This section is aimed at non-media professionals who are using small cameras or mobile phones to capture video footage for sharing on social networking sites, blogs and for IFAD internal use.
When to use video
Video can add a personal, visual and dynamic dimension to communications. A video camera is a tempting tool, but before you start shooting think about why video is suitable for your purpose. A long unprofessional video could confuse your message and hinder what you are trying to express. As a rule of thumb, keep your video products short and entertaining.
Video is a good tool for:
Video is a good tool for:
- Interviewing someone at a conference or in the field who has a concise and important message or opinion to share.
- Capturing elements of a workshop, conference or speech that other people will be interested in watching.
- Documenting progress of a project.
- Expressing your ideas in a ‘video diary’ style, in which you film yourself talking about your responses to an event or experience. This can be embedded in your blog.
Tips for filming videos
No one expects you to produce professional videos, but these simple tips will improve the quality of your footage.
The more you practice, the better your video will be.
The more you practice, the better your video will be.
- Get to know your camera and feel comfortable using it. Make sure the batteries are fully charged and you have enough memory space.
- Keep your filming simple. Do not be too ambitious. Busy, complicated shots can distract from your subject and your message.
- Keep the camera as steady as possible. It is difficult to watch footage that is moving or shaky. Place the camera on a tripod or flat surface (like a table). This is particularly important when you are filming static action, such as interviews and speeches.
- Keep your subject centred and avoid cutting off the top of the head.
- Any small movements or camera shake are more obvious when the image is magnified therefore keep your shots wide and avoid using the zoom.
- Do not zoom in and out while filming. It is difficult to make zooms slow and steady. The same is true of pans (movements from side to side) and tilts (movements up and down). Keep them to a minimum.
- Stand still when filming. Hold a shot for a minimum count of 6 seconds before you move (if necessary). If the action you are following moves, keep your body as still as possible and slowly follow the movement with the camera, trying to keep the subject(s) centred.
- If you are filming a speech or a conference, try to position yourself where you can see the faces of the people speaking. If viewers cannot see a person’s eyes and mouth while they are speaking, it is hard to keep focused on what they are saying.
- Sound is important and often neglected. Most cameras have a small directional microphone, which means they pick up the sound in the direction they are facing. If you are filming an interview, workshop or speech, point the microphone towards the person who is talking. Avoid filming in the wind as it is noisy. The microphone will also pick up background noise. Try to find somewhere quiet for your interviews.
- If you plan to upload your footage to the internet, your video clip should be about a maximum of 2-3 minutes. If you do not plan to edit, film short usable sections.