Shoot Like An Editor
There is a piece of advice you will see over and over as you try to find your way making videos which is you always shoot with editing in mind.
That means you always try to have a plan in your mind or on paper of how you want the final product to look BEFORE you start shooting.
By doing that you will greatly increase your chances of having all the right shots and more for when you start to put it all together.
Another way of looking at it is that instead of shooting your video like someone who shoots video, shoot your video like the person who will be editing it would want you to shoot it.
Even if that person is you!
How to Shoot Videos in Low Light and Reduce Noise
Very often as beginners we see reference to low light but it is only rarely that an explanation of what that actually means is provided.
In reality “low light” is probably around the amount of available light you would see in the average living room with all the lights on at night.
For our eyes that seems to be more than enough light but for a video camera, it is already at a level where it is beginning to struggle.
The most obvious sign to that is that your footage is beginning to look grainy.
Most cameras can actually handle low light quite OK but the problem is that most of us are using the automatic settings and there is only so far you can take that before things start to go downhill.
The answer to the problem is to take manual control of the cam but for many people this is a complete mystery!
So to get started take a look at this video for extreme situations of low light and how to tame it.
YouTube Shorts – Your Questions Answered!
Everything you ever wanted to know about YouTube Shorts but were afraid to ask!
A little while while back now YouTube introduced a new video upload and formatting feature called Shorts.
This was a response in part to sites like TikTok and Instagram which cater to very short videos that are presented in a 9:16 aspect ratio or in somes cases 1:1.
These videos are squarely aimed at mobile phone users and to some degree YouTube may have been a bit worried about losing market share.
So as a result we have Shorts!
As is usually the case with YouTube the announcement and release of Shorts has resulted in confusion, hand wringing and many tears before bedtime!
This has mainly been due to YouTube utterly failing to really communicate to users what it is all about!
Nice to know some things in this world can be relied upon.
Anyhoo I have been waiting for a good, no nonsense examination of the subject and this week I finally found one.
If you are interested in Shorts or are already operating on YouTube then this is an ideal video to get you up to speed.
Ultimate Guide to Shooting Videos and Photos Underwater
This is not really a subject I am familiar with nor is it an activity I think I would be personally engaging in.
However for the sake of completeness, if you are thinking about underwater shooting then here you go!
Similarly if you are already shooting underwater and your results are not what you want, maybe you can learn something here.
My Secret for Dark & Moody Product Videos
Not that I think anyone reading my posts will actually be creating any “Dark and Moody Product Videos” but!
This is a great video with excellent tips for shooting against black backgrounds and dealing with the specific problems this presents.
Like most of the videos I add each week that come from a pro source the key here is not to get too involved in the equipment being used.
It is much better to simply look at them from a more general point of view with regards to problems presented and possible solutions to those problems.
The Audio Spectrum: Understanding EQ and Frequency
These days I think it is safe to assume that no matter what video editing software program you are using there will be reasonably good audio controls provided.
I am not saying they are going to be great but there will at least something to work with!
One of the most basic features will be an Equalizer which is an excellent tool for adjusting audio to get your videos sounding great.
Of course Equalizers come with one huge problem.
You have to know what the hell all those little numbers and dials and sliders means in relation to how the sound is being adjusted!
Given that the most important part of video is audio, check out the article below.
Best Microphone for Videos? (Best Value Video Mics)
Although Primal Video is not a source I use very often I do still keep them in my back pocket and check what they are doing on a regular basis.
They are quite commercially oriented but as long as you understand that then I don’t see it as a problem.
They also do pretty good reviews and although they are pulling in commissions on any sales from those reviews I still think they keep things real and don’t just go for the sale.
They actually put in the time to review products intelligently and it is all presented in plain English so you can’t complain.
This week they covered microphones and the information is very good.
Easy Locked On Stabilization Effect in Filmora X
This video tutorial as it is titled is a bit misnamed because it suggests some kind of stabilization going on.
In reality that’s not the effect we’re talking about here but despite that it is a pretty cool use of motion tracking to kind of do a reverse stabilization.
Usually when stabilizing you are trying to eliminate the variations in movement caused by the camera moving around as the shot is taken.
In this effect you are actually adding a fake movement of the camera that locks on to the subject that is moving.
This is not really a desirable effect to be maintained for a long period of time but when used as a counter point or to break up a sequence it is very effective.
How to Make Objects Fly With Filmora X
A simple tutorial on making an object appear to float in mid air using Filmora.
To be honest here the role the software plays is very minor so if you are not running Filmora then I am pretty sure whatever program you are using to edit will be able to replicate the action.
How to Make the Disappear Effect – CyberLink PowerDirector 19
Like most of these visual trick effects there are two things to keep in mind.
The first is that the key is in the shooting of the footage, not in any whiz bang capability of the software.
And because of the first point, the brand of software is irrelevant.
Any editing program can probably pull this off, not just PowerDirector.
How to Animate Text – DaVinci Resolve Basics
The capabilities within DaVinci Resolve for doing stuff is to say the least overwhelming.
When it comes to text you can do all sorts of flippy, spinney, whirly things but lets face it, most of the time the end result just looks cheesy when you go overboard.
One of the best tools I have found inside the basic editing module is the Text+ title.
It is basically what it says on the box offering simple text with the ability to manipulate that text in many ways without going over the top and without having to go into the Fusion module.
Check out this video from Casey Faris on most of the settings on offer in there.
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