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TECH FEATURE

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Q & A

Pro tip

G Gunawan is a Sydney-based producer, photographer and videographer with over 15 years experience working with cameras. He loves shooting weddings, landscapes, and the glory of our night skies, and shares some insights into his creative process with STACK . CAPTURE & CREATE

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If you’re only using ambient light, you have no option but bumping up the ISO. Know your camera’s tolerance to high ISO, and how much noise is acceptable to you. In saying that, no matter how good the low light capability of your camera is, I always recommend using video lights to illuminate the scene. Use a large light source like soft box to achieve soft lights. Light colours impact the mood and dynamic of the footage. To maintain consistent colours in this shooting environment, set the white balance manually. Generally speaking, 5000–5600 kelvin is a good starting point.

For audio, a dedicated shotgun microphone is a practical option. If the audio source is far away from the camera, consider using a separate audio recorder like DJI Mic, which transmits the audio directly from the source (e.g. a person speaking) to the camera.

What advice would you give to amateur photographers and videographers? When you’re still early in your journey, it’s very easy to have impostor syndrome. This is completely normal. But use it to improve yourself rather than letting insecurity stop you.

G Gunawan

Find a community of like-minded creators, keep practicing, and stay curious. The world needs to see your artwork! What are the advantages of shooting content with a digital camera instead of a smartphone camera? Dedicated digital cameras have bigger sensors compared to smartphone cameras. This results in better footage and images, especially in low light environments. Not to mention better optical depth of field, too. They also often have more ports to facilitate extensive audio setup and external video recording. When shooting a wedding, what techniques best capture the emotion of the moment? Understanding your gear and how it all works is extremely important. The more you’re comfortable with your gear, the more you can focus on the storytelling side. Always observe and anticipate reactions from all the guests. For example, when the bride or groom walks down the aisle, do vows and first kiss. The parents and guests often get emotional – capture them. When doing portraits with the wedding couple, instead of posing them, give them prompts like, “Hey groom/bride, whisper into your partner’s ear your favourite veggie in the sexiest voice possible,” and get ready to capture the moment as they crack up laughing. What’s the best way to keep handheld video stable, and ensure audio is crystal clear? Using a camera with IBIS really helps in handheld scenarios, and a wider lens to make jitter less noticeable.

What are your tips for creating engaging and shareable videos on

social media platforms? Know your audience and whom you will be speaking to. Present valuable content to that audience group. The value could either be good information, or entertainment that provokes emotion. One of my favourite ways is to answer any of the frequently asked questions within your niche. For example, if you’re into astrophotography, the shareable content is the equipment needed, and what dates within the year the Milky Way core will be visible.

Has the huge growth ofTikTok and Instagram changed how short videos are created? The rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram mean we’re being challenged to creatively shorten the delivery of a certain topic, while still keeping it interesting. You can call it more ‘competition’, but I think it’s a good thing, because the general quality of content is more diverse and better. What new camera tech are you excited about? We’re in an era where the quality of the

sensor, the speed, the dynamic range and IBIS are just great. What is your camera of choice? My main professional camera of choice is the Nikon Z9. I also use the Nikon Z30 for vlogging

due to its small, pocketable size.

Check out more from G Gunawan on Instagram @red_imagination_adventure and www.red-imagination.com.au

Photo credit: G Gunawan

22 APRIL 2024

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