Using video

[Rik]

Some tips for setting up a camera single-handed:
Choose somewhere with recognisable background detail. Take some trial film of yourself, look at it, then adjust the frame of the picture against the background stuff you can see, to fit in the bits you want to film. Make sure you stand where you were standing before...

If you're taking a "front view" then you might need to do no more than turn the screen on the camera around so you can see yourself (depending on screen size).

If you want to do a "looking down the barrel" shot, use a cheap mirror in front of the archer (7 years bad luck is better than a broken camcorder...).


On analysis: I'm told it can also be useful to watch shots speeded up - it can highlight problems that you can't see at normal speed or slowed down. Things to do with overall timing and rythym. The idea of the slow/fast techniques is to take the shot out of it's normal context, so you actually start looking at the details. Sort of like learning to see what's there, in art.

[cliveanne]

Originally Posted by Rik

Some tips for setting up a camera single-handed:
Choose somewhere with recognisable background detail. Take some trial film of yourself, look at it, then adjust the frame of the picture against the background stuff you can see, to fit in the bits you want to film. Make sure you stand where you were standing before...

If you're taking a "front view" then you might need to do no more than turn the screen on the camera around so you can see yourself (depending on screen size).

If you want to do a "looking down the barrel" shot, use a cheap mirror in front of the archer (7 years bad luck is better than a broken camcorder...).


On analysis: I'm told it can also be useful to watch shots speeded up - it can highlight problems that you can't see at normal speed or slowed down. Things to do with overall timing and rythym. The idea of the slow/fast techniques is to take the shot out of it's normal context, so you actually start looking at the details. Sort of like learning to see what's there, in art.

I never thought of watching the vid' at a higher speed, I can't do that yet as there are too many bars over the TV screen. I'm not able to put my tapes onto DVD yet. Sounds like a good idea though.

[LineCutter]

Originally Posted by Rik

On analysis: I'm told it can also be useful to watch shots speeded up - it can highlight problems that you can't see at normal speed or slowed down. Things to do with overall timing and rythym. The idea of the slow/fast techniques is to take the shot out of it's normal context, so you actually start looking at the details. Sort of like learning to see what's there, in art.

I must try this - it'll make me look like a longbowman