Material presented by Taylor Mirfendereski at the Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists' meeting on January 11, 2011.

1. A Basic Guide to
Shooting Video
Society of Professional Journalists
January 11, 2011

2. The Camera
- Flip Camera
- Point & Shoot Camera
- Handheld Camera
- Professional Camera

3. Why learn to shoot?
 Quality Video is Invaluable
– Neda’s Death (Iran election fallout)
– Zapruder Films (JFK Assasination)
– Virginia Tech Shootings
– Homeless Man with Golden Voice

4. Key Vocabulary
 B-roll: Supplemental or alternative footage
intercut with the main shot in an interview,
documentary, news package.
 SOT: Literally means “sound on tape.” It is
most often referred to as a “soundbite” and
is essentially the broadcast version of a
“quote.”

5. The Tripod
 Used to stabilize the
camera.
 IMPORTANT: Use a
tripod whenever
possible.
 If you do not have a
tripod handy, place
the camera on a
steady object or lean
against your body.

6. The Steps: Setting up your Shot
1. Secure the camera on the tripod.
2. Place your subject in front of the subject.
3. When adjusting the height of the tripod, the
camera should be eye level with your
subject.
1. Inferior
2. Superior

7. The Steps: Setting up Your Shot
4. Step to the side of the camera.
1. Make sure that you are eye level with
the camera and subject.
5. Ask your subject to look at and talk to
you, not the camera.
1. Why?

8. Framing the Shot
 Rule of thirds
– Keep your subject in one of the screen’s
thirds.
– The subject should always look towards
the open space.
Good Framing Bad Framing

9. Framing the Shot (ctd.)
 Leave plenty of
room for lower
thirds and pay
attention to head
room.
Too much headroom

10. Zooming and Panning
 Do not zoom or pan.
 When these techniques are used, they
must be motivated -- there for a
reason. Don’t use these buttons just
because they’re there.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBtF
TF2ii7U&feature=related

11. Holding the Shot
 Keep each and every shot steady for at
least 10 seconds.
 Ifyou do not hold your shots, you’ll kick
yourself in the edit process.
 Remember not to talk while the camera
is recording.

12. Cutaways, Sequences, and Transitions
 Shoot cutaways, sequences and transitions.
They’re invaluable in the editing process.
 Cutaways: Prevent jump cuts and allow you
to transition to new material.
– Examples
 Sequence: Close Up, Medium Shot, Wide
Shot
– Instead of Zooming and Panning
– Movement of the human eye

13. Examples of Shots
Extreme Wide Shot Very Wide Shot
* Images from Mediacollege.com

14. Examples of Shots (ctd.)
Wide Shot Medium Shot
* Images from Mediacollege.com

15. Examples of Shots (ctd.)
Close Up Extreme Close Up
* Images from Mediacollege.com

16. Natural Sound
 Seek great natural (or ambient) sound.
 Examples: water, hammers, plastic, dogs
panting, sewing machines, chalk on
chalkboard, plastic bags, cheering fans.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAcIFIASiI
4&feature=related
 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#34
353385

17. Headphones
 Ifpossible, wear headphones.
Otherwise, you don’t know what sound
you’re recording -- or if you’re
recording any at all.

18. Opens and Closes
 Always
look for a strong open and a
memorable close.
– Tiger Woods Example
 Opens and Closes to Avoid: signs, still
objects
 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619
/#34579602

19. The Soundbite
 Seeksubjective sound bites. Get your
subjects to open up and talk.
 Emotion, not facts.
 “What does this mean to you?”
 “How does it make you feel?”

20. Other Useful Tips
 Toomuch b-roll is better than not
enough.
 Do not rewind your tape in the field.
 How can you make a shot more
interesting?
– Escalator Example.