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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.

In the Blink of an Eye How to shoot video with a DSLR camera by Dr. Robert Berdan

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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?

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 you’re 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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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.

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Tips for better videos:

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.

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 video-arm. If you plan to pan regularly to follow the action, it’s worthwhile purchasing a proper video head for your regular tripod.

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.

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 camera’s microphone is a common problem, but it can be removed or replaced in post-production with separately-recorded sound. For better sound-recording, attach a BeachTek two-channel balanced XLR adapter to your camera, which allows for the attachment of professional quality microphones with volume control.

5) Watching movies is the cheapest film school around. Study TV and movies for how each scene is framed and the transitions between them.

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.

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 post-production 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.

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, don’t shoot video in the vertical mode – it doesn’t work very well.

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.

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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.

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A Canada Goose lies low to hide from predators.

Early morning on Lower Kananaskis Lake.________________________________________

Video of gentle-moving fog, mist or clouds can take on different personalities depending on the accompanying music selection.

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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 tundra’s intricate beauty. Includes two nights in Yellowknife and four at Peterson’s Point. Suitable for all photographer skill levels – limited space available. Full details at: www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/workshops.html

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C O N T A C T rberdan@scienceandart.org – (403) 247 2457

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 Apple’s Final Cut Pro.

Newcomers to video editing should consider Apple’s iMovie or Adobe Premiere Elements to get started.

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.

With practice, today’s 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 Bieber’s career.

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.

Catch Robert’s 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.