fresnel fixtures are so close to their conventional equivalents that they create a like-for-like replacement of traditional Fresnels with LED-based light engine...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 March 2012

Getting back to basics on HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR GRIP AND SUP...

When looking to purchase grip and support systems there are now a variety of different options available to the dedicated cameraman and this potential minefield of different equipment, at varying prices, can seem daunting and confusing at first. What’s the difference between a shoulder support, steady mount and a stabilizer? Are slide rail systems...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 March 2012

3D is moving fast

Helicopter Film Services (HFS) have been a specialist in aerial filming for 20 years, but recently, they have successfully added another element to their diverse services: Aerial 3D. HFS are the only company in the world to have designed and built a custom 3D rig for aerial filming. Their “Da Vinci” rig for the Stab-C Compact allows for ‘hyper-ster...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 January 2012

The best job of the year so far!

I'm very nostalgic. Blame it on too much Austen and Bronte at a young age. I love photographs, how they pinpoint a moment in time that you can never reclaim. Especially spontaneous photos that capture just how you were feeling, (no matter how unflattering it is!). I also have a habit of reflecting on the past, looking at where I was, what I was doi...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 January 2012

Reaching for 3D

From the opening shot of the Ryder Cup to the Champions League final when Manchester United played Barcelona this year, a stately homes documentary to a Derren Brown magic show, cameraman Chris Taber has been there, filmed it and got the T-shirt. And the reason the camera crane operator has been in demand for so many high-profile jobs? In a word: 3...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 January 2012

Putting the Realism into Reality Television

“Reality television’ as a category of programming emerged in the late 1990s with the introduction of shows that attempted to portray real people responding to real challenges under more or less continual public gaze. Unlike sport, where the focus is primarily on physical skills and endurance, reality television shows place their participants in a w...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 January 2012

How mobile phone video will change the world

With every man and his dog owning a smartphone, the whole world is now able to film and edit HD video right from the palm of their hands. How will this change the professional landscape and more importantly will it change things for the better?Just over ten years ago I was in college trying to create my first short film. Boy, how things change! At...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 December 2011

Capturing the Gumball 3000 Rally 2011 with an iPhone4

Sons of Oscar nominated Director - Mike Figgis, Arlen and Louis Figgis, were tasked this year with following and recording the Gumball 3000 Rally. The Gumball 3000 is an annual 3,000-mile (4,800 km) international road rally which takes place over 8 days on public roads, with a different route around the world each year. Founded in 1999 by Maximilli...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 November 2011

Peli 1640 Review

It may or may not have become apparent that I love my tech. I use it, write about it, podcast about it. In fact I think I might even start shaking and suffering from mild withdrawal symptoms if I don't have a least one item of tech near me. That said, it's important that all my lovely techy cameras and other kit are well protected. I spend a lot of...

Submitted by Kieron Seth#

Published 01 November 2011

Final Cut Pro X Keyboard Shortcuts and Quick Tips

So, Final Cut Pro X has been released and the shortcuts have nearly all changed. I'm here to lend a helping hand and show you some of my top keyboard shortcuts and let you into a little known secret… Final Cut Pro X also supports multi-touch gestures!Top 10 Final Cut Pro X keyboard shortcuts:Want to quickly get back to browsing the web for a little...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 October 2011