Video Journalism: Shooting Techniques

Presents practical tips on shooting video with shots and angles that support your story and make it more visually interesting.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files

1. Telling Stories

• Creating effective stories
• Supporting your message visually and aurally
• Planning your shoot
• Variety is an editor's best friend

2. Using Standard Still Photography Techniques

• Setting proper exposure, shutter speed, and focus
• Adhering to the rule of thirds
• Filling the viewfinder and framing the shot
• Incorporating strong foreground elements
• Using diagonal lines and curves
• Finding unusual angles

3. Using Basic Video Shooting Techniques

• Getting a good color balance
• Keeping your shots steady
• Using smooth zooms and pans
• Avoiding a break in the plane

4. Shooting the Two Most Important Shots

• Shooting an establishing shot
• Shooting a closing shot

5. Getting a Variety of Shots

• Shooting matched action and wide and tight shots
• Getting sequences
• Editing matched action and sequences
• Transitioning from exteriors to interiors
• Shooting cutaways
• Editing cutaways
• Using lights

6. Moving the Camera

• Anticipating and following the action
• Letting action start or end out of frame
• Using trucking shots
• Leaning forward or backward and tilting up or down
• Shooting point-of-view (POV) shots

7. Working with Audio

• Getting good sound bites
• Getting plenty of natural sound
• Using specialized audio editing techniques

Conclusion

• Goodbye

Bonus Chapter: Edited Sequences

• Bakery sequence
• Chocolatier sequence
• Farrier sequence
• Horse jumping sequence
• Painter sequence
• Sushi sequence
• Woodturner sequence