Post a watchable video on almost any forum and you're guaranteed to be asked the same question, "what software did you use". Or perhaps, "what camera did you shoot that with". Although perfectly understandable questions, they expose the first faux pas of the video editing newbie... that the editing suite is a magical place that creates professional looking video. In the right hands, and with a lot of ingenuity, even the most dire of video can be made to look presentable. But...

Some of you may have read this exerpt from "Diary of a cameraman" before but for those who haven't...

The camera doesn't lie. Of course it doesn't, it's just a tool, it's like saying that a paintbrush or a pen doesn't lie. It's the person using the tool who can manipulate, distort and disguise the truth. Before going into a philosophical essay on moral truth I think I'll quickly nail my colours to the mast and state that it's the ability to use filters, lighting, effects...