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Making Better Videos--The Professional Way!

If someone were to ask me what one thing they could do which would transform the quality of their videos, hands down I would recommend deactivating their zoom control on their camera and tightening down the pan head on their tripod! Here's why.

The zoom control is extremely useful when it comes to shortening or lengthening the focal length of your lens. It allows a single lens to serve many functions and makes our equipment less expensive because we don't have to own an arsenal of interchangeable lenses. There are a few tradeofss, which we will discuss in a later article. What concerns us here is that there is another useful feature of the zoom, which is overused far too much--changing focal lengths while shooting.

When applied to a well-composed and practiced shot, the camera-induced motion can "liven up" a static scene, such as a building. It can dramatically reveal the context of a statue, by pulling back to a majestic sweep of garden landscape. Or we can start from a wide shot and slowly narrow our focus to a carefully chosen detail, like a single, perfect bloom on a rosebush! We have all seen these creative, sometimes inspiring uses of the zoom, so we immediately think that good video equals riding the trigger in and out. The result is a dizzying image which focuses on nothing or more often, something entirely inappropriate, like Aunt Fanny's fanny!

The same can be said of the pan--a swing from side to side, taking in a wider purview than the angle of the lens allows normally. Usually, the common mistake here is that the use of the pan is not planned and it is used at much too rapid a rate of arc. After awhile, it makes me seasick--especially when combined with poorly applied zoom technique.

Now, of course, I'm not suggesting that you forget about these things altogether, but I have some suggestions.

First, try thinking of your shooting as a group of well-chosen moving portraits. Each shot has a beginning, a middle and an end. Practice seeing events as they unfold and try to envision how, in a short burst of shooting, you can capture the essence of what is going on.

Next, think of WHY you want to use that zoom or that pan. What are you trying to reveal to your audience? If there is ANY doubt in your mind that a zoom or pan will work better than two or more single shots--don't use them!

Finally, s-l-o-o-o-w your movements down. Slow zoom, slow pan. Remember that your task is not to show off your hi-tech gear, but to entertain and inform your viewers. Good taste suggests a slower, rather than a quicker, pace--unless you're shooting a music video for MTV! And if you're doing that, I want to talk to you!

So long for now! Let me know how you like this series, and if you have some good tips of your own to contribute, e-mail me and I'll give you a gurst spot for your good suggestions.