Studio Production: My Role as a Camera Operator

Using cameras in the studio has been a very different experience for me, in comparison to using them on location. I feel like I have learnt a lot about using them from this experience. When taking the cameras out to use for an interview or some cutaways of a location, the set up process and demands of the camera are very different. Whilst in the studio, the cameras must all look exactly the same on screen to ensure that the show cuts together seamlessly. We were taught how to do this by lining them up and using a greyscale chart. Before doing this, I would white balance a camera and then check the skin tones to ensure that it reflected the colours as they were. In learning how to line cameras up, I learnt that there are so many other things you can do to change the appearance of the camera. As a camera operator, I also had to adjust the iris on the camera which adjusts how much light is being shown into the lens.
In comparison to my role as a Director, I enjoyed camera operating a lot more. I felt like I learnt more skills, particularly studio based skills which I will hopefully use in future projects. I think that the pressure of operating a camera in a studio environment is really exciting. This was something that I was particularly anxious about as we only had one chance for the recording and any little mistakes would show when it came to the rough cut viewing. However, I think that the sense of team work was the most apparent on the day of the recording as we were all in the same boat and were feeling the pressure. The camera team in particular had some issues with the lighting as this was making the colours on some of the cameras look distorted. I found that we were well practiced in troubleshooting the cameras at this point which meant that we were able to help each other out to fix the problem as soon as possible. Overall, I really enjoyed working in the studio environment and having a high responsibility role was an exciting experience for me. I feel like I have challenged myself in taking on a technical role as I felt like my camera skills weren't at a high standard.