In the Blink of an Eye

How to shoot video with a DSLR camera

by Dr. Robert Berdan

News, sports and nature photographers are starting to

shelve their professional video cameras in favour of digital
single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras, which provide the option
of shooting still images and video at the same time.
Video cameras can be used to record such events as weddings,
special events, or real estate presentations, and they can be
posted on websites, burned to a DVD, or simply stored on a
computer. YouTube is now the second-largest search engine after
Google, and the demand for online video for entertainment,
education and promotional purposes is growing exponentially.

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There are many commonalities shared between shooting video

and digital still photography, including filters, composition,
white balance and tripods. But there are also many differences.
Video requires greater planning and video post-production
is essential, which can be time-consuming and complex, and
quality video sound-recording can also be a factor. So how can a
relative novice create quality videos?

Previous page: Tundra Swans take flight over the Bow Reservoir.
Opposite: Sarrail Creek waterfall near Upper Kananaskis Lake.
Above: Mt. Kidd reflected in Wedge Pond, Kananaskis.
___________________________________________________________
When photographing or filming ponds and lakes, adding
a polarizer to the front of your video camera will intensify
the colour, darken the sky and water, and help remove any
excessive light reflecting off the rocks. And always make sure
the horizon is perfectly level.

Start by reading your manual and becoming familiar with all the
video controls. Most DSLR cameras require manual focusing, and
since the depth-of-field can be very shallow, proper focusing is
critical. There may be different video sizes: true high-definition
(HD) video is 1920 x 1080p (pixels) and is suitable for major TV
stations, while lower quality 720p resolution is good-enough for
the web. Also take account of the different frame rates such as 24
or 30 frames per second (fps). Television uses 30 fps, while most
movies are shot at the 24 fps. Faster frame rates are generally
better for recording action videos.
Get familiarized with all the features of your camera first,
and when youre ready to make your first movie, plan it out.
Professional moviemakers typically create a storyboard outlining
the various scenes and how they flow from one to another. In
nature and documentary movies it can be difficult to anticipate
exact content, but some initial planning is still beneficial.

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Tips for better videos:

This page from top:

Northern Saw-whet Owl in Kananaskis; Mule
Deer on a hill side with the Rockies behind;
Canada Geese flying north in Spring.
__________________________________________
When filming birds in flight, keep them in the
frame and in-focus simultaneously. Currently,
the only DSLR camera with autofocus tracking
is the Nikon D7000.

1) Use a tripod or monopod to keep your images steady. If you must

hold the camera by hand, do all you can to ensure smooth movement.

5) Watching movies is the cheapest film school around. Study TV and

movies for how each scene is framed and the transitions between them.

2) Extreme zooming in and out is a sure sign of an amateur. Unless

you are going for a specific effect, zoom and pan gradually you can
always speed it up in post-production. To achieve smooth panning, I
use a fluid-head tripod, pulling on elastic bands that I tie to its videoarm. If you plan to pan regularly to follow the action, its worthwhile
purchasing a proper video head for your regular tripod.

6) Learn how to edit your video. It is a necessary skill for making

effective movies, and there is a wide selection of editing software for
both beginners and professionals.

3) Similar to still photography, compose your video using the rule of

thirds for effective composition. Divide the frame into imaginary thirds
horizontally and vertically, and position the main subject (or center of
interest) along one of these four lines or intersections as shown below.

7) Try to shoot under even lighting and avoid backlit settings. Where
necessary, add a video light or use a portable reflector to counteract
bright sunlight and backlighting.
8) Consider making time-lapsed movies. Some cameras have built-in
interval meters, while others offer separate units to control the time
between photographs. These allow you to record separate shots at regular
time intervals, which can be imported into the video editing software.
9) Before shooting video, always check the front of your lens and
filters for dirt and water drops. Removing these spots in video postproduction is much harder than with still images.
10) Set the white balance correctly before you start shooting. Get it
right in the camera to avoid having to fix the problem later.

4) Most DSLRs offer poor sound-recording quality, so consider adding

a small shotgun microphone or using a separate digital sound recorder.
Wireless microphones are ideal voice-recorders, but they are expensive.
Wind noise on the cameras microphone is a common problem, but
it can be removed or replaced in post-production with separatelyrecorded sound. For better sound-recording, attach a BeachTek twochannel balanced XLR adapter to your camera, which allows for the
attachment of professional quality microphones with volume control.

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11) If you plan to integrate music into your video and post it on the
web, you must have permission to use that music or use royalty-free
music from websites such as www.jamendo.com or www.cssmusic.com,
or you may be leaving yourself open to a potential lawsuit.
12) For easier editing, record clips of at least 15 seconds each, and
record four seconds of footage before and after each panning segment.
13) Always use large, fast storage cards.
14) Finally, unless you want to flip your TV on its side,
dont shoot video in the vertical mode
it doesnt work very well.

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Early morning on Lower Kananaskis Lake.

________________________________________

A Canada Goose lies low to

hide from predators.

Video of gentle-moving fog, mist or clouds

can take on different personalities depending
on the accompanying music selection.

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Shooting video with DSLR cameras

costs a fraction of the price of using
professional video cameras. They are
smaller than most pro video cameras,
making them suitable for travel, nature
and adventure photography, and they
have a shallow depth-of-field to help
isolate the subject from the background.

Dr. Robert Berdan

_____________________________________________________________________

www.canadiannaturephotographer.com
Dr. Robert Berdan is a multimedia web developer, an
award-winning nature photographer, and a Photoshop/
Photography teacher in Calgary, AB.
Join Robert for an inspiring Arctic Adventure
Workshop, Sept. 5-11, 2011. Capture migratory
caribou, grizzly bears, tundra swans, peregrine
falcons, the northern lights, and the tundras intricate
beauty. Includes two nights in Yellowknife and four
at Petersons Point. Suitable for all photographer
skill levels limited space available. Full details at:
www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/workshops.html

Above: Robert edits video footage in his studio.

____________________________________________________
Editing HD video requires a fast computer with
4 GB of RAM or more and a large, fast hard drive.
Two professional programs for video editing are Adobe
Premiere Pro on the PC and Apples Final Cut Pro.
Newcomers to video editing should consider Apples
iMovie or Adobe Premiere Elements to get started.

W E B S I T E S
www.canadiannaturephotographer.com
www.scienceandart.org

With practice, todays technology

enables
anyone
to
become
a
moviemaker, and you never know where
it will lead. Steven Spielberg made his
first film when he was only 12 years old,
and a music video on YouTube helped
propel Justin Biebers career.

CO N TACT
rberdan@scienceandart.org (403) 247 2457

Catch Roberts recent K-Country videos.

www.braggcreek.tv/video1
www.braggcreek.tv/video2

______________________________________

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Above: The Canon DSLR Videocam with

an external shotgun microphone added to
the flash shoe for better sound-recording.

Barren lands Caribou

In 2009, I enrolled in the Adventure

Film Workshop at the Banff Centre,
where I met a variety of filmmakers for
National Geographic, PBS and the BBC,
as well as a number of up-and-coming
video-makers from around the world.
For anyone interested in learning more
about moviemaking, this workshop
offers a great place to get started.

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