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Television Production & Broadcast Journalism
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
2. Create an analogy (a written paragraph or an illustration) that effectively
explains the relationship between f-stops, the iris, and aperture.
3. To help you remember what kind of image various lens lengths can give
you, try the following activity:
1. Take a regular piece of 8 1/2″ × 11″ paper and roll it into a tight tube
that is 11″ long and about 1″ in diameter.
2. Close one eye and hold the paper tube to your other eye. Look
through the tube to the other side of the room. Notice which of the
items on the far wall you can see through the tube.
3. Unroll the paper and make a new tube that is 8 1/2″ long by 1″ in
diameter.
4. Look through the shorter tube and note how many more items you
can see on the far wall.
5. Now place your thumb and index finger in the traditional “OK” sign
and hold it to your eye. Notice how much more of the far wall you can
now see.
The length of the three tubes affected how much of the wall you could
see. The same relationship is true of short, medium, and long lenses,
except that magnification also occurs. With a long lens, you see less
real estate, but the details of what you do see fill the screen because
the image is magnified. With a short lens, you see more real estate, but
fewer details because less magnification is applied.
STEM and Academic Activities
1. Science. When an image passes through a zoom lens, it is turned
upside down, or is inverted. The human eye perceives images the same
way—images formed on the retina are upside down. Research human
vision and explain why we do not see everything upside down.
2. Science. The fluid used in a fluid head tripod creates resistance to
movement. This resistance property of fluid is called viscosity. Research
the viscosity of various fluids. Which fluids are most viscous? Which
fluids are least viscous?
3. Technology. Research the evolution of the video camera. How has the
video camera changed in size, quality, and cost over time?
Communicating about Television
1. Speaking and Writing. In small groups, discuss the appropriate use of
tripods and other camera support equipment. Talk about the advantages
and disadvantages of using tripods in various situations. Compile a list of
various situations and the best camera support choice for each situation.
Present your conclusions to the class.
2. Writing and Speaking. Create an informational pamphlet about the
proper care and maintenance of camera equipment. Refer to the
owner’s manual that came with your camera equipment and do addi-
tional research on the Internet. Include images in your pamphlet.
Present your pamphlet to the class and answer any questions the other
students may have.