CCTV Film Making

Film makers are always coming up with new ways to expand their art. Recently several low budget films have been released created entirely with CCTV security camera footage.


Motives for this medium cover a wide range. Some out of necessity are simply finding a cheaper way to produce media that they otherwise could not afford to produce. The thought being why purchase expensive camera equipment when cameras are already out there setup and ready to film. Other film makers seek to make a statement about our society under constant surveillance. ‘Faceless’, a 60 minute film created entirely from CCTV security camera footage is about a woman in a faceless future society who develops a face. The films director and star, London based Manu Luksch, spent over five years collecting footage by request from CCTV operators to get enough material to create the narrated film.


How are these film makers accessing cameras? In one of two ways: hacking, and requesting. The Data Protection Act (DPA) states that individuals have a right to film which they are present on. Ms. Luksch sent out written requests to camera controllers for footage which she was present on. Camera controllers are obligated to post their contact info where cctv cameras are setup. Ms. Luksch has even written a Manifesto for CCTV Film Makers, stating the ethics cctv film makers must adhere to.


Another example of by permission film making is the seven minute long feature entitled, “The Duellists” which showcases pro athletes performing parkour stunts in a mall. In this case the director was given access to the malls security camera control room connected to 160 cameras and filming took place over three nights.


Others prefer the more immediate approach of hacking cameras or video sniffing. They capture footage using a simple 2.4 GHz wi-fi receiver and camera. Connect the two together and you can view any wi-fi signal in range. They simply wander around until stumbling upon a signal. Once a suitable signal and its source have been located they are then able to stage out their performance and collect the footage as it is transmitted. Most films of this nature protest social situations such as poverty, injustices, and video surveillance itself.


CCTV security cameras are everywhere, and As more people continue to explore this new art form we can expect to see more and more of these interesting films popping up on youtube and similar free media outlets.


About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of security cameras and CCTV. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.

How Do You Film the Tour De France?

The 2008 Tour de France has been one of the most exciting Tour races in a long time. With multiple GC (overall fastest rider) contenders all within seconds of each other the yellow jersey could change any day. The Tour’s popularity has been rising in the US ever since Lance Armstrong’s astounding seven consecutive victories. More than any other rider has achieved in history. In Europe its popularity may be hard to grasp. Fans will camp out for weeks just to get the best spots on the hardest climbs. It is estimated Tour de France television viewership to be well over 1 billion. How do you film an event that plays out over hundreds of kilometers where breakaway riders may be 10 or 15 minutes up the road? Capturing such an event on film and televising a sport where the venue is an entire country is an impressive technical feat involving thousands of wired and wireless cameras, hundreds of journalists, and a high tech communications network.


Fans watching expect to see close ups of the pain and determination on their heroes faces as they power away from the field, the sensational crashes where bikes and bodies go flying through the air, hectic sprint finishes, and all the other elements that make the race exciting. The majority of the tour is filmed by a team camera operators riding on the back of touring motorcycles. These guys will literally get in the riders faces as they follow the race up the mountains and down the harrowing descents at blood curdling speeds. This is a dangerous job as speeds may be as racer speeds may be as high as 90km/hr approaching hairpin turns, many times skidding around switch backs and even riding off the road. The wireless cameras used here are linked up to helicopters following the race.


Up to three helicopters will be in the air at all times filming the Tour. These copters are fitted with advanced gyroscopic stabilized video cameras, which enable operators to zoom in on the action. These state of the art cameras are the same technology used by military, law enforcement, news agencies, and NASA. Pilots must be every aware of their surroundings keeping in mind the constant changes of elevations as riders ascend and descend mountains. They must also be cognizant not to fly over fans and have an eye out for emergency landing spots. Every stage of the tour is planned with helicopter flight plans in mind.


Static cameras and aerials near the stage finishes ensure fans get the best views of sprint finishes and grueling mountain top battles. All of this video and audio data is beamed to a group of mobile production trucks at the host at the host city. Over 40 miles of cabling feeds the footage to a host a journalists for voice over commentary, and then sent to the fans in 170 countries worldwide. Co-ordination must be seamless and the setup is precise. One mistake and fans in Spain might end up with commentary in Russian. Security is tight around these facilities, which are usually guarded by police forces operating network of CCTV cameras comprised of, dome cameras, wireless security cameras, and other hidden cameras.


You would think that all this setup would keep production workers, and volunteers in host cities busy 24/7, but how long does it really take? The science is dialed in it can be done in 2 hours every morning and evening. The equipment is broken down as soon as the riders cross the finish line and driven to the next city. Setup begins again the next day starting at around 3 o’clock in the morning.

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and hidden cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.

Fake Security Cameras

Protecting your property whether it is a home, estate, or business takes careful consideration. A visible security system is a proven deterrent for thieves and vandals out to commit a crime. Often these common criminals are looking for an easy low risk hit and will move on to other areas once they notice your area is under surveillance. While this doesn’t eliminate a crime it can protect you. Security cameras can provide visuals of the suspects which police can act on immediately. This greatly increases their chances of catching the perpetrators. Security systems are relatively simple to setup and customize to whatever your needs may be. Most systems include motion sensors, lights, mini security cameras, and a digital video recording station. While the cost of security systems has come down in recent years they are still a sizeable yet worthwhile investment. The piece of mind knowing your possessions are being looked after is priceless.

If you are not ready to setup a full fledged security system or it simply isn’t feasible based on your needs consider implementing a few fake security cameras. Fake cameras area essentially an actual security camera or camera housing that isn’t connected to any form of monitoring system. They have the exact appearance of a real security camera and are available in a variety of sizes and styles. Expect to pay between $10 and $30 dollars per unit. They can be installed in a few minutes and provide the same deterrent factor of a real security system, since thieves won’t know the difference. A convincing camera will include blinking LED’s, realistic cables, and an indoor or outdoor housing. More advanced cameras have automatic pan and tilt functions to give the appearance they are scanning an area. Some of these include motion sensors coupled with tracking capabilities. A static camera suddenly panning and tracking an approaching person is enough to send any potential threat packing on their way.

Dummy security cameras may be a great choice for more remote areas of your property or business, such as a parking lot or fenced in supply yard. Blinking LED’s will ensure the camera is noticed. You can also bolster the presence of an existing system. Dummy cams can be upgraded at later date with little difficulty. Fake surveillance cameras create the illusion of a fully functional security system. The bottom line is a crook simply won’t be able to tell if the system is real or not, and most likely won’t even question it.

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of mini security cameras and surveillance cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit Protection Depot.

Crack Down on Crime with CCTV

Security cameras have played a significant role in preventing crime and catching criminals. Before security cameras, police had to rely on witness’s description of the perpetrator where a crime had been committed. Eye witness accounts can vary greatly among several people who were present at the same event. Eye witness testimonies must be accompanied by other substantial or objective evidence to hold up in court. Since the development of closed circuit television (CCTV) in 1942 many advances in technology have made CCTV invaluable in the fight against crime. Mini security cameras are difficult to spot and catch criminals when they aren’t aware they are being watched. Recent studies show that video surveillance is the number one deterrent for criminals.

CCTV is the use of video security cameras to relay a signal to a specific or limited set of monitors. The first CCTV system was designed and installed by German scientist Walter Bruch in 1942. His system was used to record and observe the launch of V-2 rockets. Closed circuit television is very useful at launch sites because the cameras are able to be in closer proximity to the rockets than a human while providing a recording of the event that can be reviewed as often as needed.

Now the use of CCTV can be found almost anywhere. It is inexpensive enough to be used in home security systems. There are at least 13 U.S. cities in which law enforcement officials are operating or implementing CCTV video surveillance as a way to prevent crime and promote public safety. In some cities, the videos are passively recorded and played back at certain intervals, while other cities actively monitor the surveillance images. In some states school districts are experimenting with CCTV video surveillance as a principal security measure to reduce campus violence and prevent crimes such as theft and graffiti. According to a 1996 survey of secondary school administrators conducted by the American Society for Industrial Security, schools which use either passive or active CCTV surveillance systems, contend that the systems have contributed to reduced property crimes such as break-ins, theft, and vandalism. The popularity of CCTV video surveillance as a crime prevention tool is an important component of the re-emergence of downtown entertainment and commercial business districts. Business partnerships composed of retailers and various agencies of local governments have been created in cities such as Baltimore, Tampa Bay, and Memphis to provide the funding capital for CCTV video surveillance crime prevention projects. Community-oriented policing programs help monitor the surveillance systems and respond to criminal activity.


About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of mini security cameras and security cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit Protection Depot.

Three Security Cameras for Your Business

As a small business owner security and safety are top priorities when it comes to your employees and your investment. Choosing the right security camera will help to ensure those priorities are met. Here are three styles of security cameras that might be appropriate for your business.

Box style cameras have long been a staple of the security industry. This type of camera affords the most versatility when choosing a lens. They use a C/CS type lens mount (typical lens used for CCTV), which makes it quick and easy to change the lens for different fields of view. Field of View (FOV) is the maximum viewed image (area covered) a lens sees and displays on your TV or monitor. They can also be equipped with a number of varifocal lenses. Varifocal lenses allow you to change the focal length or field of view to accommodate a variety of situations. For outdoor use they will require a weatherproof housing. Box style security cameras are excellent for indoor and low light settings. Many come equipped with built in microphones for audio surveillance as well.

The most popular design on the market today is the bullet security camera. These cameras consist of long tubes with a cylinder-shaped lens, which give it an appearance similar to a bullet. Bullet style security cameras are well suited for situations where they are out of reach and discretion is more important than range. A bullet security camera will typically feature a fixed or varifocal lens that allows you to make out facial features as far away as 35 feet, and provides a wide angle of view. They are available in weather resistant casing which makes it a great outdoor surveillance camera. Top end models offer high quality digital charge-coupled devices (CCD) that will switch from color in daylight conditions to black & white in low light.

Dome security cameras are a great choice in most indoor settings with their compact size and protected lenses. Two main advantages of dome cameras are their unobtrusive appearance and flexible mobility; however they may not function as well in low light situations. They come in various resolutions with a choice of color or black and white display. Since the camera is obscured in the dome it is impossible to tell where the camera is looking, which is perfect for any situation many people may be congregating.
The best surveillance systems will utilize various types of cameras based on particular strengths and combine them with top of the line video display, digital video and audio recorders.

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of security cameras and surveillance cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit Protection Depot.