Many people have asked me over the years what I am looking for when framing an image within the lens. The simple answer is to be creative and find something that the average eye would not see. What captures my interest is what is inside the big picture, and in many situations, that is what tells the story.

A perfect example would be the Grand Canyon. It is so expansive that at first glance, it seems impossible to capture the pure beauty in front of you. A wide shot will show the vastness of the canyon but will not show detail, which is equally important. You have to almost block out areas and when you do that, you will generally see multiple focal points to build your shots around. If possible, try to use foreground and background as part of your framing, adding another dimension to what could be just an average shot.

Taking a video camera out to capture "real life" can sometimes be a challenge because in some cases, real life is not what people want to see. Many times I am in a position of basically cropping out what surrounds my primary focus as if it was never there, which is where composition comes in. An artist working on canvas can create a world that is picture perfect every time; however, as a videographer, I am forced to work with the reality of what is presented in front of me. Nothing is created and it is always a challenge.

The advantage of working in a creative media is that there is really no right or wrong because every videographer has their own style. Some people like the idea of having the camera in constant motion zooming in and out of a point of interest. I personally would prefer to frame up a shot that is interesting and have the movement happen within the frame. To me, it gives the viewer a chance to absorb and appreciate what I am trying to show them. An example would be shooting Pete's chevy. I want a background that sets the scene, but at the same time I want the chevy to be the primary focal point. By keeping a locked down shot, I can have that rugged Maine coastline as a backdrop and still keep the focus on the moving car. If everything was moving, my opinion is that the shot is lost.

A photographer basically stop the hands of time and captures life in a brief moment. What you see is created through a viewfinder and in the end, there is an image that can last a lifetime.