News Video Observation/Suggestion

[Paul Hadfield]

I dunno, maybe i'm looking too much into it but for those who shoot news video like traffic scenes and whatnot... Since caption bars over top of scrollers filling the lower 1/3rd of the screen are the norm these days, wouldn't it make sense to compose your subject in the upper 2/3rd's of the viewfinder so the end result isn't a central subject blocked by text? It's really no one's fault because most video is perfectly composed and the titles are a necessity but how many times have you seen good video ruined by overlapping elements? Watching a TWC report just a short while ago reminded me of this but it's also true of severe wx when you've got ground level subject matter completely opaqued by the text. Just some food for thought but I wonder if any of you guys would be willing to experiment?

 

[Jason Boggs]

I have come across this before since I shoot video for a local TV station. I chase for them and I also shoot high school football for them. When they have the caption up, it's only up long enough for the viewers to get information about the video. It's not up the whole time the video is going.

I do agree with you that it can be frustrating to see video with the caption on the whole time.

 

[David Drummond]

The only problem is that many of us also use that video for other things. If we compose the shot leaving the bottom half for the graphics keys, then it's not much good later for stock video or DVDs or much else really. I can't speak for everyone, but the news usage is just the top layer of what that video is used for, and often times the least in terms of income.

 

[Paul Hadfield]

yeah I guess that makes sense. Insignificant thought I know but figured at least worth mentioning. You guys that are able to do this sort of thing are very fortunate. Half the fun of watching video is trying to guess who might've shot it dependent on location.