Stop Motion Practice in the Studio

Camera - Canon 5D. Lights - Bowen. Material - yellow, blue, purple, red, orange, white, grey. Skateboard. Suitcase. Canbo Camera stand.


In todays lesson we had our first short tour of the use of the Darkroom. Steve showed us the difference uses of the lights, and what effects they have on a stop motion video, and the way we need to take photographs whilst creating a stop motion film. He showed us that we need to use a step ladder to be able to take the photographs from a birds eye view. This meant that the person we were taking photos of had to lie on the floor with a background. We used many different materials for the background that were all different colours to represent different aspects in the video (such as blue for the sea or sky). 


Video 1 - George swimming
George was apart of the first video and we made it out that he was in the sea trying to swim. As this was our first time we only had a vague idea of how he had to move and that the material had to be moved as well as him each shoot. This could of been made better by adding more objects in with the photographs so it wasn't just George in the photograph, the use of more props would of improved this video further.


Video 2 - Dylan Skating
For the second video, we tried to manipulate the idea of a Skate park. We used this by using a yellow/orange skate ramp, red main background and purple sky. We also used Dylan in this video as he owned a skate board. We moved the skateboard in each scene to try and show that he was moving down the skate ramp. At the end of the shoot we made it to look like he fell off his skate board by moving the skate board and making Dylan look as if he was falling. This could of been made better if we had a lot more space so we could of expanded on the fact he was traveling on his skate board.


Video 3 - Sammy walking
The final video we tried to show someone walking down a path with a suitcase. We used Sammy to show someone walking. We used a grey path, blue sky and whiteish material to represent clouds. We moved the clouds each shot and George helped Sammy move herself and the suitcase each time. This could of been made better if we used something different than the suitcase as it was quite difficult to move each time which caused problems whilst shooting.


To make shooting more safe we had one person on the step ladders taking the photos, whilst another held the step ladder to prevent movement. We also had about 4/5 people around the set to move the materials efficiently. Also, we had someone helping move equipment to save the person in the shoot moving the equipment themself and the equipment was quite heavy. 


Overall, I enjoyed my first experience in the darkroom as it shows us how much we can use to produce our final stop motion film and we could base it around any idea we want too. It also gave us the chance to be able to change the lighting to create more an effect of what we are basing our stop motion video on.  However, it has also showed me how hard it is to produce a stop motion video and I would need extra support when producing my stop motion video due to the movement on material and taking of the pictures.