How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes in Video Shooting By Alex Don At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

The differences between the videos produced by a professional and an amateur videographer are obvious for an audience, but not so obvious when you are behind the camera. With so much on your mind, it is easy to overlook some important aspects while you are shooting and these mistakes may be impossible to fix afterwards. Here are some of the most common mistakes that amateurs make during their first video shootings:

1. Poor framing

No one wants to see an actor with the top of his head cut off by the frame, not to mention having the bottom of his chin cut off. It is very important to have balance in your composition. A little more experienced videographers will tend to put everyone in the middle to avoid the mistake mentioned above. This is also wrong because it gets really boring. The secret is to use the rule of thirds and keep the subjects on the lines dividing the frames, the years on the top section and movement on the third section opposite to the direction in which the actor is moving in order to keep space in the front. This ay seem quite simple but you will see it is not really so in practice. However, experience will teach you to do it right.

2. Excessive zooming

Lower-end consumer video cameras don't have too many options, but they all have a zoom function. This is probably the reason why amateurs tend to overuse it. If you look closely to movies and the things you see on TV, you will see that the zoom effect is not really noticeable. Home videos, on the other hand, are full of excessive zooming that weakens the production. Try to get closer with the camera more often and people will continue to pay attention. Also make sure to use a wide shot whenever you can as it provides better picture quality.

3. Backlighting

Another thing amateurs tend to overlook is the way light impacts the appearance of their subjects on screen. This is why we see so many dark faces of people who are in front of a window or the sun. The secret is to keep the most powerful light source in front of the subject. If you are forced to have a light in the back of the actor, increase exposure so that you can blow out the background. It is better to have a clear face with no background than a wonderful background with a dark face.

4. Background noise

Many videographers fail to take into account is the background noise. The camera has embedded omnidirectional microphones which don't capture only what you want, but also the sound of the vehicles on the nearby highway, the children playing outside, the planes above or the wind. In order to have a clear sound, try to clear out all the background noise or as much as you can. It is virtually impossible to remove these noises afterwards.

5. No tripod

Don't fool yourself that you can handle the camera with your own hands, because you can't. A steady, strong tripod is always a better option, especially if you are shooting a long scene. During professional cinema productions, the cinematographer will never hold the camera himself.

If you avoid these five mistakes, the results of your video work will probably be much improved.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=316460&ca=Arts+and+Crafts

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.