104223 - CAMERA TECHNIQUES

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Maddalena Fedele

Trimester: Second term

Credits: 4

The subject belongs to the field of image, technique and content creation. The various topics covered in the course are designed to train students for learning and using various cameras and main accessories, and understanding their technology. It enables them to develop the audiovisual gaze, work in groups, solve problems with initiative, create content based on an audiovisual narrative and know how to work with a professional video camera.

At the end of the course the student must be able to:

- Know the technology of the video camera and the digital environment.

- Develop an audiovisual look and a critical sense of the image.

- Work professionally on video techniques based on the characteristics of the recording.

- To acquire theoretical-practical knowledge of the different technological and narrative tools when recording an audiovisual product.

- Reflect on the camera as a discursive tool. 

Theoretical concepts will be presented in class by the teachers. The presentations in the theory sessions will be accompanied by screenings of films that illustrate the concepts worked on. Likewise, texts and / or articles will be used to work on these concepts. 

In the practical activities the manipulation of the audiovisual material will be carried out. Practices are a fundamental part of the classes, as they serve to show in a tangible and direct way the theoretical concepts taught in class. The internships will increase their level of complexity and consequently, the requirement in their quality and in their delivery time will be affected. Therefore, the commitment on the part of the students when delivering the audiovisual materials on time is basic.

Contents theoretical sessions

T1. Meaning and technique in the cinematographic image.

- Technological revolution

- What does it mean to use a film camera?

- The visible and the audible in front of the visualization and the audibility.

- Reality, realistic and imaginary illusion.

T2. Currents and thought, looks behind the camera.

- The Avant-Gardes: Surrealists, Impressionists, Expressionists, Soviet Cinema.

- Classic cinema: Hollywood

- Neorealism

- New Wave

- Free Cinema

- New Hollywood

- New German cinema

- Dogma '95

T3. Putting in camera.

- The movement in the film.

- The time in the film.

- The plan.

- The angles.

- Photographic aspects, light and color.

4. Technology and digital parameters

4.1. Digital technology

- From analog to digital

- Scanned

- Video signal 

- CCD and CMOS sensors: the creation of the digital signal

4.2. Digital parameters

- Spatial resolution

- Color depth

- Temporary resolution

- Color undersampling

- Transfer flow

- Compression

- Container formats and classification of codecs

5. Morphology of the camera and digital cameras

5.1. Camera morphology

- Optics

- Focus ring and diaphragm

- Shutter

- Black and white balance

- Filters and patterns

- I win

- Viewers

- Audio

- Time code

5.2. Digital cameras

- Typology of current cameras: domestic

- Typology of current cameras: smartphone

- Typology of current cameras: prosumer

- Typology of current cameras: professionals

- Typology of current cameras: cinematography

Related practices 

P1. Basic camera settings

P2. Camera stabilization and operation

P3. Definition of the point of view

P4. Depth of field

P5. Dialectic of the plane-counterplane

Internships are mandatory.

The practices will take place on set and outdoors.
The rules to be followed and the deadlines for carrying them out will be reported.
It is necessary to be punctual during internships. 

Audiovisual projects will be delivered via e-mail with a link on Youtube or Vimeo on the day of delivery marked by the teacher. The emails will always have the title of the internship in addition to the components that make up the working group sorted alphabetically by their last name and the project report. Any Activity that does not comply with these rules or that is delivered out of date will not be qualified.

Spelling will be taken into account in the individual written activities and internship dossiers. A serious misconduct or several minor ones will mean not being able to obtain more than a 5 of maximum mark in the exercise or to suspend it.

The evaluation of the subject is separated between theoretical content, taught in class, and practices.

The theoretical content will be evaluated in two tests. A final written test and a written work accompanied by an oral presentation. 

An activity not carried out will be equivalent to a 0 of numerical mark. To be able to average, the mark of the theoretical exam will be at least a 4.
In case of failing the subject, the recovery will consist of a theoretical examination of all the content of the subject that will average with the average note of the practices. The minimum grade to average with practice must be a 4. 

Only those students who have taken the final exam can qualify for recovery. In case of going to recovery, the minimum mark of the exam to average with the practices will have to be of a 5, otherwise the subject will be suspended. The internship grade will not be saved from one course to another.

Weighting

Practical delivery 1: 15% of the final grade.

Practical delivery 2: 15% of the final grade.

Written work and oral presentation: 20% of the grade.

Final Theoretical Exam: 50% of the mark.

Aumont, Jaques. The theories of filmmakers. The conception of the cinema of the great directors. Barcelona: Paidós, 2012.

Bordwell, David; Thompson, Kritin. The art of cinema. Barcelona: Paidos, 1995.

Romaguera I Ramió, Joaquim; Alsina Thevenet, Homer. Cinema texts and manifestos. Aesthetics. Schools. Movements. Disciplines. Innovations. Madrid: Cátedra, 2010.

Stump, David. Digital Cinematography: Fundamentals, Tools, Techniques, and Workflows. Burlington: Focal Press, 2014.

Burum, Stephen. American Cinematographer manual. Volume I. California: ASC Press, 2007.

Burum, Stephen. American Cinematographer Manual. Volume II. California: ASC Press, 2007.

Carlson, Sylvia; Carlson, Verne. Professional camera manual. Madrid: IORTV, 2000.

Bazin, André. What is cinema? Madrid: Rialp, 2012

Carrasco, Jorge. Digital cinema and television: Technical manual. Barcelona: University of Barcelona, ​​2010.