Thinking back to my childhood while riding in the back seat of my mother's car, I remember some of my first experiences of life outside my family. Everything beyond that window was new and exciting, but out of reach. My natural inclination was to share whatever I saw with whoever would listen. My mother told me on numerous occasions that it was OK to just enjoy the things that I saw, and keep them to myself. I never understood that. When I look back now, I realize that the things I was describing were nothing new to her, and therefore weren't of much interest. What she didn't realize, and what I was unable to communicate, was that I saw those things from a perspective that she probably never considered.
Digital video has become my medium of choice for expressing myself to those around me. This accessible format offers innumerable ways in which to present your voice. By voice, I mean your perspective on the world, what you believe strongly enough to tell an audience. By using extra features found on most digital cameras, I am able to manipulate video in much the same way that Renoir and Monet were able to finesse paint on canvas to express a feeling or impression of a given subject.
Most DV cameras have options that go unnoticed by novice users, and under-utilized by professionals who see them as functions for novice users. My personal favorite is focus, but solarize, gain, and simulated shutter speeds are just a few of the functions that can help to make your video unique. I'm not suggesting that you go out and use these options randomly, but if you use them sparingly and purposefully they can enhance your image or message or both. Visual representation of ideas or poetry, music videos, and pure abstract art for art’s sake are examples of appropriate vehicles for this type of videography.
Whenever someone asks me what I think of a picture or a particular arrangement of objects, I close one eye and blur the other. Somehow, doing this makes it easier to see the scene as a whole instead of all the parts. Video is known for its extreme depth of field (meaning the objects in the background are often as clear as those in the foreground), which makes for a busy image. With so much in focus, an audience can be unclear as to what they should be paying attention to. A slightly out of focus shot can distract an audience, but what if it were purposefully blurred? By blurring the entire shot more than slightly, a videographer can strip away all the useless information, and get to the heart of the emotion of a shot. This is useful when the overall movement of a shot, rather than the subtle details, is what is important.
Digital artists are still unable to recreate the smooth gracefulness of natural human movement. What we can do as digital video artists is capture that movement for use in abstract ways. Using a solarize filter is often considered a faux pas by professional videographers. The video for “White Lines” by Grand Master Flash comes to mind when I think of how this filter has traditionally been used, but solarizing can help to achieve what I call "digital impressionism." When used in conjunction with auto-focus (another faux pas) and extreme close-ups of human movement (especially to music), an artist can capture an excited and beautiful world previously unseen by human eyes.
When watching video with numerous people, the chances of hearing someone say, “It looks so videoy!” are pretty good. There are ways around the clean crisp lines of video. Digital noise is created by the camera's ability to digitally boost light. This is usually represented on your screen in increments of decibels or dB. This should not be confused with your aperture setting. Most videographers avoid digital noise like the plague. But this noise creates a raw texture that can lend itself to certain situations. Shooting video for live music shows can be difficult because of the lack of light. Using gain to boost the light makes shooting easier, and adds a raw look that, in my experience, compliments the music.
Another way to rid your movies of the dreaded crispness of video is shutter speed. By default, video shoots at 1//60th shutter speed. Some cameras offer manual control over the speed of your shutter. By slowing the shutter to 1/30th, or 1/15th or less, it is possible to capture what I consider a dream-like image. At 1/30th, a slight motion blur is achieved, and video can begin to emulate the movement of film. Experiment with shutter speed to see if it works for your particular project.
These techniques are simply a few that I have played around with. Look at the manual for your camera to see what options are available to you. Try new things. Stack effects together. If you think about these effects in unusual ways, chances are, you'll come up with an esthetic that could become your signature style. Most importantly, have fun, because that is what it’s all about.
