Shooting from the Backpack

Even if you’ve been hiding in some remote corner of the world, chances are you’ve caught a glimpse of the mania that is online video. Suddenly everyone is a Spielberg rushing to upload their clips for the world to see. With Google’s purchase of the largest online video community YouTube for US$1.65 billion, it would seem that it’s also here to stay. Not that it’s a new thing. It’s been possible to put video on the web for sometime. But the difference now, and what makes the services like YouTube so popular, is that it so easy for the non-techie to do so. It marks the first time that amateur videographers and professional directors find themselves in the same arena in front of the same crowd. Creating, uploading and sharing video means the possibility of reaching the masses is now within everyone’s grasp.

Now there’s another band of websites coming over the horizon. These not only allow you to upload your video, but also rearrange, include music and tweak timelines without downloading a single bit of software. It means for us travellers wishing to capture that rare African ritual in the middle of the Mozambique jungle, we can now upload, edit and add it to our travel blog from anywhere that has a decent internet connection. We now all have the means to be the next Ian Wright and the reality is, if it’s good, possibly reach a wider audience.

YouTube boasts 100 million video views a day and 65,000 videos uploaded daily. The debate continues whether Google made a wise decision to purchase a company that makes no money. What is not debatable is the fact that these types of online services reach a massive audience. Market researchers say the number of people turning to the web to watch everything from five-minute home videos to blockbuster movies now outpaces those who watch good ol’ fashioned TV

If 2006 was all about video sharing, 2007 will be all about video editing. Where once you had to buy expensive software, a number of startups like Jumpcut, Break and Motionbox provide free tools that let anyone mix video clips online. Don’t expect these sites to be in the same ballpark as the professional editing applications like FinalCut and Avid, but they are surprisingly sophisticated and simple to use. Here are just a few options for your viewing pleasure:

With over 50 percent of the market share for video websites, YouTube is by far your best bet to reach the masses. It’s easy to use, has good video and audio quality and if you have a blog, simple to embed into your webpage. The service offers the ability to create play lists, subscribe to tags as well as other users’ uploads, and to comment on videos. However, for editing it offers nothing–yet. But if Quick Capture, the recently added function that allows users to upload video direct from their camera, is any indication, online editing will come soon. Quick Capture also allows users to record video directly to YouTube from cameras plugged into their computers, making it easier to publish videos straight to the web.

In terms of pure online editing services, two of the best are Jumpcut and Motionbox. Jumpcut was first out of the blocks, but Motionbox, its only real competitor, is quickly gaining ground. Both are similar in the sense that they offer real-time video editing through any web browser. Meaning you can view changes while editing, mimicking desktop applications. After uploading your video, usually limited to 100MB in size, or about 10 minutes, you can reorder, add music, photos and transitions to your video all online. For sharing you can email to a friend or embed into a webpage. Jumpcut and Motionbox each offer a comprehensive list of features, including splicing in videos from other videos using the same service. This essentially takes away the need to actually have your own video to play with.

Some video services pay for your content. Break.com pays $400 for user-generated videos. They have apparently paid out $300,000 since inception. It doesn’t compete with Jumpcut or Motionbox for editing, nor does it reach as wide an audience as YouTube, but if you’re strapped for cash, and need to buy your flight out of the jungle it might be worth your while. Other similar services are Metacafe, Revver and Guba.

These are just a few of the hundreds of video services on the web. The technology will undoubtedly change the publishing landscape. Video content will increasingly be part of news stories, blogs and online magazines. So get out there and shoot your stuff. Just make sure it’s good.

5 Step Quick Guide to Shooting Video

1) Tripod
After the video camera itself, the most essential piece of equipment is a tripod or monopod. Nothing is worse then having a shaking image like someone jumping on a trampoline. It also offers other advantages such as getting yourself in the shot. If you don’t have a tripod lean against a tree or wall to steady yourself.

2) Zoom
Yes, it’s fun, but please try to avoid using the zoom. As you zoom in, it gets easier and easier to see even the most subtle camera movement. It not only looks bad online, but unnecessary movement also slows down the video stream, basically making your file size larger. Not a good thing if your audience has a slow internet connection.

3) Setup Your Shots/Rule of Thirds
These rules apply for photography, but they work just as well for video. The “Rule of Thirds” means that you divide the frame up mentally into three vertical lines and three horizontal lines. Where the lines intersect is where you shoot the action. Avoid centering subjects and try to not cut off people’s body parts in long shots. But like every rule, once you know it, you can learn when to break it.

4) Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important elements to learn and will dramatically increase the quality of your video. The easiest solution to lighting problems is to shoot outdoors. Morning or late afternoon when you get what is called the “magic hour” work best. Also try to shoot with the sun at your back. If shooting indoors, turn on all the lights if possible, open up the curtains and use the cameras built-in light. It’s there for a reason.

5) Audio
Sound is the next most important element. Most cameras come with a built in microphone, but unless you’ve purchased a $5,000 camcorder, it is most likely pretty basic. The problem with most built in microphones is that they record extraneous noise. If you’re filming an interview on a busy street, for instance, the mic will pick up sounds such as traffic, people walking by, etc. The solution is to buy an external mic that can plug into your camera. There are many types to choose from, but if you’re travelling a simple hand held microphone is cheap, simple to use and will make a world of difference to your video.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 11th, 2007 at 8:56 pm and is filed under web archives. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site. Add to del.icio.us.