Bowsite.com

By Pat Lefemine
President, Bowsite.com

Part 1 - Shooting Field Footage

One of the most common questions we receive is: "how do you capture video footage and photos for Bowsite.com's "Live Hunts" ? While there is no exclusive way to do it, I decided to put this feature together to show you the equipment we use, our technique for capturing photos and video in the field, as well as the software we use to get it onto the website.

The Equipment
The Setup
Techniques for shooting footage in the field

On more than one occasion we caught video footage this past season that was priceless, heart-stopping, or just plain informational. For instance, a terrible shot I made on a doe (see interactive bloodtrail feature 6) simply seemed like I "blew it". However replaying the shot through my video camera revealed that I had actually deflected off of a branch prior to the arrow hitting the deer. In all honesty, not only did I never see that branch, but I never knew I hit it! The camera never lies.

In Kansas I witnessed an extraordinary scene of 8 big bucks chasing down a hot doe. I could explain that footage to people a hundred times and get little more than a lukewarm response. But when I played them the video - the reaction was pure amazement. Nowadays a video camera goes with me on nearly every hunt I go on and despite some real drawbacks to having one - I can't imagine leaving it home.

So lets take a look at the equipment, then the techniques, and then the software for getting it on your PC and to the web.

The Equipment

Item number 1 the redi-reach bow holder can be used to hang calls and other stuff from the hooks. I actually use two of these - one to hold my longbow and the other for my camera. It's sold with a RealTree label and costs around $15.

Item number 2 is a clamp made by Manfrotto which allows you to mount high quality photographic heads to it. It retails for around $50.

Item number 3 is a Bogen 3130 Micro Fluid Head which allows left/right and up/down fluid motion. This is critical since you may not have time to mess with the traditional screw-knob types of tripod heads such as those that are sold for treestand viewing equipment such as the tree-pod and other heads. It retails around $80.

Item number 4 my video camera is a JVC Mini-DV GRDV2000U. The Mini-DV format is critical for web applications since you can go directly from the camera to the PC without a capture card. I'm not going to get into all of the technical details - just understand that you need a Mini-DV format and not the older VHS, or 8mm formats that were popular 5-10 years ago. They suck. The camera retails for $1500 but I've seen them under $1000 recently and with good reason - while the camera has great features and shoots incredible video - it is unreliable and not sturdy enough for field work. I've never had problems with my Sony's in the field but they don't compare on image quality or features. My next Mini-DV Video camera will be a Canon GL1 which is used by Dan Bertalan and other popular outdoor video producers with excellent results.

The Setup

Techniques for shooting footage in the field

Now comes the fun part. Let's assume that you have a good understanding of your equipment and have experience using it. So here's your first test: It's November 10th and the ruts' heating up. A deer comes in and you fumble around with your video camera - he's almost in range and suddenly spooks - running back into the trees. You are still getting your video camera in position, your bow's still on the hook and you are cursing me out for talking you into fooling around with all this junk when you were supposed to be hunting. Right?

Been there, done that - still doing that.

10 Tips to creating a Great Video

Tip Number 1 - you will occasionally blow a setup by messing with a video camera. It's inevitable when you are videoing that there is excess movement as you position the video camera, zoom in or out, our simply reach to turn it on. I know many hunters who absolutely refuse to bring a video camera and there's a good reason for that.

Tip Number 2 - You can't capture everything. Lots of action happens fast and you don't get a chance to set up. Through experience I've learned when to simply forget about trying to get footage. I shot two real nice bucks this season and despite having my video camera setup for both, neither setup worked. The first was too close (right under me and looking up) and the second was in a rainstorm in poor light. On other occasions, when I was on a trip and time was running out, I've opted not to take a chance and blow a setup - so I left the camera home.

Tip Number 3 - Get the camera turned on and positioned at the earliest possible moment. This may be when you think you hear a deer, or when you see one coming from a great distance. Don't worry about wasting video tape or battery power (you should have extra of those items anyway). Get setup as early as you can so the only movement is the smooth panning to position the deer in the frame as it gets close.

Tip Number 4 - Stay Focused - camera focus. Nothing is worse than autofocus on video cameras. And typically you will be hunting the woods where there are trees and branches in front of your subject which are constantly changing your subjects' focus. Learn to use the manual focus on your camera instead of the autofocus.

Tip Number 5 - Watch the deer through the camera's viewfinder. If you watch the deer through the viewfinder you can capture great footage and watch the deer at the same time. Lots of greenhorns set up the camera, then look away to watch the deer. When they go back to the viewfinder, the deer is gone and they either have to chalk it up as a lost video opportunity, or risk excess movement trying to find the deer again in the viewfinder.

Tip Number 6 - Pay attention to your framing. Framing is where the deer is in the viewfinder (ultimately on the video itself). Basic photography principals apply to video too - like the "rule of thirds," and allowing the deer to walk into the frame when moving. This is where your pan head will be indispensable.

Tip Number 7 - Don't zoom too close. Especially when filming shots, you will need to time your video perfectly. Zoom out a little when you shoot and put the deer in the corner of the frame opposite to the direction it is moving. The deer needs to run into the viewfinder when you shoot. The best case is to hit the deer when it's in the left side of the frame, facing right. When you shoot, the shot will be captured and so will the deer running out of the frame. It takes practice, and the deer won't always cooperate.

Tip Number 8 - After the shot, swing the video camera to capture the escape. While the fleeing footage is hard to get, I've caught some fleeing deer and it's actually assisted me in trailing.

Tip Number 9 - No Expletives. I captured some of my greatest footage of my wife shooting a Kudu in Africa. Unfortunately we were both so excited that after she shot and the kudu fell over, both of us yelled out "Holy **** " which totally ruined the video for family consumption, and a future web feature.

Tip Number 10 - Remember the hero, and edits. Should you be lucky enough to catch yourself shooting the next PY World Record "Typical" on film, be sure to put your camera on a tripod and record a minute or two of you talking with the buck. Also, take some footage of you drawing your bow, or looking for your buck, etc. Go back and watch your footage to be sure the audio level was OK, along with lighting and focus. Today's cameras make this a snap and you'd be surprised at how well these "edits" add life to an otherwise humdrum hunting video. I once filmed a great sequence of Dave Canfield (formerly of Bowhunter Magazine) shooting a nice mulie in Wyoming. The shot was awesome and so was his reaction. But in our excitement we forgot to get the "hero" footage and the video was unusable in Bowhunter Magazine's Video Journal. A mistake I would learn a valuable lesson from.

Go to Part 2 - Footage, Editing, and how to capture the video to your PC for viewing over the web.