Video Related Tips and Articles

If you’re making YouTube videos, home movies or are basically operating at a "below Hollywood" level of video creation then the truth is you probably don't need a complete guide to codecs!However if you are like most people and are checking out various resources on the internet to improve your skills, it is more than likely you keep hearing things like “H.264,” “10 bit … [Read more...] about A Complete Guide to Codecs

Quite a few years ago I started shooting videos for my wife's YouTube channel because that's what nice husbands do!At the time I was using a Samsung phone to shoot those videos and as I look back on them I can clearly state they were absolutely awful!In fairness to that phone the problem was with me and my ongoing war with the art of lighting but that's a story for … [Read more...] about Shooting Video: Dedicated Camera vs. Mobile Device

Let me preface this article on choosing a video tripod with a little background on how we got here!I have spent the last two weeks (at the time of writing) slowly descending down what seems to be an endless rabbit hole of information on the subject of tripods.Like a lot of information on the internet… there's a lot of information on the internet!The problem is that … [Read more...] about Video Tripods Explained: A Simple Guide for New Video Creators

When it comes to creating professional-quality content in video and filmmaking, effective lighting is paramount.However, with many lighting options available, selecting the right type can be a bit overwhelming especially when your budget doesn't extend to the point of purchasing multiple solutions.In the beginning what you really need to nail down is a lighting choice … [Read more...] about A Guide to Choosing Lights for Video

If you have ever seen one of those "behind the scenes" videos with the cinematographer on the making of a big budget movie you may have noticed something that seems strange.Those guys rarely if ever, discuss at any particular length, the camera or cameras being used.In fact generally speaking they will say they use a Panavision camera, or an Arriflex or Red or something … [Read more...] about Focal Length Explained: Why It Matters