http://www.pixorial.com What's Your Story Fri, 20 Jun 2014 01:31:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.3 http://www.pixorial.com/handheld-video-camera-settings-easy-does-it/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=handheld-video-camera-settings-easy-does-it http://www.pixorial.com/handheld-video-camera-settings-easy-does-it/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 05:08:55 +0000 http://www.pixorial.com/blog/?p=2292 › read more]]> Today we’ll cover another topic, via our video expert partners at NYVS. This will be time well-spent if you have a handheld camera, and want to use one of these devices to shoot polished, professional-looking video. There are tons of settings to tweak on these cameras. So many, in fact, that you might find yourself getting confused. This could be especially frustrating when you are just looking to capture a great moment and you don’t have time to figure out all of the adjustments. But the good news is that a little knowledge can go a long way. And better yet, the basic, simple default settings usually do the trick. Let’s see what NYVS has to say about the topic: As NYVS points out there are a few basic controls and settings that are universal to pretty much all hand-held cameras. Once you start with a fresh battery (and a spare to make sure you have enough juice for a longer shoot), it’s easy to dial in the settings you want. 1.)   Turn the camera on. 2.)   Switch it to recording mode. (You’ll see this on your LCD display.) 3.)   Set it to “Auto” or “Easy” mode, which makes the camera take care of the technical adjustments automatically. 4.)   Leave “Auto-focus” ON. 5.)   Use start/stop to record and end recordings, and the zoom control to widen and tighten shots. 6.)   Activate the “Backlight” function if your subject is in front of a bright light or window. (Otherwise, leave it off; under normal conditions, Backlight will make everything appear washed-out.) The bottom line? The learning curve with most handheld cameras is very, very fast. Follow the above steps, take a few test shots to get in your comfort zone, and start shooting!]]> http://www.pixorial.com/handheld-video-camera-settings-easy-does-it/feed/ 0 http://www.pixorial.com/take-your-best-shot-video-tips-from-the-pros/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-your-best-shot-video-tips-from-the-pros http://www.pixorial.com/take-your-best-shot-video-tips-from-the-pros/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 08:51:44 +0000 http://www.pixorial.com/blog/?p=2218 › read more]]> With this post, we’re kicking off a series of articles and videos filled with fun and useful tips for creating polished and just plain awesome videos. The skills and techniques that you’ll learn come straight from the crazy-talented video production experts at NYVS. Ready? Let’s rock! What’s the difference between an amateur-looking video and one that’s slick and polished? Sure, there’s the obvious – the polished video might be shot with a better camera with higher quality and better resolution. But even an ordinary smartphone camera, in the hands of a skilled videographer, can produce incredible videos. In this tutorial from our partners at NYVS, you’ll learn about shot composition – one of the basic building blocks of great video. As you’ll see, these tips are simple to understand and easy to put into action. Let’s take a closer look: As NYVS points out, there are four basic principles that can dramatically improve your videos: The Rule of Thirds: Your frame can be divided into a grid of three vertical and horizontal lines. Subjects look best when they’re centered on one of those intersecting lines. Lead Space: If your subject is looking in one direction, frame the shot so that there’s plenty of room ahead of their gaze. (The opposite can look unnatural and cramped). Headroom: Frame your shots so that there isn’t tons of space above your subject’s head, and be careful to not cut off their body at an awkward area, such as their knees. Background: Is your background distracting or annoying? Too busy? Too boring? Is the angle of your shot appealing and interesting? Ask these questions as you frame the shot and position your subject. Next time you’re watching a video, TV show, or commercial, watch for these shot composition techniques in action. Once you’re aware of these methods, you’ll notice them all the time! And now for a challenge: Incorporate some of these tricks in your next video; we think you’ll love the final result. Submit your video with these applied techniques by using your “share to crowd” button to share with *protected email*. If we feature your submission, we’ll upgrade your account for one year!]]> http://www.pixorial.com/take-your-best-shot-video-tips-from-the-pros/feed/ 0