a basic guide to shooting video

A Basic Guide to Shooting Video

Society of Professional Journalists

January 11, 2011

The Camera

- Flip Camera- Point & Shoot Camera- Handheld Camera- Professional Camera

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Why learn to shoot?

Quality Video is Invaluable

– Neda’s Death (Iran election fallout)

– Zapruder Films (JFK Assasination)

– Virginia Tech Shootings

– Homeless Man with Golden Voice

Key Vocabulary

B-roll: Supplemental or alternative footage intercut with the main shot in an interview, documentary, news package.

SOT: Literally means “sound on tape.” It is most often referred to as a “soundbite” and is essentially the broadcast version of a “quote.”

The Tripod Used to stabilize the

camera.

IMPORTANT: Use a tripod whenever possible.

If you do not have a tripod handy, place the camera on a steady object or lean against your body.

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The Steps: Setting up your Shot

1. Secure the camera on the tripod.

2. Place your subject in front of the subject.

3. When adjusting the height of the tripod, the camera should be eye level with your subject.

1. Inferior2. Superior

The Steps: Setting up Your Shot

4. Step to the side of the camera. 1. Make sure that you are eye level with

the camera and subject.

5. Ask your subject to look at and talk to you, not the camera.

1. Why?

Framing the ShotRule of thirds

– Keep your subject in one of the screen’s thirds.

– The subject should always look towards the open space.

Good Framing Bad Framing

Framing the Shot (ctd.)

Leave plenty of room for lower thirds and pay attention to head room.

Too much headroom

Zooming and Panning

Do not zoom or pan.

When these techniques are used, they must be motivated -- there for a reason. Don’t use these buttons just because they’re there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBtFTF2ii7U&feature=related

Holding the Shot

Keep each and every shot steady for at least 10 seconds.

If you do not hold your shots, you’ll kick yourself in the edit process.

Remember not to talk while the camera is recording.

Cutaways, Sequences, and Transitions

Shoot cutaways, sequences and transitions. They’re invaluable in the editing process.

Cutaways: Prevent jump cuts and allow you to transition to new material.– Examples

Sequence: Close Up, Medium Shot, Wide Shot– Instead of Zooming and Panning– Movement of the human eye

Examples of Shots

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Extreme Wide Shot Very Wide Shot

* Images from Mediacollege.com

Examples of Shots (ctd.)

Wide Shot Medium Shot

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* Images from Mediacollege.com

Examples of Shots (ctd.)

Close Up Extreme Close Up

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* Images from Mediacollege.com

Natural Sound

Seek great natural (or ambient) sound. Examples: water, hammers, plastic, dogs

panting, sewing machines, chalk on chalkboard, plastic bags, cheering fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAcIFIASiI4&feature=related

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#34353385

Headphones

If possible, wear headphones. Otherwise, you don’t know what sound you’re recording -- or if you’re recording any at all.

Opens and Closes

Always look for a strong open and a memorable close.– Tiger Woods Example

Opens and Closes to Avoid: signs, still objects

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#34579602

The Soundbite

Seek subjective sound bites. Get your subjects to open up and talk.

Emotion, not facts.

“What does this mean to you?”

“How does it make you feel?”

Other Useful Tips

Too much b-roll is better than not enough.

Do not rewind your tape in the field.

How can you make a shot more interesting?– Escalator Example.