What's in your bag?
Mar 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Kevin Johnson
Much like paramedics, who have to be ready for any emergency, TV news photographers need to be prepared for just about anything.
“A cameraman without a camera is just a man.” Stephen Press, a freelance cameraman from New Zealand, displays this signature on all of his posts on the b-roll.net forum. His quote makes a good point. No matter how much we may try to avoid it, professionals and craftsmen are defined by the tools they carry.
The varied and random situations faced by the average TV cameraman require us to be ready for anything. At the bare minimum, a television photographer needs a camera. Many will argue that the list of essentials should also include a microphone, tripod, lights and a run-bag. While heavy tools and gear may be left behind in the truck, the run-bag goes everywhere the shooter goes and is filled with small quick-fixers and supplies — elements that can make or break a video shoot. Neatly organized or haphazard, fully equipped or sparsely loaded, the run-bag can reveal a photographer's true character.
What is your favorite “indispensible” tool in your run-bag? I posed the question to the members of b-roll.net, a Web site forum for television photographers. My unscientific survey yielded a number of trusted accompaniments, from precise electronic testers to granola bar snacks.
Andy Grossman, a photographer with WVEC-TV in Norfolk, VA, compared photographers to paramedics responding to an emergency. Much like paramedics, TV news photographers need to be prepared for just about anything. Having the right tools in a run-bag can guarantee you'll be ready.
The following list is a compilation of important support gear we all should have on hand.
Multipurpose tool
Often referred to by the brand names Leatherman or Gerber, these indispensible devices combine a Swiss-Army knife collection of tools along with a pair of pliers and wire cutters. Almost any field repair, from retuning a wireless to tweaking your tripod, can be accomplished with the blades, files and screwdrivers found in the multitool. Sometimes this is the only apparatus that can keep your shoot rolling.
Be warned that even though these multitools should never leave your run-bag, they will not make it through airport security. A quick stash in your checked luggage is recommended.
Gaffer's tape
Gaffer’s tape can be used for just about everything, such as keeping power cords on the floor and lavalier mics on guests. Don’t leave home without it.
Never mind all of the duct-tape jokes. It's gaffer's tape that can be used for just about anything. The cloth tape sticks to almost everything but doesn't leave any residue. I've used gaffer's tape to keep power cords on the floor, lavalier mics on guests and collars down on jackets.
One of my favorite uses is to cover highlights on shiny metal objects. The black tape covers the sharp reflected light but disappears into the shot. To avoid carrying a full roll of gaffer's tape, many shooters pull a small section of tape off and wrap it around a pen or marker.
Reflector
A foldable circular reflector can be a lifesaver for interviews in harsh sunlight situations. Most reflectors have a white side and a shiny gold or silver side. Positioned just right, the soft reflected sunlight fills in shadows on your subject's face.
The wider the radius of the reflector, the more intense the reflected light, but a small 24in reflector gives just enough light. This smaller size allows it to be held with one hand by a multitasking photographer.
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
