I’m always looking to learn more about photography, so when I was offered a review copy of Digital SLR Video and Filmmaking For Dummies (Amazon affiliate link) I said of course! This book is an excellent introduction to making videos using an SLR camera! I found the parts about using different kinds of light and camera angles most helpful. So far I have always relied on natural light for videos, which works great when the sun is out, like in this clip:
And not so much when it is not:
The book talks a lot about the importance of using a tripod, and different tripod options. My video is always shaky, so I should probably follow that advice!
Much of the book is more detailed than I care about, as someone who is mainly shooting short family video clips. Adobe Premiere Elements is the only editing software it discusses in much detail.
The book also has a section on making a stop-motion film that I wanted to put to use, but my tripod broke (fair enough; it was several decades old) so I decided to wait until I had a new one. Do you own a tripod that you like and recommend? What are your best SLR video tips?
MaryAnne lives is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
I haven’t taken much video on my SLR but I would definitely recommend a tripod! I don’t know what brand mine is. It’s a sturdy hand me down from my dad that works great so far!
oooh! this sounds like it would be a good read for me. I really want to try out some stop-action movie-making!
It has a great section on stop-action movie-making that I really want to put to use!
I could use a tripod for video too! YouTube is always trying to fix my shaky videos!
I have not yet figured out how to shoot video with my DSLR. I got my tripod for free from the person who sold me my second-hand camera. It is much better than the short and basic tripod I had bought myself (which I then sold on to someone else). I appreciate the ease of adjustment and stability of my new one over the other one, so those are two features I would keep in mind.
I was wondering if I should pay for a step up from a basic tripod. Thanks for the feedback!
No SLR here, so no tips for it. Most of my videos come from my iphone.