I need some tips/pointers on filming hunts...This will be my first year and I will be in front/behind the camera on every hunt!! What do I need to know?? Best way to Positioning sets?? I will be using a Cannon XL2, should I use a camera arm?? Tell me everything I need to know about filming hunts and getting quality footage!! Thanks
For positioning the set you should put your cameraman slightly higher than you in the tree and off of one shoulder if possible. This is a lot easier with hang ons than it is with climbers but can be done with both. Should you use a tree-arm? YES, YES, YES! It makes a huge difference in your footage. Get the best you can afford. I used 3 different tree-arms last year of varying quality and the features you need are a rock-solid platform, smooth panning and tilting, and noise free operation. As Ben said, easy on the zoom. Yes editing can get rid of some unnecessary zooming, but still try to keep it to a minimum so you have nice cohesive footage. Keep the animal in 1/3 of your frame and pull back as it fills more of the frame trying to lead it as it moves. There are a lot of good articles out there if you do a search on filming hunts. If you do a Google search you should get some great reference material. Good luck and have fun with it.
Also, always always have your camera ready. You never know what your going to miss if your not paying attention.
We are running Cannon XHA1s this year, with one GL2 in the mix. A varizoom controller works wonders if you are using a fluid head (we run Bogen fluid heads, and just got the bowl leveling adjusters which are SWEET). Also, don't overlook audio. Audio is JUST as important as the video for quality footage. Use a set of quality headphones as cameraman, get a good shotgun mic, and if affordable wireless mics for the hunter really add to the effect as well. Just depends how much you want to get into it. I really like 3rdarm treearms, we have an older steel model which was rock solid but the base was WAY to heavy. It now resides on the filming deck of my bowfishing boat and we use an aluminum arm of some type. The XL2 has no flip out screen correct? IMO, filming off shoulder may be your best bet with this camera. the way it is shaped/designed it is MEANT to be filmed off shoulder. A few years back I was filming with an XL1, and we had much better success going off shoulder than messing with an arm. I like the cameraman stand about waste high of the shooter personally, at anywhere from a 60 to a 90 degree angle from the shooter stand...but every setup will be different. Work with what you have. Leave the camera ready at all times, and FILM STUFF. film the bird on that branch, do a rack focus from one patch of leaves to the other, film the squirrel, film the hunter without him knowing, document the hunt so you don't have to go back and fake it. No sense in even taking the camera if you arent even going to turn it on until the buck is coming in. Get the whole STORY, not just the kill. Get out now and get some velvet footage or hanging stands, stocking up on archery supplies, shooting in the yard, etc. REALLY makes for a better storyline than, buck, shoot, done.
Thanks for all the info guys, this will help a ton... TEmbry, my partner and I have been out filming everything we have been doing...It is going to be fun to see the finished product at the end of the season, even if we dont get a buck down...It has been a great experience so far!! Also, the XL2 does not have a flip out screen so im thinking im going to take your advise and film over the shoulder.
You can go to hunting footage dot com and they have a bunch of pros and amatures on the site and there is a wealth of information on there. TEmbry gives good advice though too.
For me, i have no TV aspirations...all my videos go on my YouTube channel so i can share them with others, nothing else (Unless Todd wants to hook me up :D) http://www.youtube.com/simanbrotheroutdoors
GMMAT- I posted a thread about a month ago that was called Battle of the Bow, you may have or may not have looked at it...anyway, yes I am in a competition and it might be aired on the sportsmans channel (find out in a couple of weeks). There are ten teams that will be filming their hunts in Wisconsin that are apart of this. Here are a couple different links, you can check it out for yourself. www.wisconsinoutdoorsnetwork.org http://www.wisconsinoutdoorsnetwork.org/profile/PlummerHotterTEAM (our team page)
Yes. Just a local show airing in our home broadcasting area, this year being our second season... but next year we will be on a more national show, depending on how the contracts work out. FSS network for sure at this point. It's hard to explain why. You just have to REALLY enjoy it. You don't make any money at it for a LONG time if that is the goal, its more of adding another element to the hunt. The cameraman's job in the hunt is 10x harder than the hunter himself. I guess my simple answer is that I enjoy it, and more specifically the guys I film with. Great friends, who love it just as much as I do. It does have it's perks as well, as far as gaining access and buying gear is concerned. I hope at some point we start broadcasting webcasts after our better episodes so that I can share the footage we lay down online as well. Footage in the industry is worthless if it has aired before...so if you plan on using it for a show, you can't plaster it on the web first. I am NOWHERE near an expert, actually a VERY new guy to it all. Dave is the mastermind behind it all for us.
Great stuff so far guys, well mostly. Also, film everything because you can always edit it out but you can't add it if you don't have it. You'll need filler footage as the kill takes only moments but is by FAR the most important aspect of what your filming, if for a purpose. I totally agree with what Ben, HuntingBry, Tembry and Simon has added thus far.
I'd imagine a lot of people also film their own hunts so that they can have those memories catpured on film, both for themselves and to share with friends/family. I am very interested in filming hunts also.. Especially for when I take my brother.
As you know, trying to explain to someone how your hunting experience was is very difficult to put into words. Even if you do it well you still never really get it across to the other person. Filming is just a way of sharing your experiences with others and adds another fun element to the sport of hunting. That is why I have started getting into it.
I highly recommend getting your brother involved. Isaac went from being that pain in the ass younger brother to my best friend over the last few years, and a passion for hunting/filming is what we both share :D
Depends on what quality footage you are wanting. Highly possible, but I find it too much of a pain to mess with when hunting alone. If I can't line up a cameraman, I either don't go or don't film...I don't like trying to mess with the camera AND getting a shot off. A camera arm is obviously required for that to work though.
I find it very difficult personelly, and i dont like to do it, But, If i have to i will... Heres a few bowhunts from last year just for referance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBurjEA2yGI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AY84OGAUhU Sorry about the qaulity in those deer hunts, it was filme dwith an older camera of mine, Heres a solo turkey hunt from this year with my new camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld5MBtfg8Cs Notice i dont get any kills in these videos
I agree, we have definitely become closer as brothers through hunting. Last year was a big leap for him as far confidence goes. That early October morning last year when I heard a deer crashing through the woods coming from my brother's stand, followed by a "YEAH"!! ...... That's what its all about. Now I wanna film it... We've talked about filming this year and plan to at the farm...He loves to hunt, but right now he is 16 years old, chasing girls, and playing guitar all day.. Ah, I miss high school...
guess I should get my younger bro into it as well... he's not much of a hunter, he appreciates it but its just not his thing... YET, I'm working on him.... what's a good cam to use for it??? reasonably priced of course
