Working with multiple cameras on set is a common practice. It is a widely used technique in filmmaking or even while making videos that cover an entire event; especially for camera setups that use the combination of multiple cameras and drones. The most challenging aspect of using a mix like this is matching the color and exposure of each camera. It is a known fact that all camera manufacturers have a different color science for their products. It means that you will notice some apparent differences in your footage regarding overall color balance, exposure, contrast, and sharpness. If these differences are left unaddressed, the issue could affect the flow of the video production while editing it in a post, thus drawing attention to itself and distracting your audience as a result.
In photography and videography, color is a fundamental element of design and visual storytelling. Photographers make use of color to set the mood for the work, the tone of the story’s voice, and to channel a theme in their project. In the field of video production, color grading or management is an art form on its own. Color grading is accessible to any editor, and there are video agencies that you can hire with a professional team to create videos with balanced color schemes. Using multiple cameras is a common practice for some photographers. Wedding and event photographers often use more than one camera at a time. The one thing you probably overlook when watching a video is the color of the whole video. At least not when it’s done well.
When you watch something that doesn’t have the right color balance you notice it immediately.
Trying to match different clips from the same sensor is relatively straightforward. They're all interpreted by the camera the same way, even if the exposure or white balance is slightly off — one of the essential things to remember when matching clips from different cameras are the exposure and color. The exposure is the easiest to edit, as it fundamentally just contrasts adjustments, with perhaps a midtones lift or drop.
HOW COLOR AFFECTS THE VIDEO AS A WHOLE
The look of the video can change from a day-time scene to a night scene, or turn back time by applying a sepia tone or by darkening the light. For example, the audience can notice the color palette changing as the main character progress through different phases of life, from a difficult time to happiness and back. You can interpret the intended mood of a scene from its color or look alone. If you’re looking to get people to feel or understand different concepts or make a difference, your video production has to be on point.
Every combination of lens, camera, and the sensor has a unique color signature that can change in different lighting conditions. These factors can lead to some variations in color from camera to camera and manufacturer to manufacturer. It could be a little difficult if you are mixing images from multiple cameras to tell the story of an important event like a wedding.
Color management is a guideline to ensure that the video quality and color is consistent, throughout the duration. When you use multiple cameras, each one varies from the standard for accuracy, so each camera is evaluated independently. Once each camera is corrected, consistency is achieved. This is the primary step that every professional video production services provider uses in NYC. In doing so, you can have harmony between images but will also speed up the editing process.
IMPORTANCE OF REALISTIC COLOR BALANCE
It is essential to recognize that aesthetically pleasing video and photographs have balanced color schemes. Something that many video production companies and photographers don’t understand is that the most objectively nice looking images are almost always the most realistic looking. Color grading is still considered a tool to make the footage more stylish and to make it look better so that the mood is captured with alignment to what the scene may have looked like in reality. In most instances, however, color grading an image for a more realistic look will be a much more effective approach.
Some videos benefit from an extreme color palette depending on the storyline or beautiful view. For example, black and white effects in videos create an essential feeling or emotion by pulling away all the color and leaving the audience with the rawness of the story and the characters, while it simultaneously stylizes films. For most of the videos, stories or concepts are well interpreted by a more natural color palette. Contrasting genres and diverse films in general, make use of a natural color palette that works well across the board.
