DIY Network

Shooting With and Without a Tripod Shooting With and Without a Tripod From "Making Home Movies" episode DMHM-102

If you plan to shoot a lot of home video, the single most important piece of equipment after the camera is a tripod -- it will help keep your video steady. Recording steady images is one of the trickiest challenges faced by all video photographers. While it may not look like the camera is moving much, the slightest shake or vibration makes it look like an earthquake happened while you were taping. The simplest way to solve this is with a tripod.

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With a Tripod

• Look for a tripod with a fluid head.

• It's important to level the tripod so the videotape doesn't look tilted. This can be done using the bubble balance / leveler on the tripod. The fluid head works on the same principle as a carpentry level. Once the bubble is inside the circle, the shot is perfect.

• Set up the tripod so you can easily move around the camera. This freedom allows you to set up the shot, hit RECORD and then let go of the camera to minimize shakiness and to prevent the camera from picking up vibrations from the hand.

• When you're trying to pan across, the movement can be very jerky: to help prevent this, use the rubber band method. The band absorbs the body vibrations and lets you use it to guide the camera in a smooth panning motion. Slip one end of the band around the camera handle. Hold on to the other end of the band and use it to guide the camera through the panning motion.

• If you don't have a rubber band, loosen the tripod head to the point where you can push the handle with your forefinger. Again, the goal is to limit the impact of your body's natural movement on the quality of your shot.

  Tripod bubble balance.

  Setting up tripod to move around it without jarring.

  Using a rubber band to reduce vibrations.

  
  

This doesn't mean just locking the camera down on the tripod. A good photographer moves around. Tips for steady shots include the following:

• With a tight shot, the closer you move in with the camera, the less noticeable the movement will be, since you're filling the screen with action. If the ball is being kicked or a parent is shouting encouragement, the viewer is naturally drawn to what's happening on the screen.

• Look for props such as a tree, a ball or a goalpost to help steady the camera. When nothing is available, cradle the camera with both hands, with your forearms on your knees for additional support.

• Rest the elbow of the shooting arm in the hand of your free arm. Keep both arms snug against the body to limit movement.

Balancing on soccer ball to improve steadiness.

Supporting camera with both hands.

Supporting camera by resting elbow in hand.