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Journalism
Mike Newman's success with Newsflare.
newsflare-admin Posted On September 20, 2014

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A little background on Mike Newman

Mike Newman is a freelance photographer and videographer based in Cornwall, in the far south west of the UK. He has been passionate about photography ever since he was a young boy, when his dad gave him his first camera. Though Mike left his hometown in search of work across England, there was something about the waves of Cornwall that lured him back. He started photographing the ocean more, particularly the magnificent storms that hit the coast and he soon became a respected and well-known photographer in the area. With 50 or more local galleries exhibiting his work, his career in photography and videography has now spanned 20 years.

What’s his secret?

When asked by Newsflare what he believes has been a contributing factor to his success, with now selling over 70 videos with Newsflare, Mike responded, “Nowadays I shoot a lot of editorial photos for lifestyle magazines, surf press, local and national papers and have been moving into shooting promo videos as well as stills. I’m frequently outdoors on various shoots and as a result, I often come across something that might be a newsworthy item to film”.

He continues, “I’ve had a brilliant time with uploading video to Newsflare, who rang me after seeing one of my storm videos on YouTube. It was a nice surprise to earn some cash almost immediately when that video sold twice on the same day it went up on Newsflare.”

Also a keen surfer, Mike keeps a close eye on the weather, which helps him identify extreme weather patterns, as he knows that the media are always looking to purchase this type of video.

On filming storms Mike says, “One of the main things to consider if you’re going to shoot extreme weather or extreme sport is safety – both for you personally and for all your expensive camera gear. Large waves tend to surge up the beach further than normal waves, so I usually take a higher position to avoid getting myself and my cameras swamped. I use a specialist housing for shooting surf in the water, though these are often more expensive than the camera and lens that they protect. Usually just a rain cover suffices when shooting from land.”

He adds, “My top tip is always this: never shoot where there are twenty other photographers, everyone will get exactly the same shot, making yours worthless. Look for something different, a new angle or a new viewpoint.”

A memorable experience

When asked to recall a memorable experience from one of his shooting adventures, Mike tells the story of when he was asked to attend a windsurfing contest that was scheduled to happen during a storm. He was there to photograph and film one of the contestants, Marcilio Browne, a young and upcoming Brazilian windsurfer.

Mike recalls the day, “By the time I got to the contest the waves were ten feet. The wind was rising, and the waves with it, as I searched for Marcilio amongst the crowds. Eventually someone pointed him out – windsurfing towards the horizon at full throttle, and then spinning a massive aerial loop on a giant wave! The wave size just kept increasing as the swell hit properly, getting up to thirty feet high, the spray flying over the top of Godrevy lighthouse in the howling wind.”


Click here to view the video

“Unbelievably the contest kept going, with windsurfers looping off thirty foot peaks, a helicopter buzzing around capturing the action and a howling gale hitting 70mph, wobbling the tripod all over the place. Certainly the most extreme conditions I have ever witnessed at that beach, with the most extreme windsurfing I’ve witnessed anywhere. Of course, the video from that day did really well on Newsflare!”

For more information on Mike’s work, please visit his website at: www.mikenewmanphotography.co.uk


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Extreme Weather  / Journalism
Storm Hunters. The complete 1st Season out now.
newsflare-admin Posted On September 19, 2014

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The television series ‘Storm Hunters’ takes you on a journey following storm chaser, Joshua Zorn (Saskatchewanweather.com) and his team, as they track and document the fierce storms of the Canadian prairies.

It’s the final chase of the season, and the team pursues one of the most beautiful storms they have seen all year. Hungry for a tornado capture, Josh pushes them right underneath a rotating funnel. They then continue with the same storm and soon discover that the rotating storm is wrapping up right over the top of them.

In the season premiere of Storm Hunters, winter does not want to let up it’s grip on the province of Saskatchewan. Itching to document some form of severe weather, Storm Chaser Joshua Zorn and his team deploy to document and endure the intense winter storm conditions, all the time braving life-threatening highway conditions.

These storm chasers will chase anything Mother Nature throws their way, from supercells to blizzards! This series is shot completely by the team themselves, with additional angles provided by mounted cameras that give the viewer a front row seat to experience the storms and what goes into capturing them.

Saskatchewanweather.com recently partnered with Newsflare to license and sell their extreme weather videos.

Watch the first season of the series for free at: http://www.saskatchewanweather.ca/#!stormhunters/c17ys


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Journalism
Shooting Video with a DSLR: Raindance's Tip 4
newsflare-admin Posted On September 19, 2014

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Sound

Sound is one of the most important, but most overlooked, aspects of video. Most video DLSRs come with an in-built microphone, though they are only about as good as the ones you get in some laptops. A big advantage of DSLRs is that they have a microphone input plug and the SD card in the camera will happily store top-quality sound, but only if you’ve got a good mic to actually capture it. If you want to record good sound, you might like to consider a clip-on microphone. It’s a simple way to ensure you can take advantage of your cameras sound quality ability.

There are a lot of good microphones on the market at reasonable prices, so you shouldn’t have to spend more than £50 ($80 USD) to get a descent one that will enhance your sound quality. They can attach anywhere on the camera, from the ‘hot shoe’ at the top, to simply plugging in to the mini-jack sound input at the side. A microphone will seriously change the quality of your videos overnight, especially if you shoot a lot of video involving people, interviews and talking.

A hot shoe.

Remember also if you are out on a windy day, the noise can create a loud slapping or popping sound, which can be quite distracting when watching a video. You can buy a wind protector for your microphone to cut down this interference, or just slip on a fluffy sock over the mic!

Wind protection cover.

Even your mobile phone has a small on-board microphone that is often overlooked. We don’t normally consider thinking about plugging a mic into a phone to record the audio but it is simple to do and unobtrusive. Using a lapel type mic will be better than not having one at all. It can really enhance the result of your video productions. Ideally, you want your subject close to your mic without lots of space or noise in between to maintain the best quality.

Finally, monitor the sound through headphones, because what you hear is what is being recorded to video. That way you can tell if there is too much background noise or if you are recording voice and whether it is loud enough.

Don’t forget Raindance’s 2014 Film Festival starts soon. For more details please go to their website at www.raindance.org


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Journalism
Which Smartphone is best for Shooting Video?
newsflare-admin Posted On August 28, 2014

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By David McClelland

Whether you’re a budding filmmaker, rising YouTube star or opportunistic citizen journalist the smartphone in your pocket may be the most important tool on your kit list. Your phone is more than just your camera: it is your researcher, your location scout, even your editor.

However, would-be adopters are increasingly faced with a confounding selection of smartphones all trying to out-spec one another. As a result, knowing which phone to pick to get your camera kicks is now more difficult than ever.

In this feature we take a look at how some of today’s top-selling Android handsets measure up for video shooting, examining their performance and practicality as a filmmaking tool.

What we’ll be looking at:

The Android handsets we’ll be focusing on in this feature are some of the newest and best-selling smartphones on the market as of July 2014:

• Samsung Galaxy Note 3
• Sony Xperia Z2
• HTC One M8
• Samsung Galaxy S5
• Google Nexus 5
• LG G3

We’ll look at a variety of factors to help you decide which is the best phone for you.

• Handset size: are phablets for you, or is a svelte body a better fit for your mitt?
• Screen performance – the smartphone screen doubles as your viewfinder when filming, helping you to frame and focus accurately
• Camera capabilities – low-light performance, front-facing camera option, optical zoom
• Storage Space – onboard and removable storage options
• Special moves – waterproof, super sound, marvellous microphone

 
HTC One (M8)

The HTC One (M8) is the successor to the HTC One, which for many was the standout smartphone of 2013 thanks to its innovative design and unique camera.

The aluminium unibody feels pleasingly solid yet not too heavy when held aloft, and the 5-inch Full HD screen is topped with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to resist display-spoiling scuffs and scratches.

HTC has flown in the face of the megapixel arms race engrossing many manufacturers of late. Instead the Taiwanese smartphone maker has introduced a so-called Ultrapixel Sensor, opting for fewer megapixels (4) but larger image receptors to capture more light.

Along with the camera’s fast f/2.0 aperture HTC claims its camera captures superior low-light images with less noise. As such, the HTC One (M8) may well be a wise option for videographers who often find themselves shooting at night or in dimly-lit indoor locations.

New on the One (M8) is the Duo Camera, an additional sensor on the rear of the HTC One (M8) used to capture additional depth information for post-processing of still images – great for DSLR-like shallow depth of field shots but, unfortunately, there’s no useful application (yet) for shooting video.

The HTC One (M8) also features a very strong audio line-up. With BoomSound dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers are integrated into the chassis at the top and bottom of the screen, throwing out a far bigger sound than typical smartphone speakers. This might be a useful asset out in the field to check the audio quality of an ad-hoc interview in the absence of headphones. A less well-publicised feature is the high quality audio recording, dampening distortion when recording in loud ambient noise.

16 GB of storage would at first seem miserly were it not for the inclusion – for the first time in this range – of a microSD card slot. With the ability to add up to 128 GB of removable storage you’ll be hard-pushed to run out of space on a shoot.

The battery life on the HTC One (M8) is a significant improvement over its predecessor. The handset’s aluminium unibody means it’s still not a removable battery, but it does benefit from a notably longer lifetime beyond the HTC One, plus an extreme power saving mode.

Pros: Good low-light performance in video mode, BoomSound for playback
Cons: Battery not removable
Price Guide: £549.99 (16 GB) SIM free
 

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Samsung unpacked the third generation of its stylus-friendly phablet, the Galaxy Note 3, back in September 2013. While its out-of-the-box integration with the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch was the launch highlight for many, for video buffs the standout feature was its 4K video recording capability.

4K Ultra HD is the next generation of high definition viewing, offering 4 times (3840 x 2160) the resolution of today’s Full HD standard (1920 x 1080). While there aren’t too many displays that support 4K right now they will become common over the next couple of years; until they do, a phone’s 4K capture capability may be little more than a headline-grabbing (and storage capacity-filling) gimmick. Of course, you do have the option of recording in other resolutions, including Full HD.

Camera aside, the Note 3 benefits from a sizeable 5.7-inch 1080p screen which, combined with Samsung’s vivid Super AMOLED display technology, means great viewfinder visibility when filming outdoors.

It also features 3 GB of RAM and a 2.3 GHz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, making it one of the perkier smartphones on the market and a match for any video editing apps you can throw at it. The Note 3’s storage options are generous: 32 or 64 GB onboard storage for your shoot and the option to expand further with a microSD card. Battery life is impressive too, with the 3,200 mAh removable battery keeping the Note powered for 2 or more days with moderate use.

One thing to note is that the handset’s larger-than-average size may restrict which accessories it will play nicely with. Generic mounts that affix a smartphone to a tripod for steadier shots may struggle to accommodate the Note 3’s larger phablet form factor.

Pros: 4K video recording, powerful processing, great battery life, removable battery
Cons: Phablet format may not fit with some filming mounts/accessories.
Price Guide: £549.99 (32 GB) SIM free

 

Sony Xperia Z2

By almost any measurement Sony’s flagship handset, the Xperia Z2, is a mammoth smartphone packed with top-notch specs that put it towards the top of the Android pile. There’s as much here for stylish smartphone aficionados as there is for serious video shooters.

On the Z2’s front you’ll find a 5.2″ Full HD 1920x1080p TRILUMINOS display; as always with Sony it’s bold, punchy and bright, a real plus for visibility when shooting outdoors. The only negatives in our hands-on were that the shiny screen was particularly susceptible to fingerprint smudges, and that the viewing angle wasn’t as broad as other handsets’ screens.

Under the bonnet the Xperia Z2 is well catered for with the latest quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset and 3 GB of RAM; microSD cards up to 128 GB can boost the Xperia Z2’s 16 GB native storage. The handset also runs the latest Google Android 4.4 (KitKat).

Critically, the Xperia Z2’s camera hardware is impressive too with both front and back shooters sporting Sony’s top-end Exmor RS sensors and a promise of low noise images on low light shots. The front-facing sensor clocks-up a healthy 2.2 MP, perfectly capable of Full HD footage. The rear features a whopping 20.7 MP sensor capable of 4K ultra high definition video capture, fronted by a high-end Sony G wide-angle lens with a low light-loving f/2.0 aperture. A dedicated camera key to the side of the handset helps to get the camera app up and running in an instant.

That the front camera supports Full HD video capture opens up interesting possibilities for self-shooting. In the past front-facing smartphone cameras have disappointed with poor quality and low resolution. However, the Z2’s front-facing Full HD camera is strong enough to enable a setup whereby the display faces a presenter, terrific help when framing pieces to camera or interviews.

As with recent releases into the Xperia range Sony has given the Z2 the gift of water-proofing (IP55 and IP58) and dust-resistance (IP55): more than a gimmick, for smartphone shooters this nifty special power means that bad weather no longer signals the end of your shoot, or your smartphone’s warranty.

Another trick up the Z2’s video sleeve is Timeshift Video which can capture HD (although 720p, not Full HD) at 120 frames per second, and then let you slow it down to create super slow-motion effects.

Pros: large bright screen, waterproof, expandable storage up to 128 GB.
Cons: large body may not suit everybody’s taste, non-removable battery
Price Guide: from £499.99 SIM free


 
Samsung Galaxy S5

New for 2014, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the latest in the line of flag-bearing phones from the Korean electronics giant and a great all-round handset.

The Galaxy S5’s 5.1-inch FullHD Super AMOLED display is typically bright and vivid with super-saturated colours that keep their pop even in bright sunlight. Scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3 {link: http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/Gorilla-Glass} toughens the display and, as is increasingly common in Android handsets, dust and water resistance helps to ensure the handset is ready for the rigours of shooting in the field.

No ifs or buts, the Samsung Galaxy 5 camera is terrific, befitting a major manufacturer’s flagship phone. The 16-megapixel custom Samsung ISOCELL image sensor delivers crisp and clear stills and the accompanying software has a number of neat stills tricks too. New for this year’s model is super-fast autofocus thanks to an efficient phase-detection mechanism usually found in DSLR cameras. There’s no optical image stabilisation here but the Samsung software takes the strain to make a great fist of low-light images.

HDR, or High Dynamic Range, has been common in smartphones for a while, helping to maximise the detail in high contrast compositions. Typically this was achieved with multiple exposures layered together, but the SG5 introduces real-time HDR which also extends to video mode. Experimentation and familiarisation is key with new features, but HDR video is likely to work best when outdoors (or shooting against a window) with darker subjects against a brighter sky. However, HDR is no substitute for good lighting and composition.

4K UltraHD video capture features on the SG5 too, although for the reasons outlined elsewhere here you might be better off recording in 1080p for now. In addition, features such as optical image stabilisation, HDR video and stills capture won’t work when recording in 4K.

As with other cameras, various frame rates are available for slow and fast motion; the SG5 allows for x2, x4 or x8 in either direction, although with slow motion the resolution tops out at 1280×720.

Little-mentioned is the USB 3.0 port at the bottom of the handset (and also found on the Galaxy Note 3). USB 3.0 allows for real-world data transfer rates of between two and three times faster than USB 2 {link: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-3-supports-USB-3.0-heres-the-benefit_id48511}, which could save useful time when transferring your clips from camera to computer. While the USB 3.0 interface does look different to the Micro-B USB interface common on practically all other smartphones (Apple-aside) it does retain backwards compatibility.

Sweeping up the rest of the relevant specs: a new 2,800 mAh battery unit guarantees longevity and is replaceable too; the MicroSD card slot allows for an additional 128 GB of storage; the TouchWiz user interface – Samsung’s bespoke Android skin – is cleaner and smarter than previous versions; the quad-core 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset is pretty much as powerful as anything on the market at present.

Pros: Great all-round handset
Cons: Styling and plastic body isn’t to everybody’s tastes
Price Guide: Samsung Galaxy S5 from £549.00 (16 GB) SIM free


 
Google Nexus 5

The Google Nexus 5 may have many aces up its sleeve but the price is undoubtedly one of its biggest draws. Many high-end handsets generally sport top-end prices to match, but Google’s LG-manufactured Nexus 5 smartphone can be snapped up SIM-free for almost half the price of its competitors.

That’s not to say that the Nexus 5 pulls any punches: its razor-sharp Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel 4.95″ IPS Plus screen is fed by a powerful 2.26 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset. This is the pure smartphone experience Google intended, featuring its KitKat 4.4 release devoid of any manufacturer bloatware – little wonder this handset has been so popular with the Android purists.

The rear-facing camera sensor is an 8 MP affair featuring optical image stabilisation. On pure stills performance the Nexus does fall slightly behind when pitched against the high performers elsewhere in this feature, particularly when it comes to low-light. As a video camera it delivers well and, in a plus one over some other handsets, can capture still frames (2 MP) while recording video. There have been reports of audio capture issues with the Nexus 5, although recent software update (Android KitKat 4.4.4) is said to have resolved some of these.

Another neat feature is the in-built time lapse mode which, true to its name, captures images and joins them into a fast-motion video without having to resort to a separate app.

Google Nexus 5 does compromise on the lack of of expandability – you’re stuck with either 16 GB or 32 GB of storage for your video with no microSD card slot – and its non-removable battery.

Pros: Great value handset with solid video performance
Cons: Stills performance isn’t stellar, fixed battery and lack of microSD card slot
Price Guide: £299.99 (16 GB) SIM free


 
LG G3

The LG G3 is the newest handset on show here with some significant updates to last year’s G2 and unique innovations around its display and camera.

One of the headlines in the G3 is the Quad HD screen. Confusingly, Quad HD (QHD for short) isn’t the same as the Ultra HD we’ve mentioned elsewhere. That’s because at 1440 x 2560 pixels Quad HD is four times the 720p HD standard instead of Full HD 1080p. Numbers aside, the G3’s display is impossibly crisp and sharp, although perhaps unnecessarily so as the high-resolution technology does appear to have a negative impact on battery life.

Another of the G3’s hero features is 13-megapixel rear-facing camera which employs actual lasers to make it one of the fastest auto-focus cameras on the market, beating the Samsung Galaxy S5 on paper by a questionable one quarter of one tenth of a second. The LaserAF system fires an infra-red laser from its rear to help measure the distance to the subject, particularly helpful when locking focus in low light. Another benefit for low-light shooters is the ‘OIS+’ optical image stabilisation which adds Z-axis compensation.

As with other high-end handsets, LG’s 2014 model sports 4K Ultra HD video as well as a super slow motion mode at 120 frames per second. Note that 4K video recording is limited to 5-minute bursts.

The G3’s body is worthy of mention too – the bezel around the screen is very thin indeed, and the rear is a lightweight metal-like polycarbonate/metal composite. The volume and power buttons are found on the rear of the device, just below the camera equipment – ergonomically this makes some sense, and aesthetically it means the sides of the handset are clean and uninterrupted. Practically you’ll want to be sure it won’t pose a button-accessibility problem if you use a tripod mount for your phone.

There’s a removable 3000 mAh battery, and microSD card slot allowing for an additional 128 GB of storage. Google Android 4.4, 2 GB RAM and quad-core 2.46 GHz Qualcomm 801 chipset round off the specs.

Pros: A very competent device with some innovative features
Cons: Lack of water and dust proofing make for risky outdoor shoots, battery life lags behind other handsets here
Price Guide: £479.00 (16 GB) SIM free

Conclusion

While the handsets here are all incredibly capable and feature-packed devices in their own right, there are a great many other cracking Android phones available. Ever-increasing competition for smartphone sales, particularly as the Android platform matures, means it’s very rare to see a duff handset make it to market. Sure, there are budget smartphones with restricted features, but with photo and video increasingly a default unit of communication, even lower-end affordable phones now sport credible cameras.

Which Android handset works best for you as a videographer is very much a personal choice, and to a certain extent depends upon your style of shooting.

• For those shooting outdoors the Sony Xperia Z2’s solid construction and weather-proofing and large viewfinder may be a clincher,
• For others working indoors the HTC One (M8)’s low light promise may seal the deal.
• If out on location for longer periods of time, perhaps covering an event or developing news story, then a strong all-rounder such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 with good battery life plus the option of a removable battery and expandable storage will be high on your list of priorities.

About the Author

David McClelland is a London-based technology journalist, his wise words appearing in titles such as Computer Weekly, Wired, CNET and BBC online. On television he is the technology and telecoms expert for BBC1 Rip Off Britain, co-hosts Challenge TV’s mobile-tech show Planet of the Apps and presents Fast Forward, an online future technology show for O2.

Follow David on Twitter @DavidMcClelland or visit his website: www.davidmcclelland.co.uk


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Extreme Weather  / Journalism
Get Blown Away by the Tornado Hunters
newsflare-admin Posted On August 13, 2014

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The Tornado Hunters

The unimaginable power of Mother Nature comes to life on Corus Entertainment’s CMT Canada web series, Tornado Hunters. Led by Canada’s very own extreme weather chasers, The Tornado Hunters. The team tackles the biggest tornadoes in North America and captures one-of-a-kind footage.

Greg Johnson, Chris Chittick, and Ricky Forbes are the Tornado Hunters. Outfitted with their Robust Ford truck called ‘Flash’ and the latest high tech equipment, they aren’t afraid to go where many would fear and film the wildest tornadoes. The Tornado Hunter’s adventures take them from Regina to Mexico, as they risk life, limb and a lot of windshields to chase their passion for the world’s worst weather.

Tornado Hunters Twister Image

The Tornado Hunters are recognized as first responders within the news media and have garnered mainstream popularity throughout the world for their real-time weather expertise and stunning footage of the world’s most severe storms. Environment Canada, broadcast meteorologists and audiences globally monitor their newsfeeds and tune into their live web streams regularly to witness the phenomena they are able to capture.

Viewers will have a first-hand look at the trials and tribulations that come with living a life of storm hunting. From the weight of worry in their personal relationships to facing 300 mile-per-hour winds, the team provides access to some of their most exclusive footage.

Produced by Saloon Media and developed with the participation of the Bell Fund, the five webisodes will be the launching pad for the official broadcast pilot set to air on CMT at a later date. Beginning August 18, www.CMT.ca will host an interactive campaign, prompting fans to provide their input and join the #CMTTornadoHunters conversation with @CMTCanada.

Click here for a special preview of this thrilling series, Tornado Hunters, every extreme weather enthusiast should not miss.

The Tornado Hunters work with Newsflare to license and sell their videos. For more information on the Tornado Hunters, please visit: www.tornadohunter.com


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Journalism  / Newsflare
Newsflare continues to grow in the US market
newsflare-admin Posted On August 13, 2014

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Newsflare continues to expand and grow its reach, attracting both new video contributors (our members) and media buyers from around the world. That means when members upload videos, they now get greater exposure to an even bigger audience of news buyers.

Co-founder and Commercial Director, Bevan Thomas recently returned from a very successful trip to the USA, promoting Newsflare. This market has welcomed us with open arms, so much so that the US now is Newsflare’s second largest market. Here’s what Bevan had to say about his trip.

“We are licensing an increasing amount of videos to many top news and production companies in the US. Demand for video, in the form of user generated content, is really exploding and the US is one of the biggest news and entertainment markets in the world leading this charge.”

Bevan visited various cities across the US including New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix. We now welcome the following news clients: NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN,Fox,The Weather Channel, Yahoo!, the LA Times and New York Daily News.

Yahoo Logo CNN Logo

But that’s not all. Bevan also met with a number of production companies which make programs for a variety of high-profile US shows: MTV Ridiculousness, TRU TV and Right This Minute.

As Newsflare continues to expand its reach into the global market, members can rest assured that when they upload videos to www.newsflare.com they will get the best exposure and reach, giving them the best chance of selling many times over.


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Journalism
Shooting Video with a DSLR: Raindance's Tip 3
newsflare-admin Posted On August 13, 2014

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Most DSLRs nowadays are equipped with full-frame 35mm sensors, allowing more light to be captured and more detail to be recorded.

Using a sensor of this size to record HD video, you get stunning bright and vivid images that put the smaller sensors to shame.

You can also jack up the ISO on your DSLR, often to 6400 or even higher. It makes the footage grainy, but can clarify situations where you wouldn’t be able to see anything using normal settings.

A little extra light will go a long way with video, so getting your hands on a little ring light like the one below could really unlock your night-time shooting potential.

If you would like to learn more about video and film making, please visit www.raindancefestival.org and don’t forget the 2014 Raindance Film Festival is on Sept 24th – 5th October.

We would also like to congratulate Newsflare member: Julian Kemp, who won the 2 tickets to our Raindance 99 minute film school competition. We know Julian will learn some great filming tips from the expert himself, founder of Raindance, Mr. Elliot Grove.


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Drones  / Journalism
Drones and journalism today
newsflare-admin Posted On August 12, 2014

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Origins of the Drone

You may have heard a number of terms for this high tech surveillance equipment: Drone, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or Remotely Piloted Aircraft.

Newsflare consulted with the experts, BYOD Drones, based in the UK, who told us a lot about drones.

Drones have been around for a number of years, dating back to the 1800’s and used in both world wars. In more recent times, since 2000, the CIA used its first unmanned aerial vehicles in the war against terrorism.

Drones Today

Beyond military use, today Drones have found various applications amongst consumers. These include, crop and pipeline inspections by farmers, animal counts by conservations groups, aerial footage for film making and generally filming where it would be either impossible or too dangerous for a person to film, due to the terrain and other environmental factors.

Drones and the FAA

In the US drones have certainly caught the attention of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in recent times. Clear guidelines are still being determined for general consumer and journalistic use. Their popularity continues to skyrocket. BYOD UK services the demand for drones throughout Europe and sells around 100 models per week.

Drone operators can now capture video footage of natural disasters, such as extreme weather damage. They evaluate the damage, help search for survivors and generally report on the situation at hand and aid the authorities.

The experts say that drone technology is here to stay and is a work in progress. It is simply a matter of understanding how consumers will use drones, for what purposes and introduce the appropriate sensible legislation eventually.

Until this is clearly defined, drone users around the world are capturing the most incredible, and sometimes surprising video footage.

Drone Videography

Newsflare has a lot of experience selling drone footage to our growing list of media buyers.

Here are a couple of excellent examples of drone videos that have been submitted by our members and sold by Newsflare.

To play the videos, click on the links below.

Serbia Floods Drone Video and Arkansas Tornado Damage Drone Video

Thanks to our members: Helivideo and Bemfinger for these submissions.

The Latest Drone Technology

We asked Martin Toovey, Managing Director of Build Your Own Drone, to recommend a suitable model for first time Drone users. Here’s what he told Newsflare.

“The DJI Phantom 2 + H3-3D Brushless Gimbal is the latest offering and next step of evolution from the Phantom line up of drone products. The Phantom 2 features the same compact and highly integrated design, however it comes with FPV (First Person View) flying and Aerial Photography support right out of the box. So it’s ready built for you.”

“All of the Phantom 2’s hardware mountings and software tuning are all carried out prior to delivery by us, this means that when the propellers have been attached, the LiPo flight battery charged and transmitter batteries installed (Not supplied in the box) it can fly immediately.”

“Additional features from the Phantom 2 include a higher payload, a built-in intelligent battery, H3-3D gimbal support and other functions which are class leading in the Read to fly world.”

The DJI Phantom 2 costs around £699. (not including the GoPro) For more information on the new Phantom 2, please visit the Build Your Own Drone website at

www.buildyourowndrone.co.uk

DJI Phantom 2 Drone.

An Interview with Newsflare Member and Drone Operator: Adam Dark

Adam Dark (AD) lives on the UK coast of Ramgate in Kent. He is a teacher by trade and currently studying law. Adam has recently developed a passion for drones. Newsflare (NF) asked him a little about his experience with drones.

NF: How did your interest in drones start?

AD: I first became interested in drones when I saw the AR parrot drone. I was amazed at the stability of the drone and how it could hover in place. I was more intrigued when I realised that it could be steered by an iPad on an app. This got my attention and I started looking further into the world of drones. I also wanted a hobby that would take me outdoors so I could have a break from studying.

NF: What drone do you currently use?

AD: I ended up buying two in the end, a DJI F550 Hexacopter and a DJI F450 Quadcopter. The Quad is for speed and the Hex is for stability and to be a camera platform.

DJI F550 Hexacopter Drone.

NF: What influenced your decision to select these drones?

AD: The reason I chose the Quad was I saw the frame at a very cheap price online and foolishly thought that was all I was going to need apart from a few little other bits…but that turned out to be a big mistake. I must be honest it was a steep learning curve. I don’t have an electrical engineering background. YouTube was my point of call and I learnt how to build them myself. When the motors finally started up, after 2 days of building, I thought, ‘wow’, this is a good feeling.

NF: What are some of your best experiences with using your drones?

AD: The fact that I can film high over water and up cliffs is amazing. I can see things other people have never seen or rarely seen. I am also becoming a minor celebrity here in my small town. People are so curious about my drones and come up and speak to me a lot and ask me questions. My videos have been seen thousands of times on so many sites.

NF: What would you say is your best video that you have taken with a drone so far?

AD: The best footage I have taken was the fireworks at Viking Bay in Broadstairs, Kent, UK. I asked the display team if I could film the fireworks and they said it would be fine. The spectators were mostly congregated on the cliff top. I was on the beach by the safety marshal.

NF: How did you hear about Newsflare?

AD: I heard about Newsflare when they contacted me about my Maze footage. I didn’t know that such a site existed. I had been taking video for my own amusement, now I realised that it could be possible to make money from providing interesting videos, I had to know more.

NF: What made you choose Newsflare for uploading your videos?

AD: Since Newsflare were the first to contact me, I thought to myself, they are a good choice as they are obviously keen and quick off the mark. That was a good indication to me of how responsive and proactive they would be in future, so I signed up.

NF: Do you have any tips, hints or advice for existing or potential drone users?

AD: Yes I do. Below are some pointers –

• Be bold and get a drone, you will love it.

• Look for fun things happening in your area.

• Invest some hours into practice flying and you’ll get the hang of it.

• Get lots of battery chargers, I have 3.

• Don’t fly within 150m of an event, don’t fly directly over people, be very careful.

• Drones are really safe but don’t act the fool with one or it makes us all look bad. Be professional.

If you would like to see Adam’s impressive Rhinoceros Maze or Fireworks drone videos, click on the links below.

Maze Drone Video and Fireworks Drone Video


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Journalism
Shooting Video with a DSLR: Randance's Tip 2
newsflare-admin Posted On June 19, 2014

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Achieving a Cinematic Look

To get the cinematic look, you should go for a lens with low f-stops, usually a prime lens (one that can’t zoom in and out) or set the aperture to the lowest number of f-stops possible for that lens.

Lots of beginner videographers start with a 50mm prime lens, as it has a suitably low aperture number (f1.8) and ‘sees’ everything at a similar perspective to the human eye. Prime lenses are also good practise for camera placement, as you don’t have the option to zoom in and out.

Also try setting your DSLR to shoot at 24 frames-per-second, matching the frame rate of recording used in film cameras.

You will get the same subtle motion blur that is characteristic of film, this combined with the shallow depth of field and a little bit of colour correction in post, gives you that lush, soft film look.

Thanks to Raindance for the great tip!


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Journalism
What's it like capturing a truly amazing clip?
newsflare-admin Posted On June 19, 2014

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An interview with Karen Jones

Following our interview with Newsflare’s Head of News Serge Cartwright, this month we’re finding out more from a contributor’s point of view.

We caught up with Karen Jones who filmed the video ‘Dramatic rescue from Houston fire’ which was used by news organisations all over the world.

1. Please tell us how it all began, were you looking out the window from your desk to start with?

I was actually not at my desk at the start of the fire. I had gone to lunch and returned to my desk to find many of my co-workers gathered at the windows near my workstation. I could see the smoke billowing so I looked out of the window to see where it was coming from and saw that the construction site was on fire. I then walked to another area of the floor for a better vantage point.

2. Seems from the video the fire spread quickly, and we understand everyone got out safe eventually, even this last guy?

The fire was initially just on the roof. It spread very rapidly! The photos show what I saw initially vs. the final intensity. Yes, everyone was able to get out. I really don’t think that many workers were there at the time considering that it was lunchtime.

3. What was the building under construction do you know? Apartments, a school?

The building under construction was a high-rise, luxury apartment block.

4. Did you think when you were taking the video that it would go viral like this? I had no idea that my video would go viral! I just wanted people to see the miraculous rescue and the hard work of our Houston Fire Fighters! Newsflare sold my video to seven different organisations, so the exposure was huge.

5. Do you normally take videos; is it like a hobby of yours?

Yes, I always have my phone with me. You never know what you might see that is interesting and worthy of capturing on video or photograph. My friends used to tease me about it all the time, but not so much anymore.

6. What videos would you normally take, what’s your favourite subject matter?

I record anything that looks interesting to me. I travel quite a bit so I record things I see while I am traveling and events that I attend. I also tape live music and dance sometimes as well as thing that I find amusing.

7. You had some interviews with some major news channels, like Fox News. What was that experience like?

I actually interviewed with several national news shows (CNN, Fox News & The Today Show) and all of the local ones. It was exciting! Having the attention of a worldwide audience was amazing! I felt like a celebrity. It was fun!

8. Have you become a bit of a celebrity amongst your friends?

Yes, I have! My co-workers were very excited that they know a “celebrity”! It was really funny. Many of my associates in other states that didn’t know me were reaching out to me via email asking, “Are you the Karen Jones that shot the great fire video?” I still have people come by and want to say “Hi”!

9. How was your experience with Newsflare, managing and licensing the video to sell on your behalf?

My experience with Newsflare has been great! The representative that I have been working with is extremely helpful. She has no problem answering questions and communicating with me regarding my video. My sales have been good. I only wish that Newsflare had contacted me earlier on. I initially had no idea that I could get paid for my video so I lost out on sales to news channels that were requesting to use my video. I gave permission to several of them not knowing that I could get paid. That aside, once Newsflare contacted me, my video sold extremely well.

10. Finally, what are you going to do with the money?

I have done some things that I wanted to do, but had been putting off. Of course, I’ve done a little shopping!

See the video here


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