Video Journalist Taps JVC CONNECTED CAM for Upcoming Aviation Documentary

Annalisa Russell-Smith Relies on GY-HC550 CONNECTED CAM™ to Capture Live and Still Footage for Latest Project

LONDON, AUGUST 30, 2021 — A storyteller by nature, Annalisa Russell-Smith has been a video journalist for 13 years for a variety of high-profile clients and her work has appeared in media outlets around the world, including the BBC. Russell-Smith is  also a certified drone pilot, and last year became one of the first civilian Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) pilots, enabling her to fly large, work-class drones that may be in another county, or even another continent.  Her passion for flying was reignited during the COVID-19 pandemic. Always eager to share her point of view through the use of captured images, Russell-Smith combined her passions to embark on her latest project—a documentary about the world of aviation and the people who drive it. For this varied and challenging project, Russell-Smith chose the GY-HC550 CONNECTED CAM^™ from JVC Professional Video, a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation.

Russell-Smith chose the camera not only for the clear, crisp images it captures, but also for its livestream capability for airshows and other events, which enables her to connect with live audiences while simultaneously recording footage for her documentary. “The GY-HC550 appealed to me for my photojournalism work because it gives me the ability to do a live broadcast in such a seamless way,” she explains. “This is a huge benefit if you’re trying to engage with an audience and gather a following, or even be able to cover something newsworthy that’s happening in real time. We all need technology that works. JVC has developed this camera for exactly the kind of run-and-gun work that I love to do. You don’t want to worry about the settings and the setup of your camera; you need to be able to just use it straight out of the box, which I can do with the GY-HC550.”

In addition, Russell-Smith notes, for a large-scale project such as a documentary, the JVC CONNECTED CAM appealed to her because of its versatility with file formats, frame rates and camera operations. Russell-Smith explains that she hadn’t used a standalone video camera before, but rather a DSLR camera for stills and video, so the upgrade to the GY-HC550 has proven to be a great benefit.

“Having the auto focus function is huge for me because I am able to accomplish things that had not really been possible with a DSLR, like following fast-moving aircraft,” says Russell-Smith. “In the past, I’ve used all kinds of creative ways to make sure that I was in focus, and still ended up missing shots or being disappointed because things were not sharp. The GY-HC550 affords me a lot more creativity without having to worry about that. The auto focus has positively impacted the way that I work because I can use so much more of my footage. Anyone going from a DSLR to a video camera that has auto focus is going to understand and appreciate that shift. I also really like the large format CMOS sensor, because I can still get the shallow depth of field and soft backgrounds that I love, and for which DSLRs are known.”

This shift has proven to be a boost for her career goals, too. Outside of her documentary work, Russell-Smith also produces content for a range of clients. The flexibility of the JVC GY-HC550 for still and live streaming has afforded her the opportunity to expand her services.

“Documenting live events, many of which are coming back now, is where I saw an opportunity to be able to create media not only for my own work, but also for clients,” continues Russell-Smith. “I could use the JVC CONNECTED CAM to do a live broadcast for just a few minutes or for the entire event. It allows clients to have a single photojournalist at a live event, or even multiple photojournalists covering a larger event.” While Russell-Smith has not been able to film too many events for her upcoming documentary due to COVID-19 related cancellations, she plans to attend several air shows and drone events this year. “At the end of the day, you need tools that work and fit in with your workflow rather than the other way around, and JVC delivers just that,” she concludes.