Recent Content

Fox Sports used a drone for the broadcast of the US Open golf tournament.

Crowded Skies: How To Select A Drone Operator October 19th 2015 - 09:00 AM

With close to a 1000 CAA licensed drone operators in the UK the challenge of finding a company capable of doing the right job is presenting an issue for film and TV producers. The industry is growing so fast that researching an outfit by viewing their website or requesting a showreel is not sufficient. “This is the most we are tackling at the moment,” says Ben Fisher, Co-Founder & CEO of UAV bookings agency Bookadrone. “How do producers distinguish the options and make the right choice in an increasingly busy market?”

Here is some guidance for prospective producers in search of a drone operator:

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Newer filters, like this Tiffen Black Satin can improve images substantially on many of today

It’s Time: Sharpen Your Diffusion! October 16th 2015 - 08:00 AM

Evaluating the images from 4K cameras like the BlackMagic URSA, AJA Cion, and morass of DSLR variants, the need is glaring for a more finished less brash look, whether shooting a feature film, regional commercial, or the network news.

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Andy Smith with his camera-mounted Teradek Beam transmitter and BGAN uplink in the background.

Field Report: Using Wi-Fi-Over-IP for Live Broadcast October 14th 2015 - 08:00 AM

In today’s environment, a reliable wireless link between the camera and the satellite uplink is essential. Beyond effectiveness, there are health and safety concerns about laying cables across pathways and other egress areas.

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Capturing still and video imagery requires the shooter understand how a 3-dimensional object will appear in a 2-dimensional display.

Camera Lenses Part 5: Perspective October 7th 2015 - 07:00 AM

In everyday speech, perspective is another word for having a point of view. In the image forming sense, the same is literally true, because perspective depends on the position of the point from which the image is captured and nothing else.

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Has the incandescent lamp finally burnt out?

Lighting: the Transition to LEDs. Pt 1 October 6th 2015 - 01:06 PM

Artists have exploited light as an essential part of art since the days of the old masters. Techniques like chiaroscuro use light to model the subject, to give depth to the two-dimensional rendition. These artists had two forms of light at their disposal, hard light from the sun, and soft light from a cloudy sky. The light could then be modified with diffusers and reflectors. When photography into use in the mid 19th century they adopted the lighting techniques of the painters. Many artists constructed studios with north facing windows to flood the room with diffuse light. Alongside photography another technology was developing, artificial lighting. More recently governments have been encouraging research and development into the transition to LEDs for business, domestic and street lighting in order to save the power consumed by lighting. The media and entertainment sector can also leverage the results of this research. Apart from power-saving, more efficient light means less demands for air conditioning and cooler talent. Sweating under the studio lights could be consigned to the history books.

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720p shuttered at 1/1000th made every frame of high-speed action crystal clear.

What’s This Button Do? October 6th 2015 - 10:00 AM

When computers began replicating and replacing expensive electro-mechanical broadcast TV production and playback systems, the gravy train ended for some and started for others. Affordable digital TV production gear has slashed the ante for producers and is making mountains of television content with high technical integrity available for everyone.

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8K Super Hi-Vision – The Bright Light at the End of the Tunnel October 4th 2015 - 01:00 PM

Last month’s IBC highlighted multiple examples of 8K television equipment. In addition, research firm IHS says global 8K TV shipments will approach one million units in 2019. No matter whether your response is “balderdash” or “fantastic” it makes sense to run a sanity test on this claim because the technology will affect broadcasters.

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New remotely switchable dual-feed satellite antenna can uplink IP or legacy DVBS.

Innovative Ka/Ku-Band Dual Feed Antenna Passes Initial Tests September 30th 2015 - 04:35 PM

Frontline uses innovative new satellite antenna to enable dual-band capability on the ViaSat network, allowing safe switching from Ka-band to Ku-band from inside the satellite vehicle.

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