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Video Tips and Tricks We've all seen bad home videos -- blurred figures
in a murky darkness, a picture that tilts and shakes, zoom shots that
could cause actual whiplash, and fifteen straight minutes of staring
at the back of someone's head. Fortunately, a few basic techniques
(plus some key pieces of equipment) can help you create home movies
that will be a pleasure to watch over and over. Bad lighting is one
of the most common problems. If shooting indoors, try using a snap-on,
battery-operated lighting kit with your camcorder. (Most manufacturers
offer these.) Just like the flash on your still camera, it provides
"fill" lighting that improves the clarity of your video images. This
actually helps extend the life of your videos. Video tape degrades
over time, so the more clarity you can provide at the outset, the
longer your images will remain recognizable. Another common problem
is images that turn out shaky because the camera was hand-held. If
possible, use a tripod for shooting ... or at least make a conscious
effort to hold the camera as steadily as possible. Don't rely on internal
"stabilizers" to give you the results you want. Since video tape is
fairly inexpensive, many home-video makers just shoot...and shoot...and
shoot. While this strategy works well for still photography, nobody
will want to sit and watch all that video. Choose your shots carefully,
and try not to make them too long. Focus on capturing key moments,
rather than the entire event.
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