Feraz:
Omoi shiro i!!! Thanks but it seems you and Prof are both assuming I'm talking about using a high ended camera. Don't have money for those now. Still using my pureview Lumia phone.

You're welcome. And yes we would and did rightly assume such going by the 'exact' statement you posted...

Feraz:
The bolded was what I did when I tried capturing lightening but it was just too fast. I set the camera on video mode and when it records any form of lightening, I then capture the image from there.

You did not say "I set the phone camera..." Not having a go at you but if you do not ADD the required information into a post, you can't expect people to be mind readers.

Anyway, your phone I believe has a max of 30fps in video mode... so it's not really that great; a camera phone with 120fps would really slow the action down. You mentioned the lightning was very fast. Try watching out for a day or night when the lightning bolts seem to hold for a few seconds... try videoing it then and you might luckily get a good frame or two to pull as a still pic.
As they say... use the right tool for the right job... yours is a 'phone'.

@ Feraz

Capturing bolts of lightning is pretty simple if you follow the 'right' procedure. Can I assume you were using a DSLR? Don't go into video mode, rather switch back to stills mode.

Here are the basic tricks -

Observe the storm you want to shoot... position yourself so it is not coming towards you or away from you but rather across from left to right or right to left - just like something panning across your camera.

Use a TRIPOD, you will never get this handheld. It pretty impossible that you will ever get the FIRST flash... observe lightning and you will notice that almost every big flash is followed very quickly by a number of smaller flashes.

Your distance from the storm is also very important. For safety you want to be probably 10-20km away from the storm... you are using metal items outside (preferably under some building cover just in case of a downpour of rain... or indoors from an open window that doesn't show in the frame. When you see a flash - count how long it takes before you hear the THUNDER. 30 seconds and above is a good distance.

Ok you are ready to shoot... you want a wide-angle lens - the stock 18-55 or 18-135 or whatever is a good lens for this. Set you focus to infinity or focus on something in the area where the lightning bolts are happening then switch your lens to manual so it doesn't keep hunting for focus. It will also be best if you have a shutter release cable of a remote control - this prevents camera shake from touching the camera.
Use an aperture of around 5.6 for starters and a low iso of 100.
Set your camera to BULB mode... not manual, not aperture priority and not shutter priority!
When you see the first flash press the button until a few more flashes have fired across the frame. You can have your shutter open anywhere from 30secs to 2 mins at a time. Then check the back of your lcd. If it's too dark then try a wider aperture or higher iso or longer exposure time and also do the opposite if they are too bright. Trial and error until you get it right. This are the rules for taking these shots at night.

If the storm is during the daytime then use these different rules -
Put your camera in SHUTTER PRIORITY mode.
Select a shutter speed of 1/15 to 1/4 of a second.
A low iso of 100 or 200 and then take some test shots to see the image is properly exposed.
Have a polarising filter or ND filter that will reduce the exposure and help slow down the shutter speed.
Then use the same rules as - when you see the first flash then you press the button.
Got to be honest day time ligning capture is harder than night time and can be a bit of hit and miss.

Hopefully this helps you figure things out.
Oh and its the opposite of high-speed photography - this is very slow speed photography.

Pretty similar to what Prof has said but let's think of this as 'actual' high-speed 'photography' for now and not high-speed filming... yes they are pretty much the same thing but let's think in terms of a stills camera that pretty much anyone here can lay hands on.

Almost all DSLRs can shoot up to 8000 fps (frames per second) and that is a serious amount of speed. Of course a speeding bullet needs even faster frame rates than that.
The KEY to capturing high-speed photography is actually light - the use of flashes is a MUST. Now many DSLRs will go to a max of 250fps with a flash, however, if the DSLR and flash can do high-speed sync together then the limit is even higher.
The faster the shutter speed - the more light is needed.

Almost all, if not all, the pics posted, were taken with a regular DSLR camera. Going the route of high-speed video cameras is not a good idea unless you specifically want slo-mo video. The reason being the resolution is far, far less than what you will get with a stills camera.

Posting a video here that shows what you can get with a very 'common' 160th of a second shutter speed. I hope this has been a bit useful.

High-Speed photography

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUtrNJN_4zY

Lol... when have films ever meant to be 'reality'? Filmmaking is a BUSINESS first; what 'looks' cool always wins and the audience watch them for 'escapism'. If anyone wants reality then let them switch to the documentary channel.

As Prof said "The real thing is boring" and that is true... if in doubt strap a GoPro to your head and as soon as you wake up in the morning press record... after 90-120mins you have a movie... sadly it'll be the most boring thing EVER.
There is a reason filmmakers use creative/artistic/dramatic license & liberties.

prof800:
VillageBoi thanks for sharing those BTS up there.

...what is "hitting the mark" that you guys are talking about? sholay?

Hey Prof, how now? Hope you had a good Xmas?

In a nutshell, hitting the mark is an actor stopping at the exact spot where their feet need to be. In a scene with an actor moving from point to point... they need to get that right without looking at the 'marks' on the floor

@ Sholay,

I have not seen Birdman or Boyhood but will be seeing both of them soon.

Actually not just for multiple characters... actors should hit their marks every single time or it can also throw of the focus pullers.

Well sadly yes they are and will remain ahead of us... simple truth is we refuse to use the very same brains we were given to 'solve' problems and find solutions; instead we'd rather spend the time clapping our hands and looking to the heavens for an answer... that's not going to happen. We took the religion that these same 'white' people brought to our shores and became mumu of the highest order on the planet.

prof800:
^^^^

I envy you guys that are able to watch tv series.

How I wish I had enough time to sit with these series.

We actually envy YOU... there is a reason we are insomniacs... we suffer for the love of the 'art' lol

sholay2011:

You've seen it too? Nice! How was it possible for that lady to play those characters, especially when they were in the same scene (from director's pov)? Did she have to act alone twice or what? I'm curious.

It's actually pretty technical and time consuming. It's filmed many times using a computer controlled camera - basically character 'A' does the whole scene, then 'B' and 'C' and so on, then the motion is also filmed with no characters. The acting, the cues, hitting the marks... that girl displays some serious skills in getting that done.

Here are a few BTS clips for you to enjoy... there is a very good one I'm looking for but can't seem to find any more from months ago - EDIT - found it!


Orphan Black BTS 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNfTJCwQ6ms


Orphan Black BTS 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rALHr8gV1E


Orphan Black BTS 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2u_N8g6cs

booz:


Thanks a lot, your comment was a good eye opener and has informed my choice. Come o, you sounded like a photography professional, are you one?

Oh man, I am so, so sorry for my very late reply... I have not been coming to NL as much as before. Glad that my response helped you make an informed choice.
I do dabble a bit into photography... I like 'street' photography but my main passion is filmmaking...
Hopefully my old showreel can serve as an introduction to what I do - (TV/Movies thread found here - https://www.nairaland.com/893426/video-showreel-villageboi )


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYjgCc3BRbg

sholay2011:
Who has seen this series: 'Orphan Black'? Just finished seeing Season 1. Wow! I'm blown away, especially by the performance by Tatiana Maslany who has convincingly played about nine very different/realistic characters so far.

Acting has indeed gone to another level.

Yup, saw it a while back... can't wait for Season 2.

Hmmmm na wa o. What's wrong with us? Mercy Johnson is Nollywood's Mercy Johnson... totally proud of her as her.

chinwekzy:
I'm not much of a Nollywood fan, but I know enought to know that Genevive was catalyst in the existence of Nollywood, with her movies MOST WANTED and SUNSET IN AFRICA, she has over time starred in over 80 Nollywood movies. Mercy Johnson meanwhile who came into nollywood way after Genevive but has starred in over 150 movies, despite people saying it is due to her inability to choose movie roles. She is regarded as one the actresses that lead the the new Nollywood era.
So the question is who is better among the two?

You no be Nollywood movie fan?.. but you're a mega serious Nollywood movie buff... nothing to be ashamed of!

Back to the topic... between the two na Mercy of course.

Very nice! Loved the location too.

Exactly @ Armadeo

People forget that Hollywood is in the business for one main reason ONLY... to make a buck. They can make whatever floats their boat... na their 'business'.

Black people will sit and complain forever about how blacks are being 'written out of history'... Well wise-up and write your own damn history.

Na wa o DangotePikin... that's just plain rude to the point of stupid.

Well said Prof & Orikinla

Oh well, for a Mid-Season finale it was just ok. Nothing super hot!

For fun...

Kids react to old cameras


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDtWxURLlPk

The pic you posted is what a film script looks like be it Nollywood, Jollywood, Bollywood or Plutowood. No reason why a Nollywood script would be different.
Format your screenplay just the pic has.

You are aware of the biggest difference right? SLR cameras use actual rolls of film and DSLR cameras are the 'digital' version of SLRs and capture images to SD cards, CF cards and so on.

First of all are you able to buy rolls of film and get them developed? I would assume that's not too easy in this day and age and will cost a bit of money.
With a DSLR you can see your image immediately on the back screen, you can delete and retake as many times as you want. With an SLR if your film is '36'... you take 36 shots and that's it... done, kaput... no going back.

Personally, no one really should be thinking about Single Lens Reflex cameras. As for the 'digital' versions both Canon and Nikon are good. Get yourself whatever you can afford and a couple of lenses. Maybe the general stock lens; that could be 18-55mm or 18-135mm and a cheap prime like the 50mm f1.8. (a 50mm f1.4 is better but costs many times more than the f1.8 lenses)

That's basic starter and then grow from there. Good luck with everything.

Interesting concept.

^^^
Guykhena & Prof lol @ the two of you.

^^^
Nice!!

JuanDeDios:
Watching yesterday's episode. Just watched where Senator Lockhart gave it straight to 'em Pakistanis! Ol' boy! I'm starting to like this Lockhart guy!

Yeah, pretty much the first good thing we've seen from him.

And at the end of the episode we get the morale - "Once a crackhead always a crackhead" lol poor Carrie.

hahn:

Some people will like to argus that "we are getting there" but honestly we haven't moved an inch from where we used to be.

I hear you. I know it does feel that way to many people, however, bit by bit some changes are being made. Are they enough considering all the material available to 'the film industry'... NO. I fully understand you.

hahn:

I'm yet to watch a Nollywood movie that has live scenes like what I'm used to in the REAL Nigeria and not some loaned building. We still have a LONG way to go when it comes to story telling and I've read better novels that make one feel entranced in the story that the memory plays out like a movie.

Our entertainment industry is actually nothing to write home about. Even Charlie Chaplin was able to deliver comedy and entertainment without opening his mouth.

Not sure about the 'loaned' building as pretty much every film 'loans' buildings in some way be it paying the owners or building sets and/or replicas and paying for copyright.

Films can never really compare to novels as they are just a 2hr condensed story but you are completely right in saying we have a long way to go when it comes to story telling. I personally do think that is our biggest problem coupled with the fact that the 'story' has to be told 3 times - when written, when filmed and when edited... something somewhere isn't as good as it should be.

hahn:

Generally, we're way over our heads in this country. Confusing comfort and development with material possessions.
We are no where as a people and rate amongst the lowest in Africa when it comes to basic infrastructure, comfort and cultural export.
The best we can lay claim to are people who have Nigerian names and were born and brought up in another man's country.

Lol nice line - "Confusing comfort and development with material possessions" a very sad but true fact you've stated, can't argue with that.
Oh well, they say "As long as there is life there is hope."
Call it crazy but I am hopeful the Nigerian film industry will get there. There are a number of people out there that know their stuff... albeit most still unknown.

Well done guys. I really enjoyed some of the shots in there... nice dynamic camera movement. Just wondering why you guys didn't ADR the dialogue as 'audio' is what really lets this film down. As for the director 'Ali Akdogan', good job... more grease to your elbows!

DaVinChiSam:
we getting there...

Taking a while isn't it?

Sad truth is the very best of Nollywood/Nigerian film cannot even be compared to the very best of any other African filmmakers... talkless of the-rest-of-the-world. Yes it's moving forward but some big key ingredient is still badly lacking.

walanter:
wen iz it going to be out......

Different dates for different 'locations' around the world but the US release date is 3rd April, 2015.

Just saw this... loved it so much. It isn't perfect, it isn't great but was just soooo good Forget the flaws and nitpicking... this film has SOUL. Much watch it again.

Keky:
I have a strange feeling (only guessing) that Morgan Jones is the uncle Noah mentioned!!

That would be cool.

Finally saw this!

What can I say? I absolutely loved this film!! Is it flawless?.. Of course not, has niggles here and there! What I loved the most about this is it has real SOUL something that HOAYS lacked.... this to me was far, far more enjoyable than HOAYS even though HOAYS is 'technically' better.

This is EXACTLY the type of films 'New' Nollywood should be doing more of and not those ridiculously stupid "Oh-look-how-white-and-posh-we-sound" rom-coms that every daft prat is doing.

prof800:

Would you advice one to go for the Samsung NX1 instead.?

No I wouldn't. But I also wouldn't advise anyone to go for 'anything' without knowing what kind of shooting they want to do... no camera does everything or every style. It's always about picking the best tool for the job.

prof800:

What affordable camera would you opt for now if you were to go shopping?

Depends what one means by 'affordable'... to some that would be $700-$1000, $1000-$2000, $2000-$5000, $5000-$10,000 and then those above that.
Generally it'll be DSLRs, Panny GH3&4, the Blackmagic cameras and similar for the first 3 price ranges... in that bracket I'd probably pick a Blackmagic camera... in terms of dynamic range they beat every DSLR/Mirrorless cam out there.

But as I am actually shopping and to answer your question about what 'I' would get... my 'next' cam is the GoPro 4 Black edition for my quadcopter

Whoop, whoop! As always can't wait to have some fun!

Have they stepped their 'badism' up a notch or what? Bring it on!!


Furious 7 - Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skpu5HaVkOc