Shooting DSLR Video: Top TipsJonathan Thorpe uses Tamron lenses to create films that tell a story. |
Article by Jenn Gidman Images by Jonathan Thorpe |
In increasing numbers, photographers are realizing the advantage of using their DSLRs to not only capture stunning still images, but also video. Commercial photographer Jonathan Thorpe, known for his quirky imagery and creative photo shoots, is also a videographer who shoots everything from music videos to high-end car commercials and motorcycle ads. The Tamron Image Master, who recently relaunched his website, has created a signature video style through his effective use of lighting and storytelling. |
"More so than ever photographers are shooting video, simply because their cameras allow it," Jonathan says. "Nearly any camera you can buy now will offer great video quality in a compact package." |
Here are Jonathan's tips for making better films with your own DSLR through better storytelling. |
Pick the right lens for the tale you're trying to tell. |
Shooting a scene wide, for example, gives the viewer an understanding of the environment your subjects are in by showing everything around them. I love using the Tamron SP 10-24mm wide-angle lens for that purpose. For dialogue scenes, having a lens that can get in a little tighter to my subject's face helps reinforce the dialogue even more to the viewer. The Tamron SP 24-70mm VC lens is on my camera for a good portion of the time for that reason. I also use the Tamron SP 70-200mm VC when I'm tracking from a distance. |
Use a mix of shots to create a compelling video. |
Know when to focus and when to blur. |
Sometimes, though, the best thing to aid in your storytelling efforts is not to have things always in focus, including your subject. Intentionally blurring out the entire scene can force your viewers to pay attention more and get their brains working to decipher what they're actually seeing. |
Nail the still moments, but also master movement in your video. |
The Vibration Compensation (VC) feature on the 24-70 and 70-200 is really helpful for those times, as is the light weight of the lenses: I'm able to handhold for many of the scenes for longer periods of time with minimal camera shake. |
To see more of Jonathan Thorpe's work, go to www.jthorpephoto.com. |