ABSTRACT
Probably the most frequent location shot in news, magazine and other topical programmes is the journalist/presenter speaking straight to camera. It is usually staged so that the keynote image of the item (Houses of Parliament, White House etc.) is the background to the shot. If it is shot during the day, then care must be taken to find a camera position that allows the reporter to speak to the camera comfortably whilst allowing an exposure balanced between face and background ‘topic’. This can often be achieved with the sun at the three-quarter back position doubling as backlight and ‘side kicker’ to the face to provide some modelling. A reflector may be needed to lift the unlit side of the face depending on the intensity of the sun. Position the presenter so that the angle of their shoulder line is not straight to camera but points in to the background. It is often more visually pleasing if the presenter is placed on the right of the frame so that the eye in scanning the frame moves from left to right (the western convention for text reading). At night the exposure balance is between the background floodlit building and the foreground presenter. A battery light needs to be filtered or the camera distance adjusted so that a good overall exposure is achieved between face and building. The other point to consider is background traffic noise and, in a public place, freedom from the occasional eccentric passer-by who decides to stand in the background and divert attention from the presenter. With most public buildings, there is usually one favoured viewpoint marked out by ‘tripod marks’ from countless camera crews that have been there before.
