VIDEOGRAPHY

 Art of recording with video camera: the art or practice of using a video
camera to make films or programs.
DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERAS
Using digital video cameras in the classroom opens up entirely new
horizons for students. Learning becomes student-centered and self-directed. This
allows opportunity for increased creativity, project-based and inquiry-based
learning as well as cooperative learning that also involves the use of multiple
intelligences.
The use of video cameras in classroom curriculum also addresses different
learning styles and engages higher thinking skills for all learning styles. It can be
used to foster teamwork and content development. Because it is appealing to
students, the battle to motivate students is won before it is begun.
BASIC PARTS OF A VIDEO CAMERA
 Lens- the standard lens of the camcorder has zoom mechanism that
allows you to move in for a wide-angle shot without changing your
position. With some camcorders, you can replace the standard lens with
substitute.
 Full Auto Button- this resets all controls to automatic.
 Fader Button- this fades the picture at the beginning or end of a scene.
 The Microphone- the camcorders own microphone provides adequate
sound recording for most purposes. It is omnidirectional- that is, it can pick
up sound, from any direction not just from the direction in which its
pointing. Some camcorders have a high/low switch that you can use to
increase the recording sensitivity.
 Automatic Focus Override- this control allows you to focus manually.
 Shutter Speed Selector- this control the time during which light is
allowed to enter the camcorder.
 Zoom- the powered zoom control consists of a rocker switch marked at
either end W (wide-angle) and T (telephoto).
CATEGORIES OF VIDEO SHOTS (ACCORDING TO DISTANCE)
 Extreme long shot
 Long shot
 Medium shot
 Close-up
 Extreme close-up
(video is best when subject are close up so viewers can see the action)
CATEGORIES OF SHOTS ACCORDING TO HOW MUCH OF A PERSON IS
SEEN
 Bust shot (upper part of a person)
 Knee shot (person shown from the knees up)
 Two-shot (two people or objects in the frame)

VIDEOGRAPHY | EdMS 9- Educational Technology 2
  Three-shot (three people or objects in the frame)
 Over-the- shoulder (camera looks at one person over the shoulder of
another)
 Cross shot (subject looks at a person outside the shot)
BASIC CAMERA MOVEMENTS
Pan- turning camera horizontally from right to left or left to right
Tilt- pointing the camera up or down
Cant- tilting the camera sideways
Pedestal- raising or lowering the entire camera on a tripod or pedestal
Dolly- moving the camera toward or away from an object in a straight line
Truck or track- moving the camera to the left or right by means of
mobile camera mount.
Arc- moving the camera in a slightly curved truck motion
Crane or Boom- moving the camera and operator up or down on a crane.
Tongue- moving the camera and operator left to right or right to left on a
crane.
Zoom- changing the focal length of a lens to become more telephoto or
wide-angle.
TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES FOR VIDEOGRAPHY
 VCRs- VCRs are widely available in schools. They can be used to playback
the final product of a video production. Another convenient use is to view
daily footage from a DV camera using a common connector to the VCR
that comes with the camera or that is available at Radio Shack.
 Video Cameras- Most schools have either VHS (Analog) or Digital (DV)
camcorders available for use. The cost of cameras is going down so they
are becoming more accessible to teachers and students.
 Microphones- several types of microphones are available for the amateur
video production.
 Lavaliere types- wired directly to the camera and the
talent.
 Wireless types- wired to a transmitter clipped in a
hidden place of the talent. The transmitter sends a
signal to the receiver wired directly into the camera.
 Cone types- wired into the camera and held by the
talent.
 Boom types- suspended over the staging area and
used for shooting a naturalistic scene where the
presence of a mic would be obtrusive.
 Video Editors- Many computers have video editing programs that come
with the operating system package or can be purchased and installed
easily. These programs are simple and intuitive and made for mass home
movie market. This means there are easy to use and relatively inexpensive
on Macs, the on-board editing program is iMovie and all takes video
editing one step farther by adding some refinements.
TIPS WHEN VIDEO RECORDING
1. Camcorders all come with a battery and charger- If you plan to
travel, buy extra battery, maybe two as back up. Buy a sturdy tripod with

VIDEOGRAPHY | EdMS 9- Educational Technology 2
 a fluid type head. This allow you to tilt and pan the camera smoothly,
adding a professional look to your shots.
2. Buy extra light on tripod stand- for the best color and dimensionality,
especially indoors, rim one light from left, one from the right, and one from
above and behind the subject.
3. Spare the audience from visual disorientation by shooting from a
tripod rather than attempting to use a hand-held camcorder- This
is a key difference between homemade movies and professional video.
4. In selecting a tripod, consider the size of your camcorders, the
smoothness of the pan head, and the total extended height
possible with the tripod- if shooting from the back of a classroom, short
tripod will often fill the bottom of your screen with the back of the
student’s heads.
INFUSION TECHNIQUES OF VIDEOGRAPHY IN EDUCATION
1. TV Production Studio- Schools News Programs:
The ultimate output in project development and teamwork offering
the opportunity for learning responsibility, effective communication
skills, and community building is the school TV production studio.
Every morning, students rotate positions in producing a video
announcement segment for broadcasting on school’s news.
2. Students Produced Documentaries
These are perfect opportunities for class projects, in lieu of paper
and other vehicles that emphasized verbal skills over all others so
as to reach a variety of learning Styles and intelligences. Topics can
be chosen from any study area from English literature to science.
Students work in teams to prepare video presentations of the
assigned topic, instead of papers or tests.
3. Instructional Video
Instructional video can be produced by teachers and/or students to
go through the steps needed to accomplish a set physical and/or
mental task particular to a problem or situation in your classroom.
THE COMMUNITY & COMMUNICATION PRESENTATIONS
Students and teachers could use the learning process to develop final
products of what has been learned or taught. These products are often displayed
for the school community to see. Parents, however, are not always able to visit
schools in time to see the presentations. For this reason, teachers can use video
cameras to record student learning and products that then can be streamed from
school server under a password-protected system.
1. Fieldtrips- The teacher who wants to enrich her class lessons uses video
footage of content from the real world. Science teachers going out to
video tidal pools, history teachers taking advantage of personal trips to
historical sites, English teachers taping images of nature that tie into
books read for class, and the foreign language teacher recording his trip
overseas to give the students a flavor of the language in context are all
examples of using field recorded video to enhance learning in the
classroom.

VIDEOGRAPHY | EdMS 9- Educational Technology 2
 2. Teaching Tips- students using video cameras offer opportunity for
creative learning and opened-ended project development. But before the
actual video work begins, it is important to remember that students will
need structured training in videography and planning on how to produce a
video before they begin their work.
IMPORTANT TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN USING VIDEO STREAMING
1. Purpose- Think of the educational purpose, the learning value and
outcome of using video with that particular theme, subject and group of
students. The use of video without planning or purpose can simply
reinforce learning modes that supports passive, superficial consumption of
video.
2. Narrative- Think of the importance of providing, a sense of narrative, use
multiple channel communication to “tell a story”, engage the students all
throughout.
3. Context-think of the appropriateness of using video; is it realistic? Is it
appropriate for this particular group o students, subject and learning
environment?
4. Interactivity- Think of providing the students with opportunities to
interact freely with the learning resources, their colleagues and the tutor
or lecturer.
5. Integration- Think of using a variety of communication channels,
experiment and can be creative, but always think of relevance and do not
overload the senses with too much information.
GUIDELINES FOR SHOOTING QUALITY VIDEO
1. Avoiding Zooming In and Out Too Much
Many digital camcorders come with a super duper 1000X zoom in
and zoom out feature. This is a good thing, but the problem is, many
people get carried away. I’ve seen countless videos which keep zooming in
and out during the shoot. Use the zoom in and out feature sparingly. Even
if you must use it, do it slowly. A slow, well-controlled zoom is much more
professional looking that a quick zoom.
2. Steady Does it
The professional always say “Keep Steady”. There is no doubt that
when we’re shooting videos, our hands tend to vibrate a little. If the
vibration is too much, it will badly effect the quality of the videos footage.
There are two ways to overcome this. One way is to do it like the
professionals-get a good tripod stand. These can be obtained rather
cheaply. Another way is to brace yourself against something like a wall, or
perhaps stoop down on your knee while filming.
3. Where Are You?
Always look for a landmark, a sign or natural monument that tells
the audience where you are. Do you notice the professionals do this as
well? For example, in the movies, you may see the camera zooming in on
the Statue of Liberty first. Before cutting to a scene that happens within.
Or there is a shot of the White House before that director cuts into a scene

VIDEOGRAPHY | EdMS 9- Educational Technology 2
 within the Oval Room. Another tip is to make people you’re filming talk or
smile. This makes the video much more lively and interesting
4. The End or The Beginning?

Another good video shooting trick is to use the end of the story at
the start of the video. Experts do this all times. If you’re filming a wedding
video, you can start off with an interview of the happily married couple on
the wedding day before you cut off into scenes of how they met, how they
grew up, and other similar events that could make the memory flashback.

5. Keep them Short and Simple

Never, ever, shoot long, drawn out video clips of more than two
minutes. It bores the audience to death! Using many short clips of 5 to 10
seconds duration is much more effective. It also brings variety to the
audience. Imagine if a television commercial lasted two minutes focusing
on the same video scene-wouldn’t that boring?
6. Lighting, Lighting, Lighting
Of all the factors listed, nothing spoils a video a shoot as much as
poor lighting. One important tip is to shoot video with the light source
behind you, shining on the subject. An example is an outdoor shot where
the sun is shining. Make sure the sun shines on your subject and not on
your camera lens! Another tip is to use the camera’s backlight feature if
there is one. It allows you to compensate for overlay bright light.
7. Change Your Perspective
Don’t limit your shots to one angle only. Approach your subject from
all angles. Come from behind, come from the top, whatever. Perhaps you
can even film yourself walking up the steps and opening a bedroom door
before reaching your subject.
8. Learn from the Movies
You’d be surprised how much you can learn about shooting video
from the movies. Very often, we just sit down and let the movie scenes
come at us without considering what went through the director’s mind. Try
it- for once, when you watch your next movie, consider how the director
framed that shot or scene. You will learn a lot and maybe even get
interested in directing films.
9. Conserve the Battery
Please buy extra batteries! (Preferably two extra batteries). Nothing
is worse that shooting a video outdoors and having the battery die on you.
Also, always bring the AC adapter too- so that you can charge your current
battery whenever time permits.
10. Check Sound

This tip may not be important for the average home user. But if
you’re a serious videographer, you’ll have a microphone attached to your

VIDEOGRAPHY | EdMS 9- Educational Technology 2
 camcorder. Microphones are essential tool for sound focusing and result in
better audio quality during video shoots.

Prepare by:

RONALD PAUL A. MATAMPAC, LPT

Instructor

VIDEOGRAPHY | EdMS 9- Educational Technology 2