Please review my video. I need knowledgeable feedback

[Jeff Wisener]

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

Jeff, in my earlier post I asked you what camera this was shot with and what your settings were. Unless I missed it someplace in this thread, you have not provided any of that information, so how can I offer any meaningful advice? What camera? Chances are I have no experience with whatever camera it was, but it would still be good to know.

You're right that the tripod is junk, but that does not entirely account for the jitter that is seen in your second video. The video is jerky and unstable because of the tripod, but the image is JITTERY because the wrong shutter speed was used. What was it? I'm betting it was set way too fast. Am I wrong?

I also suspect your aperture was way too small, thus resulting in problems with diffraction. What was your typical f-stop that you used? I'm betting it was too small. Am I wrong?

The ability to prevent highlights from blowing out without underexposing the rest of the picture BEGINS with the camera's paint menus settings, particularly the gamma setting, that have been chosen. What gamma and/or shooting mode were you using? What is the proper exposure for that gamma choice?

What method are you using to set the exposure during the shoot? Are you using zebras, histogram, waveform, or what? What is your exposure IRE target and how are you determining if you are hitting it, or going over, or going under?

How much leeway does your gamma choice allow before the highlights become irretrievably clipped?

This kind of subject matter is virtually impossbile to capture perfeclty in-camera, so some grading in post is always going to be necessary to bring it to life. Did you grade with Resolve or did you just make some random adjustments with some other program (FCP, Premiere, etc.) that is not up to the task? If you used Resolve, what was your workflow? Where did the scopes say that your whites were hitting? Clearly you let them go way too far. If you didn't use Resolve, why not? it's free.

A polarizer probably won't hurt, but it is not the answer. The problems I see have nothing whatsoever to with polarized light.

This is what you need to do . . .
1) The camera's paint menu settings need to be set correctly before you ever leave your house.
2) The correct shutter speed needs to be set for your chosen frame rate.
3) ND filters need to be used so that the aperture can be kept as close to fully-open as possible.
4) The exposure needs to monitored and adusted constantly as conditions change to ensure that it is correct.
5) The footage needs to be brought into Resolve (with proper monitoring) and fine-tuned to produce a pleasing final image.

As you can see, there is no single magic bullet answer or setting that is going to suddenly turn your footage into top-end material. There are many settings and techniques that all need to come together and if any of them is not done right, you won't have success.

I can't give you all the answers you need but I hope that I've at least pointed you in the right direction.

First of all I want to apologize directly to you Doug. The short answer is I did not check the forum, was so wrapped up in doing daily content on my new youtube channel (Now named Bali Surf Hunters) I literally have done nothing else much, example shot all day yesterday, editing until 3am. This type of youtube channel requires videos at least 2-3 time per week. Essentially guys like me provide daily surf videos that are like high quality wedcam cameras. Surfers rev9iew the footage making decisions on where to surf tomorrow or do research on where to surf on a vacation. Again it is an explanation but not a valid excuse.

You appear to be right on many accounts so I will try my best to answer your well thought out questions below:

1. I got to cameras I shoot with, The primary is a Sony A6300 you saw in the video I posted above, now replaced with a Sony A6400 using the Sony G 200-600mm lens. The second camera is a Canon M50 using a Canon 400mm F5.6 prime lens. BTW, got a new E-image tripod with a GH06 Head since I posted last, has really helped out but lets address the other issues.

2. You are absolutely correct on shutter speed. I am usually shooting Aperture priority trying to keep the shutter between 1/1000 to 1/2500. Why, well stupid me I guess was thinking with a 600mm lens and fast moving subject, Faster shutter was better to eliminate motion blur. Depending on the day, Aperture is usually F6.6 to F8. To achieve the faster shutter and keep a pretty wide open Aperture (That Sony lens is F5.6-F6.3) I have been setting my ISO to 400. I could easily slow down the Shutter just by going to an ISO 100 but I will let you make recommendations. BTW, what shutter do you recommend while shooting a surfer? Again my fear was blurring and coming from still photography, faster shutter speed is a good thing.

3. Here is where you can crucify me. Your question regarding "What method are you using to set the exposure during the shoot"? I am allowing the camera to set exposure, only have Zebras turned on so as you know pretty much the camera is averaging exposure thus not doing a great job thus white water blow outs on exposure. Beyond what I described I am clueless about what gamma choices to make, set etc. In post edit, as you can see it has been poor results. In post edit in Vegas I attempted to adjust FX Brightness & Contrast + HSL adjust. It looked better overall as I increased contrast but in doing so just blew the white water out even worse. Lately I have given up out of ignorance only doing post edit to clips where there isn't surfing, no white water to blow out. I tried shooting in S log 2, still did not address the problems really. I know there are solutions just not able to address them without help. In reference, I am retired, now living in Bali so that is wonderful but there is not classes to take to address this. Hopefully you and others can guide me on the path. For reference, I posted a recent video clip (see below), all shoot with the A6400. You will see no post editing on this except for on the beach, not surfing clips. The new tripod helps and oddly enough, the surprise for me was the A6400 seems to be a sharper, better video camera than the 6300 over all. The reviews always talked about the autofocus was better on the 6400 but it appears to be better naturally in exposure too. see video of A6400 below but I know it still needs a lot of work.

4. I knew nothing about "Resolve", so as you can see some major issues in my workflow. The great part is it sounds like learning these things will really help. I have never tried to post edit in other software like FCP or Premiere. I would have to get them, learn it so of course the other steps would likely be the first I would address.

Thank you for your help. I deeply appreciate it.

Jeff

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[Jeff Wisener]

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

Hmm, some people ask for feedback but then they don't really want to provide any meaningful information to make that possible.

Please check your email for message. I deeply apologize for my delayed response.

Jeff

[Jeff Wisener]

Originally Posted by Paul R Johnson

I'm not an expert at surf - (apart from being in a Beach Boy Tribute Band!) but I quite like the higher Shutter speed - but for me, this is also a classic example of where the minute you start to shoot video with the lenses at the long end of their spec, you MUST have a decent head on the tripod. The artefacts that get revealed by the higher shutter speed - the droplets and the spray make the framing more important. I do a bit of airfield work - planes and parachutes and it's long lenses and extenders and my favourite support is an ancient Vinten post head. A number of reasons, but the ability to go vertical is very handy for still days, but when these are balanced for CoG and CoB it's fingertip control - and 45 degree movement really easy. Take your hands away at any angle and they just stay there. With a long lens it makes following movement so much easier. Not the right part of the world for surfing, or I'd be keen to have a go.

Paul, if you make over to Bali, contact me in advance. I can show you around, give you a crack at shooting surfing etc.