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<TITLE>Book Review: Digital Video Pocket Guide</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Title: Digital Video Pocket Guide </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Author: Derrick Story</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Publisher: O'Reilly </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Published: 2003_07 </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>ISBN: 0596005237</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Pages: 126 </FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Dear Friends,</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>The Pocket Guide to Digital Video by Derrick Story is a book every beginning videographer should read. Derrick suggests keeping it in your camera bag alongside the camera's instruction manual. He says, "When you're on location and waiting for the event to begin, pull out this book, read a few pages that apply to the work your about to do..." If you follow his advice, this 113 page book will help you make better movies by teaching you to avoid the most common mistakes and by introducing you to the most essential tricks of the trade. Derrick covers everything from how to work the camera's levers, buttons and wheels to how to blend in at special events. I especially liked learning how to compare cameras. To know why you may want to buy a camera with three CCDs -- read this book.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I was hired as a videographer for the first time this weekend to record a wedding. I followed many of Derrick's tips. I blacked and labeled all the tapes I could imagine using at the event. I stayed ahead of the action and out of the way of the other camera guys. I zoomed in very close during the vows so the couple would be clearly visible even in smaller versions of the recording made for the Internet. I was able to compress and burn the most important parts of the ceremony onto a CD and hand it to the mother of the bride a half hour after the couple left on the honeymoon. How's that for fast turn-around time, Derrick?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>My favorite facts: 1) it takes 3 DVDs to hold the 13 gigs of data recorded on one video tape, 2) two channel 16bit PMC is one of the major advantages of DV, and 3) the lifetime of a VHS tape is 10 years.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>My favorite tips: 1) "Quietly go about your work so people forget about you. Then you'll get the great footage." 2) "Try to record moments that are actually happening, not ones you create." and 3) "Tell the story of the day as simply as possible."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Derrick uses simple language to explain difficult concepts. O'Reilly's published a great book for $14.95!</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Michael Morgan</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>mike at handuma dot com</FONT>
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