Thread by @iamscicomm

As usual, let's see how we all feel with a poll!

What do you look for when subscribing to a channel for videos?

I definitely like to see a couple videos by someone before I subscribe! Although one AMAZING video will definitely make me hit that red button!

I'm surprised to see that many of you don't subscribe to YT channels.

Don't like YT? Don't watch videos in general? Hate how subs are handled on YT?

I want to know why!

If you're interested in making your own videos, you have quite a few options! The easiest is the conversation or self-interview style. Just you and the camera talking about cool science.

You can also interview other scientists, which not as many people do as I would expect. 🤔

Or you can just record the science!

But let's talk technique, bc I have some HUGE pet peeves (the film snob is coming out)

Let's first talk about your camera setup.

You definitely should use a tripod. You can find inexpensive ones online and sometimes even a general store. It just needs to be able to hold up your camera and stay still. You don't need anything fancy here.

Nowadays, your phone can take amazing video that should work for most purposes. So as long as you have a decent smartphone, you should be fine.

If you're just filming yourself, I definitely think standing in front of the camera comes across better than sitting down. The main reason is that you're freer to use your natural body language and you're more likely to engage with the camera.

For interviews, sitting is more natural if it’s formal. For informal or on location interviews, I’ve seen some awesome work walking or standing (or in the car, singing). Feel free to be creative with this, but don’t overpower your audience with background distractions.

My biggest pet peeve is when people put their head in the center of the shot.

Please don't do this.

In photog & film, we use the rule of thirds. It's a way of composing the frame that helps with balance and interest.
expertphotography.com/improve-your-c…

If nothing else, just tilt the camera down so that you don't have a huge block of blank wall above your head. Even if no one cares but me, you'll make me very happy.

The last thing that I want to mention is lighting. I feel like a lot of people don't understand how important lighting is.

Typically you want your video to be bright, but you also want all of the forms to be well defined.

This means that room lighting doesn't do an adequate job creating an environment for video. Absolute easiest things when I was in film school where are outdoor scenes on cloudy days. the lighting was diffused through clouds & bright enough to still allow shadows to define shapes.

When you're inside, having a few extra lamps pointed at you w a thin shirt/tissue paper over it works. The material in front of the lamp diffuses light. You don't want it to dim the light too much, just scatter it so that there aren't super harsh shadows on you or the bg.

If you have enough room, another lamp behind you near the floor and pointed upward will both light the wall and give you a sort of halo that will help separate you from the background.

borrowlenses.com/blog/popular-i…

I have a Pinterest board for this, too. 😂

pinterest.com/gaiusdivifiliu…

You can also separate yourself from the bg in other ways. Choose a bg that's an interesting color that you aren't wearing. If you have some photography bg, you may know how to get shallower depth of field. This means the bg will be blurry & you will be sharp in the foreground.

Don't have lamps? My best advice is to open a window and film with the window slightly off to one side. Hopefully, this will give you enough light to create a bright image and the angle will help define you in the frame.

I hope some of these tips help you #SciComm-ers and #SciArt-ists who are looking to do video.

I'll be back in an hour or so to talk about ANIMATION!!!!!!

Including the easiest (but not cheapest) way to make an animated character.