How to shoot better video of your workouts and posing routines

[Mike Pulcinella]

Are any of you interested in starting a Q&A thread about shooting video? So many of the video clips that get posted these days on Youtube are really terrible. I'm a professional videographer who has learned a lot on this forum about BB and I'd like to return the favor in my area of expertise by answering whatever questions I can to help you all make better videos of your progress.

Mike

 

[michael arvilla]

DEF!.............the quality of my videos is terrible!
http://www.youtube.com/user/BIGMIKEA

 

[michael arvilla]

a "still" from my contest vid..............

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

DEF!.............the quality of my videos is terrible!
http://www.youtube.com/user/BIGMIKEA

It depends on your subject matter!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffkJ_6wOFrQ

 

[michael arvilla]

It depends on your subject matter!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffkJ_6wOFrQ

Oh that's it you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

a "still" from my contest vid..............

First of all, try to avoid shooting off of a TV screen! But if you must...

1. If you do nothing else, at least put the camera on a tripod or other flat surface. Don't add to the shakiness of the original video with more shakiness of your own.

2. There is a function on most videocams called "clearscan" or variable shutter speed that allows you to match the speed of the camera to the TV screen so that you don't get those rolling lines. Check your manual.

3. The BEST way to do it is to not shoot the screen at all. Hook up your TV or DVD player to your camcorder and set it to pass-thru mode, sometimes called AV-DV Out (again, check your manual) and then download to your computer as you would if you were playing a DV tape. You will need to get a special wire for the connection from TV to camera. Most electronics store guys will know what you are talking about. The increase in quality will be enormous!

 

[Laura Hanson]

Are any of you interested in starting a Q&A thread about shooting video? So many of the video clips that get posted these days on Youtube are really terrible. I'm a professional videographer who has learned a lot on this forum about BB and I'd like to return the favor in my area of expertise by answering whatever questions I can to help you all make better videos of your progress.

Mike

I have a question....when are you making a video of me?

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

I have a question....when are you making a video of me?

When's the next flight to Florida??!?!

 

[michael arvilla]

When's the next flight to Florida??!?!

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

I was kidding! It was a joke!


Please don't beat me up!

 

[michael arvilla]

First of all, try to avoid shooting off of a TV screen! But if you must...

1. If you do nothing else, at least put the camera on a tripod or other flat surface. Don't add to the shakiness of the original video with more shakiness of your own.

2. There is a function on most videocams called "clearscan" or variable shutter speed that allows you to match the speed of the camera to the TV screen so that you don't get those rolling lines. Check your manual.

3. The BEST way to do it is to not shoot the screen at all. Hook up your TV or DVD player to your camcorder and set it to pass-thru mode, sometimes called AV-DV Out (again, check your manual) and then download to your computer as you would if you were playing a DV tape. You will need to get a special wire for the connection from TV to camera. Most electronics store guys will know what you are talking about. The increase in quality will be enormous!

These are actaully some excellent tips!...............(Mike is something of an expert in this field IMO)
QUESTION: how can you transfer/upload contest clips from a DVD to you-tube???
(the clips i used were of a VHS and i obviously just taped them off the TV)
thanks!

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

These are actaully some excellent tips!...............(Mike is something of an expert in this field IMO)
QUESTION: how can you transfer/upload contest clips from a DVD to you-tube???
(the clips i used were of a VHS and i obviously just taped them off the TV)
thanks!

See tip #3 in my previous post. Once Downloaded to the computer they will upload to Youtube just like any other video clip.

 

[michael arvilla]

See tip #3 in my previous post. Once Downloaded to the computer they will upload to Youtube just like any other video clip.

we don't have a camcorder............(Laura used the "faux" camcorder function on her digital camera)

 

[Kaiser]

2. There is a function on most videocams called "clearscan" or variable shutter speed that allows you to match the speed of the camera to the TV screen so that you don't get those rolling lines. Check your manual.

Yes, this is because of a CRTs refresh rate semi-synchronizing with the camera's shutter. The camera is actually snapping the low side of the sin wave which is essentially a dead pixel. This ends up looking like black or dark lines scrolling downward. Due to the difference in technology of LCD & Plasma technology I would imagine you do not experience this with either one of them no matter what your shutter speed, even if it did mesh with the refresh rate of them. I could be wrong though because I do not know that much about cameras, but technically it sounds logical.

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

we don't have a camcorder............(Laura used the "faux" camcorder function on her digital camera)

Oh. Then you are up the creek of much poop without a means to propel yourself!

If you want to do anything to a higher level you have to spend a few bucks to get the right equipment. You wouldn't try to build your legs by squatting with 100 lb sacks of flour on your back, would you??

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

Yes, this is because of a CRTs refresh rate semi-synchronizing with the camera's shutter. The camera is actually snapping the low side of the sin wave which is essentially a dead pixel. This ends up looking like black or dark lines scrolling downward. Due to the difference in technology of LCD & Plasma technology I would imagine you do not experience this with either one of them no matter what your shutter speed, even if it did mesh with the refresh rate of them. I could be wrong though because I do not know that much about cameras, but technically it sounds logical.

You are right. LCD screens don't have that problem.

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

Finally getting to writing up the tips for you guys! These first few are somewhat common sense but they too often are overlooked.

#1: Steady As She Goes!

One of the things that can really make your video look amateurish is a shaky camera. Obviously the best thing to do would be to get a tripod. But they can be expensive and bulky.

Look around for a flat surface to rest the camera on. Carry a small beanbag pillow with you and nestle the camera into it. You can angle the camera up or down easily without having to find a book or magazine to prop it up on. (It always slips off anyway!)

If you are carrying the camera try to keep it as steady as you can. Hold it in both hands. Steady it against your chest. Breath slowly and deeply. Be aware that the more you zoom in the more your tiniest movemets are exaggerated.

I prefer to hang the camera from a strap around my neck and hold it with one hand toward the front and one in the back near the pause button. I stand with a wide stance and if I have to turn I turn my upper body without moving my feet for as long as possible. If I have to readjust my stance I will attempt to do it smoothly although that is difficult and usually I end up trimming the movement out in the editing if at all possible. (More about that later.)

Walking with a camera is even more difficult. Bend slightly at the kees and try to glide. This is difficult and takes much practice. I still haven’t gotten that one down yet to my satisfaction!

Next, lighting...

 

[cm]

I notice that most photos,videos are shot upwards, and amatuer shots are usually straight on. How much difference does this make, and also does the lighting need to change if the angle is upwards? I know u said lighting was the next topic.
Thanks in advance, these tips are really going to be great because the photos and videos really do give us all the memories. Better images, better memories!!

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

I notice that most photos,videos are shot upwards, and amatuer shots are usually straight on. How much difference does this make, and also does the lighting need to change if the angle is upwards? I know u said lighting was the next topic.
Thanks in advance, these tips are really going to be great because the photos and videos really do give us all the memories. Better images, better memories!!

Good question! The angle of the shot depends on what you are trying to show.

If you shoot from below you will give more of an impression of size. The person will look like a giant. That's great for the men but it is often an unflattering view for women.

For women I would suggest shooting from slightly above. I can't take credit for this tip. A very pretty friend of mine won't let anyone take a picture of her unless they hold the camera up high! You can see that the result is worth it!

 

[Mike Pulcinella]

Tip #2: Camera! Action!......what did I forget?

Lights!

This is another obvious tip but I think needs mentioning. Video needs light. Lots of it. Many amateur videos are much too dark, especially if you want to see the detail in a physique. Before you begin shooting, turn on every light in the room or open the curtains and let in some natural light. You can’t have too much light.

Most people use the automatic aperture function of their camcorder and that’s okay as long as you keep the strongest light behind you. We’ve all seen what happens when your subject walks in front of an open window. The videocam closes down the lens to compensate for the extra light flooding in and you get a silhouette of the person. Be sure that the open window or the sun is always at your back.

Check out these two stills. These are from a single scene shot with one video camera. The photographer and his subject in this photo studio are lit very differently. He’s almost completly in the dark, she’s in front of floodlights so bright she can barely keep her eyes open. Look at the difference in the quality of the images.

Even with manual adjustment to aperture and shutter speed, the photographer is flat and grainy no matter what I do. Details are lost. Vicki Nixon, the subject, is crisp and saturated with color. Turn on the lights! And keep 'em behind you.