Over the years, I have spent a good deal of time teaching new shooters how to use a camera. With the current trend to one-man-band reporters, that’s where the reporter is not assigned a photographer but has to shoot their own footage, it always amazes me that colleges don’t teach journalism students how to most effectively use a camera.
The first thing I recommend to them is, whenever possible, use a tripod. It’s always the best way to get a steady shot. If your your camera has built-in Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), it can only compensate for so much motion.
Another problem is that OIS reduces picture resolution. Depending on the system used and the quality of the system, it can reduce the picture resolution by as much as ten percent. In a camera equipped with OIS, the control circuitry does not record the full image striking the camera’s CCDs. Instead, it records about 90 percent of the chip’s area. When you bump the camera, the used portion of the image readout area on the chip itself electrically shifts opposite the direction of motion to compensate for the amount of movement, thereby following the subject of the shot.
Because of this, if you are using a tripod, turn the OIS off. When you pan the camera, it confuses your starting and stopping of the pan as camera shake and tries to counteract it. This can produce some very unpleasant visuals.
When you go to get a tripod, $175to $200 is the starting range for tripods that will be sturdy and offer smooth movements. Be sure to get a tripod with a head specifically designed for video, with a head rated for the weight of your camera.
Also, remember, good professional tripods are tough.It pays in the long run to get the best tripod your budget will allow. I have one I use on a regular basis, that I bought used in the 80′s. it’s an old set of wooden legs "sticks," with a Miller fluid head that was made in the 60′s. I keep it in good repair and it’s a great piece of gear. What this means is, if you deal with a reputable equipment company, feel free to purchase used gear. You can often get quality professional gear at a fraction of the new price, and if you are a gear geek like me, wooden sticks are cool.
Many DV shooters use a simple, compact, and very effective accessory called a monopods. Essentially, it’s a one-legged tripod. They are extremely compact and easy to transport, monopods are an excellent tool to help you properly hold your shots. Another advantage is the because of the weight you can raise it high above your head, tilt the external monitor down so you can see it and get shots from 12 to 15 foot in the air. Be careful not to loose control or your camera could end up in pieces all over the floor.
However, in run-and-gun news or documentary photography it’s not always convenient or safe to shoot with a tripod or even a monopod. So, I usually start my training with hand held techniques. I start by pointing something out across the room and ask the reporter to shoot it hand held. Normally they pick up their camera, zoom in and frame the object, hit record and try to hold as still as they can.
On playback, it quickly becomes obvious that no matter how good they are, the shot is bouncy and would give the viewer a case of sea-sickness.
Next, I tell them to zoom their lens all the way out and then walk across the room to a few feet from the object, refocus and shoot the object again.
It always seems to amaze them that this shot on playback is, without exception, far steadier than their original shot.
When you zoom in, any camera movement is magnified proportionally to the amount the lens is zoomed in. By zooming out, you eliminate any magnification of the shake and end up with a much more stable picture. This is why you always see TV news photographers up in people’s faces.
Grab your camera and go out and give it a try.
In future blog’s we’ll look at lots of other equipment, techniques and skills. Check back each week for a new quick top to make your videos better.
Jim Sawyer
