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Wildlife
Camera Operator Course
Whether
you want to film wildlife as a fascinating hobby, or are hoping
for a career as a professional wildlife camera operator, this course
will arm you with the knowledge and techniques to create stunning
shots and sequences. As camera technology advances apace it can
be difficult to know what equipment to use (and then how to use
it!), with a high tutor to student ratio, this course is unique
in content and value for money. It will answer all the questions
you have and many you haven't thought of yet.
This
weekend introduces the latest technology and camera systems for those
who may upgrade their equipment in the future or have yet to buy a camcorder. The knowledge gained
will help you choose and use the right gear for your purposes and
will save you wasting money on unnecessary or inappropriate technology.
The Creative Camerawork element will help you improve your techniques
under expert instruction.
The
course starts with a series of discussions about the latest camera technology and is then split into
workshops exploring various aspects of camera use in wildlife film-making,
including: wide angle, telephoto, macro, scopes, slow motion, time lapse and
creative techniques. It is taught by wildlife film-maker Mike Linley, Piers Warren - Principal of Wildeye, independent
wildlife filmmaker Adrian Cale, Simon Beer - a video camera specialist from Production
Gear Ltd.and high speed camera specialist
Jonathan Jones.
The
location is Whitwell
Hall Country Centre in the centre of Norfolk, UK. Accommodation
is shared rooms (or there are nearby bed and breakfasts/hotels if
you prefer), and there will be excellent home-cooked food.
It is recommended you bring
your camcorder and tripod if you have one.
Itinerary
Friday:
Aim to arrive by 6pm if possible
7pm - evening meal served (no problem if you arrive later)
8.30pm - introductory chat - who we are, who you are, and what we
will be doing this weekend.
10pm - time to relax, chat with new friends, and watch wildlife
films in the viewing lounge.
Saturday:
8am - breakfast
9am - introduction to different types of cameras suitable for wildlife
filming and a discussion of the use of fixed lens camcorders compared
with interchangeable lens systems.
10am - a guide to High Definition, defining 'broadcast quality'
and a discussion of future formats and media.
11am - tea break.
11.30am - support systems (tripods, clamps, beanbags etc) and fieldcraft
accessories
12am - back to basics - a run through all the controls and functions
of modern camcorders including a guide to photographic techniques
such as white balance, exposure etc.
1pm - lunch
Note that you will be working in groups of two or three per workshop
and rotating - so your workshops may not be in the following order:
2pm - Workshop 1: Macro - using special macro lenses you can get
huge close-ups without having to get too close to the subject. Extension
tubes and bellows are also available to try out. This is also an
opportunity to practise using sets and lighting techniques.
4pm - tea break
4.30pm - Workshop 2: Cameras and Lenses - an opportunity to try
out a variety of different cameras and lenses suitable for wildlife
film-making, including telephoto and wide-angle lenses, both fixed
focal length and zooms, from a variety of manufacturers. Take
the chance to try out the latest high definition cameras.
6.30pm - free time
7pm - evening meal served
8pm - further wildlife films will be shown and you will be free
to continue chattng to the tutors and looking at the equipment provided
Sunday:
8am - breakfast
9am - Workshop 3: Time Lapse and Scopes - a look at Time lapse - using DSLRs and camcorders to create time lapse sequences. Plus - combine a microscope with a camcorder
to get amazing shots of pond life. You can also try an endoscope attachment.
11am - Workshop 4: Slow motion
- the use of high speed cameras for slow motion effects.
1pm - lunch
2pm - Workshop 5: Creative Camerawork - composing shots, perfecting
pans, shooting for sequences - practising techniques that will improve
your footage immensely.
3.30pm - Viewing favourite sequences from the weekend.
4pm - course ends
Staff/Tutors
Mike
Linley (pictured left) Mike was a producer and scientific
advisor to Survival the Internationally acclaimed wildlife programme
making company from 1980 until its demise in 2001. During this time
he filmed and produced over 60 documentaries, many of which won
major International awards. He also researched, wrote and produced
over 200 wildlife programmes for children including the series Animals
in Action. He then formed Hairy
Frog Productions Limited, an independent wildlife production
company. Since then he has worked on productions for Granada, National Geographic and Discovery/Animal Planet.

Simon
Beer (pictured right) Simon runs Production
Gear Ltd, a company specialising in the sales of broadcast and
professional video production equipment. Simon has worked in the
broadcast industry since leaving school in 1993, during this time
he has been involved in varying capacities on numerous projects
with roles including grip and camera operator. Simon has extensive
technical knowledge of production technology and has in the past
written articles on cameras and post production for magazines including
DV User and IOV Focus.

Adrian
Cale (pictured left) is an independent wildlife filmmaker,
writer and naturalist. As an accomplished producer and camera operator,
he brings his own stories to life and has worked with wildlife both
behind and in front of camera in a vast range of countries and capacities,
his life-long passion affording him a broad knowledge and profound
experience of the natural world. He set up Pupfish Productions in
2005: an umbrella group of like-minded independent filmmakers and
has gone on to produce, film and write award winning content www.adriancale.co.uk/
Jonathan
Jones - Camera Tutor - known by many as Jip, is a specialist
lighting cameraman who has worked on award winning natural history
programmes. He specialises in macro and high-speed photography,
this has enabled him to work on projects like 'Swarm – Natures
incredible invasions' and 'Smalltalk Diaries' 2 x
Panda winner at Wildscreen. Prior to focusing on camerawork Jip
was an editor working on an array of productions. He loves a challenge
and is always looking to further his knowledge of new technology
and filming techniques.
www.emberfilms.co.uk
Piers
Warren - Principal of Wildeye - Piers is well
known throughout the wildlife film-making industry as the editor
of Wildlife Film News and producer of wildlife-film.com,
which he created in the 1990s. With a strong background in biology,
education and conservation, he has had a lifelong passion for wildlife
films and has a wide knowledge of natural history. He cut his teeth
in the industry as a sound engineer and multi-media producer, running
a studio for many years. He is one of the founders of the international
organisation Filmmakers
for Conservation and was Vice President for the first three
years. Piers is the author of many magazine features and several
books including Careers
in Wildlife Film-making and Go
Wild with Your Camcorder - How to Make Wildlife Films.
Booking
Information
Costs:
£295 per person
This includes tuition, accommodation, and meals.
Forthcoming
Dates:
28-30 Sep 2012
To be informed of future courses please add your email address in the column on the right to receive Wildeye Bulletins.
Booking:
If the home page shows that there are places available for the course of your choice - please complete the online application form and send in your deposit/fee as detailed.
Recommended
reading:
Wild Pages: The Wildlife Film-makers' Resouce Guide
Wildlife Film-making: Looking to the Future

Wildlife Camera Operator Course - Staff and students - January 2012
Thanks
to the following companies for loaning equipment for the training:
Production
Gear Ltd - cameras
Vinten -
tripods
Wildlife
Watching Supplies - camouflaged accessories and hides
Rycote
- windshields, windjammers etc
Deben
- camouflage clothing
Gardenature
- bird box camera
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Comments
from previous students:
"The Wildeye Camera Operator Course, is a superb and cost efficient resource for fast track learning, for both Digital Video newcomers and improvers. Coming from a self taught background, I found the course packed with helpful advice, technical tips and 'inside' knowledge which would be hard to find elsewhere. The workshops were delivered with enthusiasm and humour, which made for a thoroughly enjoyable creative atmosphere."
"Just wanted to say thankyou for a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening weekend. Thankyou as always to Piers for his hard work in organising the courses, to Adrian, Mike, Jip and Simon for very generously sharing their years of priceless knowledge and experience (Piers too), and to Tutors and students alike for the excellent company and conversation throughout the weekend."
"Thanks
again for a stunningly well organised course and detailed coverage.
I have found it invaluable and the information gained has already
helped me with my discussions regarding our proposed project"
"The course was fantastic, great fun and very informative. What's more it was a lot more specific than my university course could hope to be."
"Just thought I'd drop you a line to say how interesting and worthwhile I found the course. I was impressed by the organisation and the knowledge, practical experience and enthusiasm of you and your team. The course has certainly whet my appetite to develop my interest in film and wildlife further. Please pass on my thanks to everyone involved."
"Just
wanted to say thanks for the weekend. I had an amazing time and
can't wait to get started on making some of my own films"
"A
really good weekend, full of info, facts and figures - and good
company ... I certainly learned a lot of useful information, and
you helped me clarify my equipment needs - which is precisely
what I had hoped for!"
"Thank you for a wonderful time, I learned so much in a short time and everyone was so helpful, not only that but it was just great fun too, When I make my first wildlife film I'll send you all a copy !!! "
"Just a short note to say thanks for all the tuition this weekend - it has been invaluable. I had a lot of fun and learnt an enormous amount. It was a fantastic insight into the world of a wildlife film- maker, gaffa tape and all."

Essential
reading:
Wild Pages: The Wildlife
Film-makers' Resouce Guide
Wildlife Film-making:
Looking to the Future
Careers
in Wildlife
Film-making
Go
Wild with your Camcorder
How to Make Wildlife Films

For
news of wildlife film courses, equipment for sale, footage
required and jobs offered,
add your email address
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