Camera Operator 101, Rule 1:

Camera Operator 101, Rule 1: PAY ATTENTION!

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15 Comments

  1. Jason Chrimes July 27, 2012

    If it “rep’d” this generation, it’d have a cupholder. lol.

  2. James Levandowski July 27, 2012

    A quick camera story. Where I work we have alot of volunteer camera ops, n 1 day we got a new crew in. N our 1st rule always was never touch anythin red on the camera. Cuz that was the release to the tripod. Low n behold halfway through the show, I hear the director yellin, CAMERA 2 WHATS GOIN ON, CAMERA 2 GRHHHHH. I look over n see the camera slowly sliding off the tripod. So i lock down my camera, run over n catch the other camera inches before it hits the ground n the lense gets smashed into pieces. UGH! Unfortunatly we never saw that volunteer again 🙁

  3. Dennis W. Mazzocco July 26, 2012

    Love that. Will pass it to our students.

  4. Charlie Huntley July 26, 2012

    JoeP.,i was thinking of you when i posted my ‘guidelines’ and they really really work!!

  5. Charlie Huntley July 26, 2012

    having to write down the names of the important guys on the other end of the headset…..? Not a bad idea when you’re a ‘VideoGigilo” Hired Gun,FlyBoy..!

  6. Gary Donahue July 26, 2012

    The other thing I remember about that first remote, was me and another guy trying to carry a TK-42 to the top of the gym bleachers. I was about 140 pounds soaking wet, and the other guy was not much bigger. A 3rd crew member saw us struggling and we finally got that beast on the camera pedestal, but have to admit it wore me out.

  7. Dan Fitz July 26, 2012

    In this particular shot the VF works as you can see the reflection on the shade. The camera ‘flash’ washed out the VF screen.

  8. Wynn Winberg July 26, 2012

    Whoever’s shading that camera should also pay attention.

  9. Charlie Huntley July 26, 2012

    Is Chuck still with us?? it’s been 30 years ….. I worked a track meet w/out a talley or View finder for only one set of Lane intros at the Garden….Risky! a Bosch Fernseh

  10. Richard Pizzoni July 26, 2012

    I don’t think Chuck Miles used the VF at all on tight roof NASCAR. Amazing.

  11. Gary Donahue July 26, 2012

    During the first remote I had ever done, my viewfinder went out during a basketball game shortly after the game started. I worked with the director to get me in focus and picked a spot on the camera to use as a gun sight and followed the action that way. Luckily I was the wide shot so I just left the zoom alone and panned appropriately.

  12. Dan Fitz July 26, 2012

    Reminds me of Chris V freaking out with ‘video’ for a few minutes, trying to get his VF working again. It simply went dark in the middle of a show, not knowing his rain cover blew in front of his lens. LOL

    And Bobby, seems I have seen that rig several times. That’s the same GV rig.

  13. Richard Pizzoni July 26, 2012

    If the VF doesnt work, you are in return

  14. Charlie Huntley July 26, 2012

    Like Your’s 1] Pay Attention, 2] Give them what they don’t have 3]Give it to them before they ask for it ,& 4] Make the Picture tell the Story! [and don’t post napping fotos on facebook]

  15. Charlie Huntley July 26, 2012

    I have Four GuideLines that have helped since 1967