skybytch 273 #1 March 7, 2006 Anybody out there have any tips/tricks/hints for getting really good landing and swooping footage? I've been playing with this over the past few months and would really like to get good at it. You can see my most recent attempt at filming swoopers here - this was someone else's event so where I was filming from was less than ideal (I didn't want to be in his way). At my home dz I've been trying different locations and a few of the swoopers (ones I trust!) have been swooping directly at/by me, but I think I may need a wider angle lens to get the best footage on those. I'm currently using a PC100 with the stock lens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dqpacker 7 #2 March 7, 2006 Get a wide angle lens. .5 should work. If the swoopers know you're going to video them, have them swoop past you at a distance that you will be able to see canopy and the person, 10 to 20ft. Also I don't like to look through the view finder because if they are coming at you, looking through the VF can throw off your depth perception. Use the side screen or just get good at pointing the camera where you want to. My .02 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #3 March 7, 2006 aim at the centre of the lineset, at a distance that keeps the whole canopy and pilot in frame (when they are at thier closest)but not too far away. for real good results use a tripod. sun behind you etc. etc."When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #4 March 7, 2006 Lisa, Don't put a wide angle on there, stick with what yo got.. For really nice footage, invest in a tripod instead of a wide angle. (50-100 bucks will get you a good enough tripod at BestBuy or something.. ) The best footage I think is where you can see the approach (turn / pattern) all the way to landing where the canopy touches the ground, so you can see how somebody finished the whole landing, not just the initial touchdown. Also, try not to use zoom too much.. just a couple of hints Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #5 March 8, 2006 I usually film the swoop comps like this: about 30m (100ft) away from the course sideline, at least 30m/100ft away from the gates - depending on who is swooping and wind conditions etc. If the goal is training, maybe stand inline with the gates, 30m out. No wide angle, no tripod. Camera set to manual focus at infinity. I do zoom quite a lot but really slow so usually it's hard to tell that I zoom, I try to keep the swooper and canopy the same size in the viewfinder. Other things to look out for: position of the sun, other people in the way (judges), if a carve, be on the inside (which put me in the water last comp...). Nice background is also nice. This gets standard video, for other shots you need to be at different places and may have to use a wide angle. I like to put a few tripods up close to the course with wideangle lenses and keep those camera's running. Gate video can also be really cool because it's at a straight line so it really shows the speed. Basically you need more camera people ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peej 0 #6 March 8, 2006 I haven't filmed a lot of swooping footage but i like to do it much the same way you do. For a bit of variation i also like to line the camera up with the entry gates and instead of following the turn have the pilots almost "drop" into the frame. I think it looks nice to film one or two like that but not a whole competition. Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ParaShoot 0 #7 March 8, 2006 It all depends on what footage you're looking for. For training the best way is to shoot like Dragon2 explains. Start before the final approach and keep everything almost full frame. The swooper can debrief his swoop best like this, especially when it's filmed in line with the entry gates. For shots for a film you should shoot different ways. Like zoomed in at the upper body and face for real nice expressions. Zoomed in on the lower body and legs for dramatic landing shots. Etc. etc... Try to start with one technique and stick with it until you really master that. ** Know what you say but don't say all you know. ** Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #8 March 8, 2006 Cool, thanks for the input guys! Additional cameras are not an option at the moment but I think I know where I can borrow a tripod and I've been offered the use of a wide angle lens. I'll definitely be playing with those options in the future. What about non-swoop landings? We've been putting the raw footage up on the TV at the end of the day for everyone to watch and having a more experienced person debrief the landings, and eventually I'd like to put together a piece that shows both "good" and "bad" landings for use in training classes and/or at Safety Day. I'd like to improve what I'm getting of the "traditional" landings as well so it's easier for people to see what they are doing/not doing. Regarding zoom - I know not to use it often and I try not to use it at all when filming swoopers, but due to where I'm usually shooting from sometimes I have to to zoom in to get "close enough". Is there a trick to zooming smoothly? Does it just take practice? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
