Page 130 - SKU-000506274_TEXT.indd

Chapter 9 Shooting Semi-Pro Videos 109

Worse is high-motion action, such as when capturing sporting events. When each
new frame of your video holds substantially different information from the previ-
ous frame, you end up unnecessarily increasing the size of your video file. In addi-
tion, someone viewing your video on a slow Internet connection might see the
action as jerky and disconnected, which is not the effect you want.

For this reason, many video producers try to keep their subjects as stationary as
possible in the frame. They also try to keep camera movement to a minimum—no
unnecessary zooming, panning, or tilting when a static shot works just as well.

Shoot from Different Angles

Another way to introduce visual interest in your videos is to cut between multiple
shots. You might show the presenter speaking directly to the camera, and then cut
to a short shot of the presenter from the side. This sort of rapid cutting is simply
more interesting than a static front-on shot held for three minutes.

You can accomplish this in a number of ways. The easiest way is simply to shoot the
video twice: once from the first angle and once from a second angle. You can then
intercut shots from both takes in the editing process.

Another approach is to shoot the video only once, but using two cameras, each at a
different position. Again, you can intercut shots from both videos during the edit-
ing process. The advantage of the two-camera approach is that the two videos are
perfectly in sync, which is unlikely using a single-camera approach.

Close-Ups Are Good

While we’re talking about using different shots in a video, consider the use of close-
ups as one of your alternatives. Let’s say you’re shooting a product demonstration,
which you shoot from an appropriate distance to capture both the presenter and
the product. At some point, the presenter presses a particular button on the prod-
uct, which is difficult to see from several feet away. The solution is to shoot a sepa-
rate close-up shot of the presenter’s finger on the button. You can then cut to this
shot at the appropriate point in the video; doing so not only adds visual interest, it
better demonstrates that facet of the product.

Don’t Center the Subject

When shooting a video for YouTube, it’s tempting to place your subject dead center
in the video frame. Avoid the temptation, especially when shooting in widescreen.

A much better compositional approach is to utilize a technique called the rule of
thirds. With the rule of thirds, you divide the frame into three vertical strips and
three horizontal strips, as with a game of tic-tac-toe. You do this by drawing two