20 Steps Video Exercise

Note: this challenge has passed! However this is still a fun exercise so I’m leaving it up in case it’s useful. Check out this vimeo video challenge. It all starts with twenty steps… Limitations are a great way of stimulating creativity and this is a...

Dear Future Self – Video Time Capsule

One of the activities in my book Naked Lens show you how to make a time capsule (on video) for a family member to view in the future. Filmmaker and video blogger Jeremiah McDonald takes this a step further in the video blog below when he “interviews” his...

How to Keep a Video Diary

You know how to keep a diary, but do you know how (and why) to keep a video diary? Many find that keeping a diary on video is quicker and more spontaneous than keeping a written journal or diary. There is an immediate outlet for thoughts and feelings with the added...

Latest Video Cameras – Updated Monthly

The latest video cameras as of the end of May 2012 are two new camcorders now shipping from Samsung: the QF20 and W300. The W300 is a durable pocket cam that can handle whatever you dish out from dust to drops to water. The Q20/QF20 is a handy-cam style camcorder with...

Camera Techniques for Low-Light

Shooting video in low-light conditions is now much easier thanks to larger and higher quality sensors, but it still presents several challenges.  Luckily there are several camera techniques that can improve your video even further. These techniques are arranged in...

Best DSLR Lens for Video

Lens choice is subjective and certainly not a science, but below are some important considerations when considering the best DLSR lens for video purposes. One of the big advantages of shooting with a DSLR instead of a standard prosumer camcorder is the ability to swap...

Best Viral Videos of All Time

I was recently asked which videos I considered to be the best viral videos of all time. Six months later I had an answer. Below is a list, selected by number of views, number of days to reach 100 million views, and complete arbitrariness (Either because I love them,...

Wiggle Stereoscopy

Wiggle stereoscopy has become my new obsession since viewing some of the amazing samples below. Wiggle is a DIY glasses-free 3D format that is simple (at least in concept) to create. If you want to create your own wiggle photo or video, keep reading. If you just want...

Best DSLR for Video

Ask most people which is the best DSLR for video and they are likely to respond “the Canon 5D”. I was one of those people until I dug a bit deeper and talked to folks who actually shoot video with DSLRs. Then I got my hands dirty. I tried the 5D, the 7D,...

Best DSLR Stabilizer Under 200

Recently I’ve tested various DSLR stabilizers and at this price point you might find yourself pleasantly surprised at the functionality per dollar spent.  In fact I ended up with two, very different stabilizers for way under $200! Here is what worked (and...

Panasonic GH2

I’ve been shooting with the GH2 for just over 3 months now. It is a solid DSLR camera that is suitable for projects ranging from video blogs to documentary films to features. In this post, which I will update regularly, I share my discoveries, techniques and...

Stereopsis

Stereopsis refers to our binocular vision. It has a slightly unusual history to its discovery. Around 300 BC, the Greek philosopher Euclid proposed several very foreword thinking notions about how we perceived 3D. However there wasn’t a clear recognition of...