Videography Level 1: Telling Your Story with Images That MOVE!

Amateur videocams in the photography market are getting smaller and better. Some of the videocams even offer high-resolution still images, and NOW a whole bunch of still cameras offer video capability:  the Nikon D-90, the D-5000 and D-300s,  the new Canon 7D, and others. It's exciting but confusing—video is a whole different way of documenting the story of your family and friends and travels.

Help is on the way with this new offering from Washington Photo Safari: a video Safari conducted by video specialist Ned MacFadden. Ned, who teaches videography at American University, will demonstrate how to use your videocam to tell a story with such techniques as fadeout, moving focus, panning, composition, lighting and white balance, If you are tired of shaky footage and faces too dark to see, learn the basics of video recording just in time to capture that holiday magic.  Learn to get steady shots and how to work with available light for perfect portraits.  Learn composition techniques the pros use.  Create zoom shots that stay in focus.  Get into the action and really show your subject by developing your way of seeing and your understanding of the types of shots possible.  Get personal instruction on location at the Navy Memorial and build your confidence as a videographer while you get ready for the best holiday season ever!

The Navy Memorial at 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW offers excellent opportunities for video work: the three-dimensional sculpture components of famous US Navy battles, the fountains, the Lone Sailor Statue, the flags snapping in the breeze, and the broad walkways make interesting subject areas. Two blocks away is the very photogenic ice skating rink at the National Sculpture Garden.

This Level 1 course will concentrate on:

-Getting a steady shot
-Types of shots
-Manual focus
-Planning pans and zooms
-Avoiding backlight
-Rule of thirds
-White balance
-Pre-roll

Instructor Ned MacFadden has a degree in Visual Arts from The University of Maryland Baltimore County.  He teaches Media Productions at Eastern Middle School's Humanities and Communication Arts Magnet, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He has freelanced as a cinematographer, worked as a portrait photographer, and taught animation workshops at the Capitol Children's Museum.  During the last seven years he has taught Screenwriting and Video Production at American University for their Discover the World of Communications program, and has taught Digital Photography for the NSLC at Berkeley.  Ned MacFadden's previous work has been shown at places such as Maryland Art Place, Theater Project, Homebody, Coldwell Banker, Dumbarton, Touchstone Gallery, and the Oregon Ballet Theater.