PART 3 Visualizing the Story FIGURE 7.14 This POV camera was mounted onto a referee's helmet in order to give viewers a chance to see what the referee was seeing. Miniature or Point-of-View Cameras Miniature or POV (point-of-view) cameras are being utilized on a regular basis by directors who need to get a camera into a location that would be extremely difficult for a normal cam- era. These difficulties may be size (the camera may not fit into a tight location), safety (it may not be safe to have a camera and operator in a dangerous location), or visibility (the director may not want the camera to be seen). Generally, these cameras are remotely controlled by a camera operator (Figures 7.14, 7.15, and 7.16). CAMERA BASICS Let's now take a closer look at the various features found on cameras (Figures 7.17, 7.18, and 7.19) and how they can affect the way you use them: The camera's viewfinder. The camera's main controls. The camera lens and how it behaves. The techniques of adjusting exposure for the best picture quality. Methods of supporting the camera. 102 FIGURE 7.16 The Discovery Channel's Mike Rowe uses a small HD POV camera taped to a light to capture tight areas in a cave. In this situation, Mike is both the host and one of the camera operators for the show Dirty Jobs. (Photo by Douglas Glover) FIGURE 7.15 Camera operators can use a POV camera to get into small areas. This operator used a POV camera attached to a pole to get a shot in a bull's pen at a rodeo. Note that a lavalier mic has been taped to the camera to capture the audio. (Photo by Ben Miller) FIGURE 7.17 Parts of an ENG/EFP camera. (Photo courtesy of Panasonic)