Thought Piece #3

Reading pages 96-156 of How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck made me realize how often I rely on post-editing to fix my mistakes instead of being more intentional while shooting. Coming from a photography and photojournalism background, I am used to focusing on capturing strong individual moments, but this chapter really pushes me to think more about how shots connect and flow together in video.

One idea that really stood out to me was in-camera editing. I always tend to overshoot, especially at events because it feels safer to have more photos to choose from later on. Stockman made me realize that this habit can actually make my storytelling weaker. If I start thinking about the edit while I am shooting, like how long a shot needs to be or what shot should come next, I will be pickier and use footage that has more purpose. I want to start practicing this, by keeping my shots shorter and only filming when I know the moment actually matters, but small things also matter to sometimes in B-roll.

Another thing that stuck with me was the idea of having a “hero” in every shot. In photography, I am trained the guide the viewers eye, but I have not been able to apply that same mindset to video just yet. This chapter informed me how important it is in video to frame, your subject, use different angles other than shooting at chest and eye level and choosing a good background that doesn’t distract the audience. Moving forward, I want to pay more attention to what’s happening in the foreground and background, so my shots don’t feel clutters or confusing, or lead the viewers eye to something that is not important.

The section covering camera movements really made me rethink some of my shooting habits behind the camera. Sometimes I find myself moving the camera just because it feels more interesting, not because it added anything to the story. Stockman makes it clear that static shots can be just as powerful, if not more, and movement should always have a purpose. This is something I want to be more aware of when I am shooting videos in the future.

The emphasis on sound and lighting was really important to me because being a photographer there is no sound, but lighting is key. Behind the camera, I tend to prioritize the visual, but this chapter made it clear that bad audio can completely ruin a video. Even lighting can ruin a video because it distracts the viewer. With this being said, when shooting video, I want to be more intentional about my mic placement and making sure my subject is places in even lighting that makes them stand out to the audience, especially when conducting interviews.

Overall, this reading helped me realize that shooting video isn’t always about having the fanciest equipment or capturing everything, it is about planning, being thoughtful, working around things and knowing when you have gotten the shot you need. You don’t want to focus too much on one shot and fail every time, or you will more than likely run out of time. Applying these ideas will help me become more confident when shooting video, making the focus of my video more intentional and obvious the viewers.