Video Your Vacation

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If last year's vacation remains a blurry memory, captured on frame after frame of wobbly, embarrassing, out-of-focus video tape, listen to the experts. You can shoot like the pros, they say, by heeding a few simple pointers.

Basic, often times overlooked advice comes from Devon Ericson, owner of SeaVid Productions in San Diego, CA— a company that specializes in travel videos. She suggests you read the instructions that come with your camcorder. That alone will save countless mistakes.

Then, take the time to prepare properly. Charge all the batteries you plan to take, and don't forget to pack the charger. "You always want to be prepared to shoot as much as possible," says Ericson. "With shows like 'America's Funniest Home Videos', and news channels everywhere purchasing amateur video footage, you don't want to run out of battery power just as a priceless moment is unfolding."

Freelance cameraman/director Rob Amato adds that it's a good idea to purchase extra batteries. He reasons, "Cameras generally come with one battery, which will get novice videographers by for 45 minutes. But you may be in situations where you'll need more than that." International travel and its vagaries of electrical current can make battery recharging a real adventure. Check with your video store to see what sort of converter you may need.

Amato, who shoots internationally for CNN, Entertainment Tonight, ESPN and other media companies, also recommends buying as much tape as you think you'll need before you leave home—especially if you're going to a foreign country. "If you can find it at all, tape can be so expensive that sticker shock will send you into cardiac arrest," he says. And toss in some lens cleaner and lens paper. You'll need it if you get into sea spray or dust.

Camcorder Care
Camcorders and palm-corders have become so miniaturized that it's possible to tote camera, batteries, charger, tape and more with minimum weight. "Find a soft padded fabric bag," Amato suggests. "It'll protect from shocks and bumps and from the elements. It also keeps your equipment away from the prying eyes of thieves. And usually there's room for your still camera and film, as well."

Water, especially salt water, can be a camcorder's natural enemy. "I've seen a camera dropped in a fresh water lake, then opened up, dried out, and it functioned perfectly well," recalls Amato. "But I've had a camera get sprinkled with a few drops of salt water and it destroyed the camera. Salt water corrodes everything it touches." If your camera gets wet, he advises that you turn it off and pat it dry immediately. Even a light drizzle can wreak havoc on a camcorder's delicate electronics. One major manufacturer makes what it calls a "splash proof" camera, but Amato says a better way to go is with a rain cover, available at video accessory stores.

If you're traveling to the tropics and will be moving from an air conditioning to hot temperatures, give your camcorder ten or fifteen minutes to adjust before trying to shoot. "Your lens can fog over and condensation can cause your camera to quit," says Amato. "If that happens, eject the tape and turn the camera off with the tape gate open so the camera can acclimate for fifteen minutes or so."

Shooting Techniques
Before beginning to shoot, Ericson recommends learning the limitations of your camera. She explains, "Your eye can focus on 15 different things in a millisecond, but the camera needs some time to adjust. So when you decide what you're aiming at, count to at least five, and preferably 10, while you're shooting before you move off to something else. If there's a lot of activity going on, count to 10. If you're shooting a person under a palm tree, five probably is enough. You can't go wrong with having shots a bit long rather than a bit too brief."

A basic rule for getting good video is to take a wide shot first, then work your way in for details. "You get out of the car, you get a basic wide shot of the field of flowers, then you come in close for people in the field, and even closer for a particular blossom," says Amato. This technique helps to tell a story.

Gathering Details
Establishing where you are can be very important in years to come when you've forgotten details of the day. Ericson suggests that you show the hotel or beach or focal point of your surroundings. Shots of signs, such as the name of a village, fort or museum become video slates so your first shot tells exactly what's coming up. Many cameras now have built-in graphics to label as you shoot. "Audio slating that states the name of where you are also will help identify the footage," Ericson says.

Amato, who often shoots sports, feels that action scenes need a tripod for reasonable quality. "But most people don't want to be that encumbered on a vacation. You can hand-hold successfully for an action shot if you don't zoom in too close. For example, it's very hard to hold a water skier in your frame. So keep the framing wide enough to assure a steady picture, possibly including the ski boat," he advises.

Keeping the camera steady is most difficult, Amato says. "Sometimes you may be able to set the camera on a bench or a wall to get a steady shot. Lean up against a tree or a car or a lightpole to brace yourself. It'll make a lot of difference in the clarity of your finished product," he says.

For a successful pan, Amato recommends facing the spot where you know the pan's going to end. Then, swivel your body back the other way so you're beginning in what may be a clumsy position, but ending comfortably. "If you start comfortably positioned, then turn your body to do the pan, you end up trying to hold the finish of your shot when your body's contorted, which can create camera movement," he explains. Ericson adds another tip for pans that work. "If you're panning across a beachfront with family members, for example, the formula is to have each person or thing in your frame for four seconds. It sounds slow, but any faster and you'll get whiplash watching what you're shooting. You'll see nothing but a blur," she cautions.

Don't try to shoot everything. A 360-degree pan is usually meaningless. Amato suggests that you think of what you're shooting as a still photo first. "That way you'll end up with something identifiable and interesting. Don't over-pan and over-zoom. It's simply distracting and does nothing to enhance the story you're trying to tell," he says.

Lights And Action
Lighting also becomes a consideration. Try to pick either full shadow or full sunlight, not half and half. "If someone is in a shaded cabana on a bright, sunny beach, you should use your zoom," says Ericson, "so the camera is reading only the shadowed part of your picture. If you want to shoot the situation full wide you'll never see what's under the cabana because the camera will expose for the bright beach."

Every current video camera has autofocus, which most people use, even though in some cameras the autofocus feature may be overridden. Ericson reminds you to be aware of what your lens has in focus. "If you're shooting your toddler playing in the sand and someone walks between you and the child, your camera will immediately adjust to the closer image. The camera doesn't know what you think is important," she says.

To conserve battery power, turn the camera off when you're through shooting. If you're in snow and cold, your batteries won't last as long as they will in the tropics, so watch your power. For situations such as a circus where there's continuous action happening quickly, Amato advises using the standby setting rather than turning the camera off.

If you're taking your camcorder into the Caribbean, or Far East or to places that might sell such a camcorder, bring your sales slip or other proof of purchase with you so that you can prove to U.S. Customs that you owned the camera before you left and you shouldn't have to pay duty.

Most important, says Ericson, is to remember to have fun. "It's your vacation. Include your family and traveling companions. If all you want is the cathedral, you can buy professional videotapes," she says. Don't become so obsessed with getting the perfect shot that you don't enjoy things. "It's wonderful to get a record of where you were, but do a reality check occasionally. You don't want to come home having seen all those great places through a black and white viewfinder only."

Checklist for Better Travel Videos

• Become familiar with your camcorder before leaving home.
  
• Charge batteries, take some spares.
  
• Take as much film as you think you'll need.
  
• Pack camera and accessories in a soft padded bag.
  
• Keep your camcorder dry and out of the sun.
  
• Take a wide shot first, then move in for details.
  
• Use a wide frame for action shots.
  
• Use a tree or car to keep camera steady.
  
• Pan toward the spot where your pan will end.
  
• Don't over-pan and over-zoom.
  
• Include signs or landmarks to identify your surroundings.
  
• Include people.
  
• Use the standby setting to conserve battery power.
  
• Take your sales slip with you to foreign countries.
  
• Have fun with your camera!