Five Tips for Taking Awesome Sports Videos March 9th, 2012 / Comments: 0 It’s that time of year again. The sun’s shining, the hard, frozen ground is finally thawing out, and the spring sports – baseball, soccer, softball, and lacrosse, to name a few – are revving up for another season. Shooting sports events can offer some great opportunities for capturing lively, memorable moments. So with that in mind, here are some practical, easy-to-apply tips for making clear, polished, and engaging videos: Capture a wide range of colors. Sports events give you a large palate of colors to work with – everything from team jerseys to blue skies and green fields. These colors can really pop off the screen. Instead of only focusing on the obvious on-field action, remember to pan around and capture the full flavor and color of the event. Use an HD camera for best results. Steady yourself. A tripod or monopod is essential for steady shots. Having a loose swivel will also allow you to keep the shot steady while you follow the action back and forth. If you’d prefer to not use a tripod, try a camera with a visual stabilizer that reduces shaking. Get a wide variety of shots. Sure, you’ll want to focus most of your attention on your favorite players. But don’t forget to paint a complete picture of the game by including shots of the crowd – including zoom shots to get their reactions, and wide shots of the entire field. Also try changing your perspective – for example, shooting the action through the net, rather than only from the sidelines. Create an awesome soundtrack. Your video, no matter how nicely it’s shot, would feel only half-finished without accompanying sound. Capture the sounds of the ball being kicked or hit, the roar of the crowd, and the ref’s whistle. For better audio, consider adding a camera mic to your set-up. And if the sounds from the event just don’t cut it…well, you can also add your own music using our video editor. End with a closing shot. Put a punctuation mark on your video with wrap-up shot. Do a post-game interview with your subjects, or end on a wide shot or scoreboard shot that summarizes all the action. As with anything, practice makes perfect. You’ll be able to hone your craft as the season progresses, watching as your video – and hopefully, the performance of your favorite players – steadily improves. (image courtesy of Rory Finneren)
