Lesson Objective:

Participants will be able to create a filming set up that takes into account lighting, background noise, and camera orientation

Introduction

We will now watch this video from StoryOnline of Mindy Sterling reading Lion Library. With over 10 million views its caught the eye of many students and families; as we watch we will try and determine what factors helped this video engage so many learners. Watch at least the first 30 seconds of the video and consider, what is effective about the filming set-up?

Step 1: Lighting

Beginner: Let There be Light

The most important rule of video lighting is to have it! When you choose a location to film in, make sure it has at least 1 source of light. Ideally this would be natural light from a window or artificial light from a lamp, however, in a pinch overhead lighting can work too. Look at the image below, notice the difference in how the man’s face is lit. Which lighting position makes his face most visible?

As the image clearly shows, “Front Light” (When the light source is placed directly in front of the subject) provides the best view of the subject’s face. Positioning the light source to the side, back, top, or bottom or the subject creates shadows that make the subject harder to see.

Whether you are filming a person or an object, try to position the subject of the video so that it is facing your light source. For example, if you are using a window for lighting make sure your subject is facing the window front on. To get a straight view of the lit subject, position the camera between the light source and the subject (see diagram to the right).

Think back to the video from StorylineOnline that you watched early, did you notice that the light source was positioned in front of Mindy Sterling to best illuminate the shot?

Advanced: Three Point Lighting

If you are looking to improve the lighting of your videos even further, try using the three-point lighting strategy. Three-point lighting utilizes three different lighting sources of different strengths, positioned around the subject, to help provide more complete lighting to the entire scene. This lighting set up will be particularly useful, if your main lighting source is so strong that it's creating shadows even when positioned directly in front of the video's subject, or if you're attempting to light an entire scene, rather than one main subject.

Watch this video from B&H Photo Video to learn more about how to create a three-point lighting setup:

Step 2: Sound

Regardless of which method you choose to record your audio with, it's important to test out your audio before filming your entire video. Once you determine the setup of where you will stand/sit, and where your camera will be positioned, record a short 3-5 second clip of you talking. Then play the clip back and listen to the audio to see how it sounds. You may need to stand closer or farther away from the camera or speak louder or softer depending on what you hear in your test clip. You might also decide to change your filming location entirely, or choose to film your audio separate from your video, if you noticed that the audio quality is not good in your current setup.

Beginner: Choosing a Good Location and Set-Up

If you plan to record your audio at the same time as your video, it's important to pick a filming location where background noises are all but nonexistent. Louder background noises like people talking or nearby traffic are sure to be the most recognizable and the most distracting, however, subtler sounds such as the humming of a refrigerator, the spin of the washing machine, or the clicks of a heating system, can also affect the sound quality of your video. When deciding on a location to film, stand silently in a potential location for a few seconds listening to the sounds around you. If there are any noticeable sounds that are continuous or reoccurring, try and find a different space. Once you've found a space you think it sounds free, try recording a short 2-3 second video clip of the area. Then, watch the clip and listening closely to the audio. If there are any background noise, or even a large amount of white noise, you might want to try a different location.

Location Scouting Tip: Try to avoid large open spaces that create echoes, or cramped spaces that will muffle your audio.

Rewatch the first 30 seconds of the StorylineOnline video. As you watch pay close attention to the audio. Do you hear any background noise? How does the audio quality enhance the viewing experience?

Advanced: Recording Audio Separately

If you want to improve your audio setup, or if you're having a difficult time finding a quiet space to film in, you might want to record your video's audio using something other than the internal mic of your camera, phone, or computer. A cheap way to do this would be using the microphone on your headphones. Many headphones nowadays include a small microphone that can be utilized for recording audio. If you are filming using your phone or computer as your camera, you can simply plug your headphones into the audio jack, and hold the mic close to you while you talk and film your video. Alternatively, instead of recording yourself speaking while recording your video footage, you might instead choose to do a voice-over to provide audio to your video. Again, you could utilize the mic on your headphones to record this voice over audio, or you could try and find a small insulated space such as a closet or small office to record your audio in.

If you are using your phone to record your audio simply open up your phone's voice notes app and begin recording. If you do not have access to a voice notes app you can use one of the following free websites to record your audio. When you are done recording your audio on any of these websites, make sure to download the audio file to insert later into your videos.

https://online-voice-recorder.com/

https://voicerecorder.io/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.media.bestrecorder.audiorecorder&hl=en_US&gl=US

Step 3: Camera Set-Up

Basic Set-Up Advice

Just like when you tested the audio of your filming setup, you will also want to test the visuals of your filming setup. Once you have determined where you would like to film your video and what light source you'll be positioning your camera in front of, take some short test videos to help you determine the best place for your camera to sit and the best place for you or your subject to be positioned. Perhaps you will want to move closer or farther away from the camera or perhaps you will want to adjust the height of the camera. During this testing phase it's also important to evaluate what is around and behind you in the video clip. Make sure that the objects you do not want to be captured in your filming are far enough off screen that they're not picked up by the camera's lens.

If you will be keeping the camera in one position during the entire video clip, try to create a stable perch for your camera. A camera tripod would be the ideal way to ensure your camera is stable and straight throughout the entire video clip. If you do not have a tripod, or you are filming with your laptop, try creating a sturdy straight surface to place your filming device on. For example, you may place your laptop on a desk or table to capture your video clip. Alternatively, you may prop your phone up against a stack of books to keep it stable and in position while you film. If you will be moving your camera around to track the movement of something during a video clip, try and keep your hand as steady as possible. If you have a selfie stick or a tripod, that your camera can be attached to, these devices could be used to hold your camera steadier as you move it.

Camera Orientation

If you are filming using a phone or camera that could be turned horizontal and vertical, it's important to ensure that you are filming in landscape mode rather than portrait mode. To ensure you are in landscape mode make sure your phone or camera is positioned horizontally with the long edges on screen positioned at the top and bottom and the shorter edges of the screen positioned at the sides.

Filming in landscape mode will ensure that you are capturing the entire scene that you have set up. If you film in portrait mode, when you upload your video clips into your editing software there will be black bars one on either side of the video clip.

Assessment

Using either a camera, your phone, or your laptop film a ~1 minute video of yourself talking. Make sure your video is shot:

1. With your subject facing your main lighting source

2. In an area with no background noise (or as little background noise as possible)

3. With your filming device in landscape mode

4. With at least your entire face in frame

Progress onto Lesson 2

Lesson 2: Screen Recording