A Homemade Ripple Tank

Proof that great physics doesn’t need expensive equipment

Ripple tanks are a brilliant way to teach wave behaviour — reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference — but commercial ripple tanks are expensive, fragile, and often locked away in cupboards “for special occasions”.

Some of our students want to recreate a ripple tank at home. They are easy to create using

• the clear lid of a “Really Useful Box”

• a few books for the lid to rest on

• a torch

And it works beautifully.

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The Simple Setup

What We Use

• Clear plastic lid (flat, rigid, transparent)

• Books to raise the lid off the bench

• Torch or LED light underneath

• White paper or bench surface to project onto

• A dropper, finger, ruler, or vibrating source to create waves

• A shallow layer of water — just a few millimetres

The lid becomes the water surface, the books provide clearance for light, and the torch projects wave patterns onto the bench below.

No wiring.
No motors.
No specialist parts.

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What Students Can See Instantly

1. Circular Waves

A fingertip tap or dripping water shows clean circular wavefronts spreading out from a point source.

2. Reflection

Place a ruler or straight edge in the water and observe waves reflecting with angle of incidence = angle of reflection.

3. Refraction

Create shallow and deep regions by tilting the lid slightly or adding a submerged object.
Wave speed changes are immediately visible.

4. Diffraction

Two obstacles with a gap between them demonstrate diffraction clearly — even better when the gap is close to the wavelength.

5. Interference

Two wave sources (two fingers or droppers) produce clear constructive and destructive interference patterns.

All of this from a plastic box lid and a torch.

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Why This Works So Well for Teaching

Low Cost = High Access

Because it’s cheap, you can:

• let students try it themselves

• repeat experiments without worry

• run it in small groups

• recreate it at home

No “teacher-only” equipment.

Nothing to Break

If the lid scratches or the torch fails, replacements are trivial.

Concepts Over Complexity

Students focus on the physics, not on how the apparatus works.

Perfect for Filming

The projected patterns are ideal for:

• slow-motion video

• time-lapse

• overlays and annotations

• online lessons from the studio

It also makes an excellent visual for social media clips.

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Extending the Experiment

With a few extras, the same setup can be used to explore:

• wavelength measurement

• wave speed

• frequency vs spacing

• damping

• superposition

• energy transfer

• analogy with light waves

Add a ruler, stopwatch, or camera — and suddenly you’re doing GCSE and A-Level physics with real data.

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The Teaching Message

This experiment reinforces an important lesson for students:

Good science is about ideas, not expensive equipment.

If you understand the principle, you can demonstrate it with whatever you have available.

That’s a powerful message for learners — and teachers.

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The Takeaway

A ripple tank doesn’t need motors, strobes or specialist trays.
A clear plastic lid, a torch and a bit of water are enough to reveal some of the most beautiful and important ideas in wave physics.

Simple.
Affordable.
Effective.

Exactly how practical science should be.

 

Run-and-Gun Checklists
What to Pack for Unpredictable Shoots (Rain, Wind, Low Light)

Run-and-gun filming is where preparation truly pays off.
When you’re shooting sailing at UTSC, science demonstrations outdoors, school events, wildlife passing by, or a spur-of-the-moment corporate clip, there is rarely time to plan, stage, or reset. The weather changes, the light changes, the subject moves — and you have to keep up.

At Philip M Russell Ltd, we rely on a run-and-gun checklist to ensure nothing essential is left behind. A single forgotten item can ruin a shoot.
Here’s what goes into our grab-bag for unpredictable filming conditions.

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1. Weatherproofing Essentials

Rain Gear for Cameras

• Rain covers for mirrorless bodies

• Waterproof bag for action cameras

• Clear plastic emergency poncho (cheap but life-saving)

• Microfibre cloths for constant lens drying

Weather Protection for People

• Packable waterproof jacket

• Cap to keep rain off glasses/EVFs

• Hand warmers for winter shoots

Lens Protection

• UV filter or protector

• Rubber hoods that won’t catch wind

• A lens cloth in every pocket

Rain is the enemy of clarity — and electronics — so redundancy matters.

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2. Wind-Proofing Tools

Wind ruins audio before it ruins anything else.

Audio

• Proper deadcats (not the tiny foam covers)

• Compact shotgun mic for directionality

• Lavalier mics with fur covers

• Gaffer tape for hiding lavs under clothing

Camera Stability

• A small monopod

• Additional grip strap

• Wind-resistant tripod if filming on a pontoon or the riverbank

For river filming at UTSC, we also carry extra tethering straps for cameras on the Whaly.

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3. Low-Light Survival Kit

Lighting

• On-camera LED panel

• USB-powered mini light

• Warm/cool filters for colour balance

Battery Strategy

Low light = long exposures = more battery drain.
So we carry:

• spare camera batteries

• USB-C PD power bank

• spare AA/AAA for audio recorders

Focusing Aids

• Small pocket torch with a warm beam

• Laser-safe focus target (no harm to sensors)

Low light is manageable as long as you can see what you’re focusing on.

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4. The “Unpredictable” Essentials

Action Camera

When the main camera can’t go into the rain, the GoPro or Insta360 Ace Pro can.

ND Filters

For bright moments between the clouds.

Lens Wipes & Cloths

Always more than you think you need.

SD Cards and a Spare Reader

Storage fails at the worst possible moment.

Small Toolkit

• mini screwdriver

• Allen keys

• spare quick-release plate

• Velcro ties

• gaffer tape (the universal fixer)

Emergency Audio Backup

• A tiny pocket recorder (Zoom H1n style)

• Clip-on lav mic

Just in case your main system fails or the wind overwhelms your shotgun mic.

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5. Personal Comfort Items (often overlooked)

• Water bottle

• Muesli bar or energy snack

• Thin gloves that still allow camera operation

• Glasses cleaning spray

• Notebook and pen (still useful even with phones!)

If you are uncomfortable, your filming will suffer.

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6. The “Tech Core” We Never Leave Without

• Main camera

• Lightweight versatile lens (24–70mm equivalent)

• Small telephoto if wildlife or sports likely

• Action camera

• Shotgun mic

• 2× lav mics

• LED light

• Batteries + power bank

• ND filters

• SD cards

• Microfibre cloths

That’s the minimal, go-anywhere setup.

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The Takeaway

Run-and-gun filming is all about readiness.
You can’t control the weather, the light or the moment — but you can control what’s in your bag. With a solid checklist, you stay flexible, resilient, and always able to tell the story, whether it’s a science experiment, a sailing race or an unexpected moment worth capturing.

When the shoot is unpredictable, your preparation becomes your superpower.

 

Vectors, Logs and Errors — Teaching Maths Through Real Experiments

Why hands-on science is the perfect classroom for applied mathematics

Maths becomes far more meaningful when students see it working inside a real experiment.
At Philip M Russell Ltd, whether we’re running physics demos, environmental measurements, PASCO sensor work, or chemistry investigations, we use experiments to teach the mathematics behind them — especially vectors, logarithms, and error analysis.

When formulas move off the page and into the lab, students finally understand why these ideas matter.

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Teaching Vectors Through Experiment

1. Forces in Equilibrium

A simple force table or three-spring setup shows that forces aren’t just numbers — they have direction.
Students learn to:

• break forces into components

• add vectors head-to-tail

• predict equilibrium points

• measure discrepancies between theoretical and experimental results

2. Motion and Velocity Vectors

PASCO SmartCarts or video analysis help demonstrate:

• velocity as a vector

• turning acceleration into vector changes

• how direction changes even at constant speed

Perfect for explaining why sailors talk about apparent wind, or why drones drift in crosswinds.

3. Field Vectors

Magnetic field mapping or electric field plate experiments teach:

• vector fields

• direction of force lines

• superposition

Students physically see vector addition happen in space.

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Teaching Logarithms Through Data

Students often struggle with logarithms until they realise how often nature behaves logarithmically.

1. Radioactive Decay & Half-Lives

A Lascells cloud chamber or decay simulation demonstrates that:

• exponential decay becomes a straight line on a log plot

• ln(N) vs time removes curvature

• the gradient gives decay constant

Logs suddenly become a tool, not a hurdle.

2. Sound Intensity

Decibels are defined logarithmically.
Using a sound sensor, students see how:

• doubling intensity ≠ doubling dB

• logs help us compress huge dynamic ranges

Great for linking physics to music and video production.

3. pH Calculations

Acid–base experiments reveal that:

• pH is a logarithmic scale

• small concentration changes create big pH shifts

• titration curves simplify when plotted using log concentration

Pairing this with your DIY Arduino pH meter makes the maths very real.

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Teaching Errors Through Measurement

Every experiment is an opportunity to teach uncertainty, precision, and propagation of error.

1. Random vs Systematic Errors

Using repeated measurements with SmartCarts or light gates helps students see:

• scatter around a mean

• bias from misaligned equipment

• the importance of calibration

2. Percent Uncertainty

A metre ruler, thermometer, or electronic balance lets students calculate:

• absolute error

• fractional error

• percentage error

They learn that no measurement is perfect — only quantified.

3. Error Bars on Graphs

When plotting Hooke’s Law or Ohm’s Law, students add:

• vertical error bars for measurement variation

• horizontal bars for instrument uncertainty

Seeing error bars helps them judge whether theoretical models match reality.

4. Propagation of Errors

When combining measurements (e.g., power = IV), students explore:

• how uncertainties combine

• why small errors can grow quickly

Excellent preparation for A-Level and university science.

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Why Experiments Make Maths Easier

Because they answer the question students always ask:

“When will I ever use this?”

In the lab, the answer is obvious:

• Vectors explain forces, fields and motion.

• Logs linearise curved data.

• Errors separate good science from guesswork.

Students don’t just learn maths — they experience it.

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The Takeaway

Vectors, logs and errors aren’t abstract topics.
They are the mathematical language of experiments.
By teaching them through real measurements, we give students deeper understanding, stronger skills, and the confidence to analyse the world around them.

Hands-on experiments turn maths into meaning.

 

Playing VST Modules on the Synth Through Gig Performer

Bringing software instruments to life with real performance controls

One of the most exciting upgrades in the Philip M Russell Ltd music workflow has been integrating VST instruments directly with the Wersi organ, synthesiser and MIDI controllers using Gig Performer.
Instead of treating software instruments as something you click with a mouse, Gig Performer turns them into playable, expressive, performance-ready sounds — just like hardware.

The result is a hybrid setup where the warmth and feel of a real synth meet the limitless sound palette of modern virtual instruments.

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Why Use Gig Performer?

Gig Performer acts as a live VST host, allowing you to:

• load multiple VST instruments and effects

• switch sounds instantly

• route MIDI between keyboards and modules

• build performance “panels” with knobs, sliders and buttons

• map physical controls to software parameters

• set up complex splits, layers and pedal assignments

• run everything with extremely low latency

For science video soundtracks, organ accompaniments, experimental sound design or background beds for educational clips, it’s a huge upgrade.

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The Magic: Software Sounds, Hardware Feel

Instead of playing a VST from a laptop keyboard, Gig Performer lets you:

• use the Wersi manuals to trigger soft synths

• use the synth’s pitch bend and modulation to shape sound

• assign expression pedals to filters, volume or effects

• blend hardware voicing with Kontakt libraries, Arturia synths, or Serum

• layer digital pads with organ tones

• create evolving atmospheres for science videos

It makes digital instruments feel natural — as if they were built into the organ or synth itself.

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Typical Setup in Our Studio

1. MIDI from the Wersi or Synth

We route MIDI via USB or a MIDI interface into the studio computer.

2. Gig Performer Hosts the Instruments

Inside Gig Performer, each sound becomes a “rackspace”.
A rackspace can include:

• one VST instrument

• or a combination of instruments + effects

• or a layered performance patch

3. Physical Controls Assigned to Software Parameters

For example:

• Drawbar-style controls → filter cutoff / resonance

• Foot pedal → expression / dynamics

• Buttons on the synth → patch switches

• Aftertouch → vibrato depth

• Mod wheel → shimmer reverb or delay mix

This is where the performance feel comes alive.

4. Output Back to Audio Interface

The final sound runs through the studio interface into speakers or into the mix for videos.

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Why This Is Useful for Philip M Russell Ltd Videos

1. Unlimited Sound Palette

Science videos often need subtle, atmospheric music.
VSTs offer textures that hardware alone can’t always produce.

2. Fast Composition

Need a gentle underscore for a chemistry demonstration?
A warm pad for a sailing montage?
A dramatic introduction for a R&D update?
Gig Performer lets you load and play instantly.

3. Consistent Playback

Unlike standalone DAWs, Gig Performer is designed for live reliability — perfect for filming sessions with no time to reboot between takes.

4. Organ + Synth + VST Hybrid

Blending these layers gives a unique sonic signature across your YouTube content.

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Creative Possibilities

With the hybrid setup, you can:

• build evolving ambient beds

• turn spectra into music for your “Molecules Musical” videos

• recreate classical organ-like textures using sample libraries

• design sounds that follow experimental footage

• create percussive hits for science transitions

• use granular synthesizers for atmospheric sailing clips

It’s a playground for both teaching and creativity.

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The Takeaway

Using Gig Performer to play VST instruments through your synths and organ creates a flexible, expressive, and professional music setup — without needing racks of hardware.

It brings the best of both worlds:
the performance feel of real instruments and the infinite palette of software.

Perfect for educational videos, science soundtracks, sailing content, and organ performances.

 

Experimenting with UV Photography

Trying Out the Multispectral Camera with a ZB1 Filter to Block Visible and IR Light

Multispectral imaging opens a window into worlds we simply can’t see with the naked eye. Recently at Philip M Russell Ltd, we’ve been experimenting with UV-only photography, using our multispectral camera paired with a ZB1 filter — a specialist filter designed to cut out all visible and infrared light, leaving only ultraviolet wavelengths to reach the sensor.

The result is a fascinating blend of science, technology and art. What looks ordinary in daylight suddenly reveals hidden textures, markings and materials that only show up under UV illumination.

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Why Use UV Photography?

UV photography is ideal for science teaching because it exposes properties that students often only read about:

• Fluorescence and absorption in organic materials

• Surface coatings on plants, plastics and minerals

• Sunscreen effectiveness (fantastic demonstration!)

• Biological features like veins in leaves or pollen patterns

• Damage or repairs invisible under normal light

• Security markings on currency and documents

A multispectral camera allows us to make these invisible features truly visible.

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What the ZB1 Filter Does

The ZB1 filter is designed to pass UV light while blocking everything else:

• No visible wavelengths

• No infrared spill

• No mixed-spectrum contamination

This means the image captured is genuinely UV-reflective, not a mixture of UV and visible light — perfect for demonstrations in physics, biology, materials science and forensic-style experiments.

With the ZB1 attached, the camera essentially “sees” a world dominated by UV reflectance patterns.

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Equipment Setup

To capture clean UV images, our workflow includes:

1. Multispectral camera

A converted camera without the standard internal UV/IR cut filter.

2. ZB1 filter

Mounted at the front of the lens to isolate the UV band.

3. Strong UV lighting sources

UV LEDs or lamps — never sunlight alone — because the ZB1 blocks everything except deep UV.

4. Safety equipment

UV photography must be done responsibly:

• UV-protective goggles

• gloves when handling strong emitters

• careful positioning to avoid reflected UV

• a photodiode UV monitor (our own in-house build)

Safety is part of the lesson.

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Early Experiments

Some of the most striking early tests include:

• Flower petals — patterns invisible to human eyes but obvious to pollinators

• Leaves — UV absorption revealing internal structures

• Fabrics — dyes reacting differently under UV, helpful for forensic teaching

• Sunscreen — instantly visible as a dark, UV-absorbing layer

• Skin texture — showing sun damage or pigmentation variations

Each of these makes a wonderful visual teaching moment for students studying light, materials, biology or photography.

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Challenges in UV Photography

It’s not as simple as pointing and shooting.

• UV light levels are low → exposures must be long

• Focusing is hard → many lenses shift focus in UV

• Noise increases → sensors aren’t optimised for UV

• Light spreads differently → some scenes look flat

• Filters cut so much light → strong illumination is essential

But these challenges are part of what makes it a perfect teaching tool — students see that physics principles really matter.

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Why UV Imaging Is Valuable in Teaching

UV photography bridges multiple subject areas:

• Physics: electromagnetic spectrum, energy, filtering

• Biology: pollination, plant structure, skin response

• Chemistry: fluorescence, absorption, molecular interactions

• Media: multispectral imaging, specialised lighting

• Forensic science: hidden patterns and markings

A single UV session generates material for lessons across several subjects — and some beautiful, surprising images for social media and video.

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The Takeaway

Experimenting with UV photography using a multispectral camera and a ZB1 filter reveals details that remain hidden in the visible world. It’s a captivating way to bring science alive and teach students to think beyond the ordinary spectrum.

More tests to come — and plenty of ideas for how to use UV imagery in upcoming videos and lessons.

 Perth at Night

Night Landscapes for Teaching

Using long-exposure photography to illuminate science concepts

Night photography isn’t just beautiful — it’s one of the best ways to teach real science.
Whether we’re photographing skies over the Thames, city lights, or quiet countryside scenes, night landscapes reveal principles that are harder to demonstrate in the classroom.

At Philip M Russell Ltd, we use night images in physics lessons, environmental science topics, and even art-science crossover sessions. A single long-exposure photo can teach far more than a diagram on a whiteboard.

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What Night Landscapes Teach

1. Exposure Triangle in a Real-World Context

Night scenes force students to understand:

• long shutter speeds

• wide apertures

• higher ISO settings

• noise vs detail trade-offs

• stability and tripod technique

It’s the perfect demonstration that photography is applied physics.

2. Light Pollution and Environmental Science

City glow makes an excellent teaching tool for:

• light pollution

• energy waste

• ecological impacts

• skyglow mapping

• sustainability links to the Going Green podcast

Students can compare rural vs urban night shots and quantify brightness with histograms.

3. Star Trails and Earth’s Rotation

Long exposures showing star movement make Earth’s rotation visible.
It’s a magical moment when students realise that the stars didn’t move — we did.

Great for GCSE and A-Level astronomy topics.

4. Motion and Time in a Single Frame

Car trails, aircraft paths, passing boats, clouds drifting — night photography compresses time into a single image.
It opens discussions on:

• persistence of vision

• frame integration

• sensor response curves

• how film differs from digital

Perfect material for science-based media lessons.

5. Sensor Performance and Noise

Night scenes clearly illustrate:

• thermal noise

• long-exposure noise reduction

• dynamic range limits

• colour shifts and white balance errors

• the importance of RAW filming/photography

This links directly to teaching video production and camera technology.

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Practical Tips We Teach Students

• Use a tripod or rock-solid support

• Shoot in RAW for better correction

• Low ISO first, then adjust as needed

• Enable long-exposure noise reduction only when you can wait

• Manual focus — autofocus struggles in darkness

• Use a remote shutter or timer

• Check histograms rather than the screen

• Bracket exposures for teaching comparisons

When students experiment with these settings themselves, the learning sticks.

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Using Night Landscapes in Videos and Lessons

We integrate night shots into:

• intro sequences for science videos

• backgrounds for green-screen teaching

• discussions about environmental light

• physics lessons on optics and time

• drone-night-flight safety sessions

• pmrsailing.uk posts about river conditions at night

• art–science blended lessons

They also make excellent examples when teaching DaVinci Resolve colour correction, noise reduction, and dynamic range.

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The Takeaway

Night landscapes aren’t just dramatic photos.
They’re teaching tools — visual, memorable, and rich with science.
With a tripod, a patient approach, and some clear explanations, night photography becomes a bridge between art and physics, creativity and curriculum.

A single night scene can illuminate a whole lesson.

 

Set Building for a Small Company Isn’t an Option –
Why Green Screen and B-Roll Are the Cost-Effective Solution

Large studios can build custom sets for every video.
Small companies — especially those balancing teaching, science communication, sailing content, and corporate work — simply can’t.

At Philip M Russell Ltd, space is valuable, budgets are sensible, and every square metre of the studio has multiple jobs.
Building and storing sets for each video would be impractical, expensive, and time-consuming.
So instead, we rely on two powerful tools:

✔ Green screen
✔ Extensive B-roll libraries

Together, they give us flexibility without the cost of physical construction.

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Why Set Building Isn’t Realistic for Small Teams

A proper physical set requires:

• materials and construction time

• physical storage

• painting and dressing

• lighting adjustments for every shoot

• money that could be better spent on equipment or teaching resources

Even a simple backdrop becomes expensive once you add props, lighting, and redesigns for future videos.

By contrast, a green screen setup takes seconds to deploy and adapts to any topic or environment we need.

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The Power of the Green Screen

Green screen allows us to drop presenters, experiments or instruments into:

• a virtual lab

• a sailing chart room

• a wind tunnel

• a lecture theatre

• a digital whiteboard

• a multispectral display

• a clean corporate background

• branded teaching layouts

With consistent lighting and a good key, the results are professional and endlessly reusable.

Benefits:

• Unlimited backgrounds

• No physical storage

• Branding or diagrams added instantly

• Perfect for online lessons and science demos

• Ideal when the real environment is noisy or messy

• Portable when filming on location

Green screen lets us build sets with pixels, not plywood.

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The Role of B-Roll

While the green screen provides the environment, B-roll provides the texture.

Our library includes footage from:

• lab experiments

• sensors and equipment

• sailing on the Thames

• organ and synthesiser controls

• drone aerials

• wildlife and macro shots

• behind-the-scenes workflow

• sustainability clips for the Going Green podcast

Instead of building a set, we cut to visuals that support the explanation.
It saves time, prevents dead air, and makes content more dynamic.

Why B-roll matters:

• covers edits

• adds detail and context

• keeps students and viewers engaged

• allows demonstrations without resetting the whole studio

• is infinitely reusable across lessons and projects

A strong B-roll library is one of the most valuable assets a small production company can build.

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Where the Two Meet

A typical Philip M Russell Ltd shoot might use:

1. Presenter on green screen

2. Digital background matching the topic

3. B-roll illustrating each step

4. Picture-in-picture overlays for equipment or diagrams

5. Graphics added in DaVinci Resolve or Fusion

This produces a polished, professional video — with no set building, no storage, and no need for dedicated rooms.

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The Takeaway

For a small company, sets are luxuries.
Green screen and B-roll are practical, flexible, and much more cost-effective.
They allow us to teach science, explain technology, demonstrate equipment, and tell stories from the river — all without building a single wall.

When space and budget are limited, creativity and workflow make all the difference.