Shooting video for the webThe basics of videography for blogs and

online news sitesEthical Martini, October 2008

“Just shoot me”

• There’s nothing mysterious about broadcast technology and in the web context high-end production values are not important

• However, always aim to shoot the best quality that you can—this means good light, good audio and good camera angles

• There are some basic rules you should be following - ‘the rule of thirds’, for example and how to follow action with the camera, without getting all that jerky movement that spoils the shot

Before you leave the building…

• Even if you’re not a boy scout—”be prepared”• Equipment checklist:

– Batteries; tapes (if you need them); free-space on hard drive (if you have one); tripod; audio gear; lights (if you can get them); power cords…oh, and the camera

• Brain checklist:– what are you shooting; where are you going; how are

you going to shoot it; do you need permission to shoot there; is the interviewee ready; have you researched the topic; have you got your notebook, maps, keys, phone, wallet and water; does someone know where you’re going

Basic guidelines for web video

• Use low-action shots whenever possible – lots of movement can look blurry and pixilated on the

web

• Keep the camera still– if you’re shooting action, let it happen in the frame

– Zoom, zoom, zoom – in a word “No”

• Make sure your subject is well lit from the front– get as much light as you can in the shot, people’s

faces in particular and important action

• Strive for good quality audio– GIGO: garbage in, garbage out

• Avoid small objects – except in ECU shots

Framing the shot

• A good shot will always fill the frame• Get as physically close as you can to the

subject/action “Zoom with your feet”• Familiarise yourself with the grammar of the shot:

– Long/wide/establishing shots (panoramic, scene-setting)

– Mid-shots (from the mid thigh or higher)/Head and shoulders (close-up)/ECU (extreme close-up)

– Cutaways/B-roll/Reverses (shots that you can use to cover up difficult edit-points)

– Choose your background carefully – “decorate”

– Pan (l-r)/zoom (in-out)/tilt (up-down)

Shoot for your editor (usually you)• Editing is always easier if you (or your editor) has a good selection of

useable shots and great audio (well pretty good audio)

• Most times you only get one shot at getting a shot– Action speaks louder than words – shoot wide first and

shoot wide often

• Objects that are relevant or interesting; details faces, hands, windows, artworks, flowers, friends, doors, damage, colour, emotion,

metaphor, beauty, intrigue, curiosity, personality make great insert/cutaway shots– But don’t waste time on that till you get the action

• Take time to frame an interview shot – even in the heat of the moment– Take more time with a set-up interview

– Frame, sound-check, re-frame, record

Rule of thirds

• Imagine the scene you want to frame overlaid with a grid breaking it into nine rectangles of equal size

• Find the major point of interest in the shot as your focal point

• Frame major foreground objects into the left or right horizontal third and into the middle third

• Fill at least two thirds vertically

Source: sweet.vanjava

The theory is that if you place The theory is that if you place points of interest in the points of interest in the intersections or along the lines intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally.with it more naturally.

Digital Photography School

Source: TV HandbookSource: TV Handbook

Source: Ethical MartiniSource: Ethical Martini

Source: sweet.vanjavaSource: sweet.vanjava

Source: Picture AmericaSource: Picture America

Stabilise the camera

• There’s nothing worse than shaky footage, except unintentionally shaky footage

• Keep the camera still—sure, but how?• Use a tripod – still the most effective way and you

can then operate the controls without jerking the camera around

• Steady yourself and the camera against something solid that’s not moving:– a tree, a wall, a table, a heavy (non-operating) piece

of machinery; rest your elbows on the roof of the car; get someone to hold you or to lean against

Use ALL available light

• Dark, greyed-out and grainy footage cannot be repaired in post-production (GIGO again)

• Using professional lighting rigs is expensive, time-consuming and not for the D-I-Y beginner

• Simple-to-use ‘hotshoe’ lights for modern digital cameras work well for lighting faces—if you’re close enough

• When in doubt take it out(side)—there’s nothing wrong with asking your interviewee to go outside, but be very careful about noisy locations– Open the curtains/blinds and turn on the lights

– A simple table or desk lamp makes a reasonable spotlight for faces

Lighting tips

• Don’t shoot into direct sunlight• If you’re outside on a really sunny day, find some

light/dappled shade• Don’t shoot with the sun in your interviewee’s

eyes, they squint and look stupid• Find and use the “backlight” button on your

camera• If you only have a little amount of light, get it on

your subject any way you can—use the desk lamp etc and bring it close, then frame the shot to leave it out (see rule of thirds)

A few sound rules

• Read up and practice microphone technique• Test your microphones before using them,

particularly the first time• If using a small ‘prosumer’ camera, fit an external

mic if you can• Where possible use lapel mics for interviews – if

you only have one, put it on the talent, not on you• If your camera lets you ALWAYS check your

audio levels in a pre-record test• Stay away from noisy locations and high wind

situations

Chasing some action

• If you keep the camera still, how do you shoot action?

• Let the action come to you• Frame a wide shot and let the action move

through the frame• Start with an empty frame (if you can), hold the

shot until the frame is empty again• Pan, zoom, tilt – if you want to try it –

– from a standing position on a tripod

– start and finish on a still subject, or hold the shot till it leaves the frame

Action in the frame

• For interview subjects – frame wide or deep enough to get hands in frame if they move, using slow tilt

• If you’re on your own, keep it simple– a good seated MCU set wide (camera close) over

one shoulder,

– or standing head and shoulders to mid chest [don’t cross the line]

– If in doubt, keep it wide – for crowd scenes, team sport and racing

– Don’t shoot flat – angle the camera so that the action is moving towards (not head-on) or away into a horizon or vertical vanishing point (thirds)

Crossing the lineCrossing the line is a very is a very important concept in video important concept in video and film production. and film production. It refers to an imaginary line It refers to an imaginary line which cuts through the middle which cuts through the middle of the scene, from side to of the scene, from side to side with respect to the side with respect to the camera. camera. Crossing the line changes the Crossing the line changes the viewer's perspective in such viewer's perspective in such as way that it causes as way that it causes disorientation and confusion. disorientation and confusion. For this reason, crossing the For this reason, crossing the line is something to be line is something to be avoided.avoided.

Source: Mediacollege.comSource: Mediacollege.com

Where can the camera go?

• 180 degree rule• for any given sequence of

shots stay on one side of the subject

• a half-circle along an imaginary line through the subject forms your shooting area

Just starting out to change the world

I guess you could say I’m a digital immigrant, I’m probably old I guess you could say I’m a digital immigrant, I’m probably old enough. I got my first computer in the mid 1980s and I’ve enough. I got my first computer in the mid 1980s and I’ve worked with them everyday since.worked with them everyday since.I helped to build the first online database for the Australian I helped to build the first online database for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s archives. Well, I was doing highly-Broadcasting Corporation’s archives. Well, I was doing highly-skilled data entry, at least. I’ve been a journalist for 30 years skilled data entry, at least. I’ve been a journalist for 30 years in both mainstream and community media.in both mainstream and community media.I now teach journalism students, but my broadcast training I now teach journalism students, but my broadcast training was in the analogue age. I have picked up some digital skills, was in the analogue age. I have picked up some digital skills, like a simple blog, audio and some video.like a simple blog, audio and some video.I’m now learning how to take more advantage social networks I’m now learning how to take more advantage social networks and D-I-Y media. My digital skills are getting better.and D-I-Y media. My digital skills are getting better.What I can do is put stuff back, this is how I make my What I can do is put stuff back, this is how I make my contribution to the digital revolutioncontribution to the digital revolution

Ethical Martini, London, October 2008Ethical Martini, London, October 2008