I believe, as a writer, that taking adequate and important notes is a most. It is crucial to brainstorm and generate coherent thoughts and sentences before moving any further in your writing. Lisa Parisot, veteran journalist and photographer, shared some valuable lessons and advice when setting the scene.
Lesson #1: There are three types of shots: Wide, Medium and Tight. Each one is different when attempting to capture the desired effect. The wide angle is the establishing shot in the sequence, medium takes you in a little closer and the tight shot is very close. It is important to shoot in sequences.
Lesson #2: Shoot and Move. Follow those two repeatedly to assure the correct sequencing and overall effect.
Lesson #3: Don’t Zoom! Your eyes don’t, so you shouldn’t either. If you feel lost, refer back to Lesson 2.
Lesson#4: The Nose Knows. Follow the 180-degree rule and follow the nose which should always go in the same direction.
Lesson #5: Frame work. Have the person or action come into the frame which makes it easier to get the subject from place or location to another. Continue to move and resist the temptation to zoom.
Lesson #6: Make the Action Quicker. Avoid ”Rock” shots that just sit there.
Lesson#7: The subject should be at eye-level. Feel free to adjust your height accordingly.
The above lessons were extremely helpful and informative especially since I am a novice photographer. I really enjoyed how Lisa used her own examples to explain her theories. While these may be adopted methods, Lisa was very good to add her own spin to them and as well as an additional tidbit based on her own experience. What I enjoyed the most was the fact that she wasn’t camera shy, even at her earlier stages in experience, and she was gutsy to do absolutely anything to get that perfect shot. In my opinion, Lisa is an outlaw in modern photography and I was impressed to see her extensive list of camera equipment she keeps in her car. I don’t have so much as a disposable camera in mine and should probably look into that. Overall, Lisa was educational and I really liked her attitude toward beginners.
