Lab Video Tips

1. Lab Video Tips

2. Things to watch out for • Firehosing • Snapshooting • Headhunting • Backlighting • Motorzooming • Upstanding • Jogging

3. Firehosing • Move the camera to follow action but not to change subjects • Move the camera only once per shot • Hold starting shot for several seconds, move, then hold ending shot

4. Snapshooting • Roll camera at least 5 seconds before the start of action and at least 5 seconds after it ends • Record at least 5 seconds of action • Continue to record at least 5 seconds after the action ends

5. Headhunting • Use rule of thirds and place subject on lines of imaginary tick-tack-toe board • If the subject is looking or moving left put it on the right side of the screen to allow the audience to see what is in front of it

6. Backlighting • Avoid placing your subject on a bright background or they will be a dark silhouette • To counter this you may change the angle on the subject, zoom in on the subject, or adjust the exposure setting

7. Motorzooming • Do not zoom more that once per shot • Only zoom if you intend to emphasize what you are zooming toward • If you only intend to change the apparent size of the subject use a snap zoom or edit the zoom out

8. Upstanding • Shooting every shot from eye level can become monotonous • Pick the angle that works best for the subject • Get shots from the point of view of the subject

9. Jogging • Use a tripod or monopod when possible • Use the image stabilization feature if your camera has one • Following a moving subject will help cover any shaking caused by moving a camera • Use keep elbows and knees bent while walking

10. Referances • The Three C’s of Shooting to Edit; Jim Stinson Videomaker, November 2002 • Camera sinners, Repent; Jim Stinson Videomaker, September 2002