For those of you who don’t know what Flugtag is – and I can’t say I did until last Saturday – it is an ancient term to describe the process of throwing crafts into the water. Or possibly, a visual example would be best:
A great human achievement.
I was lucky enough to get the day off, and witness the 10th anniversay of Red Bulls Flugtag event. Over 100,000 people came to see the event. Luckily, I came prepared (least minimally):
Gear List
Canon 60d
50mm f/1.8
35mm f/2.8 (Nikon)
24mm f/2.8 (Vivitar)
Manfrotto Monopod
If you’re confused about the Nikon and Vivitar lenses, JC and I just recently went on a shopping spree on old Nikon manual lenses. I bought two different adaptors to the EOS bracket, and they work well. I got a random ephoto brand as well as a Fostodiox adaptor ring. The 35mm fit perfectly, but the barrel on my 28mm is broken – you can see a jump in exposure without even touching the aperture. But with a $60 offer, I figured it was worth a shot. However, it is still capable of some great exposures.
Taken with my 28mm f/2.8.
Taken with my 28mm f/2.8
The big tip I have is variety.
What I’ve learned about capturing a good “vacation” video is to think of the video as a collection of sequences. A mistake that many people make is shooting wide. What really speaks in a video are collection of close ups, medium shots, and wide shots; combining those into a 3 shot sequence in order to tell a short story. I tend to find a good subject and think of how I’m going to edit it once I get home. You can make a story in as little as three shots.
Another tip I suggest is the 8 second rule. I’m not talking about food. I’m talking about keeping your composition constant for a good 8 seconds. A lot of new videographers tend to move on to the next subject after glance. Keeping steady on your subject gives solid, usable footage to work with.
Camera movement is also essential in order to have a variety of footage. I tend to find two usable compositions for panning during these types of events. I also move back and forth between first and second composition in case of error. The flexibility of a Manfrotto monopod really helps out under these situations because you can keep steady, but you don’t have a strain of a handheld rig on your shoulders and back.
Another goodie that I always use in event situations is an ND filter + the fostodiox step up ring. I recommend buying a variable ND filter at 77mm and then buying the step up ring. That way you can easily change between all your lenses.
Also, don’t forget to get footage of yourself and your party in the video. The personal element really adds to the experience while you where there.
He’s a Maniac!
Finally, support local music. Find musicians around your area and ask if you can use their music for your video. It’s a win-win. They get you to listen to their music and spread it around, and you don’t get your video taken off the internet.
Variety is the key.
That was a well edited video. I enjoyed watching it. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!