shooting a car in motion at DVinfo.net

Eugen Oprina · August 22nd, 2008, 04:44 PM

Hi,
I have to shoot a car in motion (60-70 km/h). I am planing to shoot from an ATW. If anyone tried this please advice me what would be the best solution; on the shoulder or steadicam. I am shooting with a JVC GY HD 251 camera with a 13-3,5 lens and I have a steadicam flyer. Any other ideea is welcome. The shoot will be directed it is not an event so I'll be abel to say stop and shoot another take. Also, the subject is the car in motion not the driver.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Eugen

Stewart Menelaws · August 23rd, 2008, 04:08 AM

Hi Eugen - Not sure if this is of any help, but the following link will take you to a series of car shoots we did with a JVC HD101E a couple of years ago. Time restraints and budgets meant we needed to work quickly so I adopted the following approach.

http://www.studioscotland.com/corporate.htm

- second movie after Hilton Hotels at the end - much more dedicated movies can be seen at knockhill.com website

http://www.studioscotland.com/Diary.htm

- some behind the scenes

1: The use of a small but good quality mini dv camera (the HD101E - a new camera at the time) that would not require an elaborate rig and could be handheld.
2: kept the camera uncluttered - stock lens, set to wide, prefocused. kept of the shoulder and used the "flip out" monitor for composition.
3: We had a support vehicle with really nice suspension qualities, its seats were removed at the rear (tailgate up) and I lay down flat on the floor, being held in place by my soundman.
4: Holding the camera out of the back of the vehicle and inches from the road surface I did a balancing act holding the top camera handle (like a pivot) and supporting movement holding onto the IDX battery attached. A short heavy strap was conected to the camera and around my neck
5: All shot on a racing track where we went around a couple of times to check best angles, smoothest moves and lighting issues.
6: Lead vehicle and cars being shot were driven by professionals enabling perfect timing moves - first time, reaching speeds of 80mph and at some points the camera was virtually under the front of the car or inches from the wheels.
7: Certain moves were timed, such as cars crossing over to get a sweeping camera move and so on.
8: On the big plasma screens at the racing circuit the final shots look really nice.
9: For other work we have done for this client we have also put footage through Apple's Shake to smooth out bumps. Although all the clips on the link above have not had any smoothing.

Regards, Stu
www.studioscotland.com

Eugen Oprina · August 23rd, 2008, 07:48 AM

Thank you very much Stu.
Very nice shots. I still wonder if steadicam on ATW is a good ideea if I want it to be smooth.
I have shot handheld on an ATW and it was ok for very short cuts but for some longer movement arround the car I wonder if steadi is the solution.
Thanks again,
Eugen

August 22nd, 2008, 04:44 PM	#1
Eugen Oprina Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bucharest Romania Posts: 221	shooting a car in motion Hi, I have to shoot a car in motion (60-70 km/h). I am planing to shoot from an ATW. If anyone tried this please advice me what would be the best solution; on the shoulder or steadicam. I am shooting with a JVC GY HD 251 camera with a 13-3,5 lens and I have a steadicam flyer. Any other ideea is welcome. The shoot will be directed it is not an event so I'll be abel to say stop and shoot another take. Also, the subject is the car in motion not the driver. Thanks in advance for your help, Eugen

August 23rd, 2008, 04:08 AM	#2
Stewart Menelaws Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scotland (UK) Posts: 219	Hi Eugen - Not sure if this is of any help, but the following link will take you to a series of car shoots we did with a JVC HD101E a couple of years ago. Time restraints and budgets meant we needed to work quickly so I adopted the following approach. http://www.studioscotland.com/corporate.htm - second movie after Hilton Hotels at the end - much more dedicated movies can be seen at knockhill.com website http://www.studioscotland.com/Diary.htm - some behind the scenes 1: The use of a small but good quality mini dv camera (the HD101E - a new camera at the time) that would not require an elaborate rig and could be handheld. 2: kept the camera uncluttered - stock lens, set to wide, prefocused. kept of the shoulder and used the "flip out" monitor for composition. 3: We had a support vehicle with really nice suspension qualities, its seats were removed at the rear (tailgate up) and I lay down flat on the floor, being held in place by my soundman. 4: Holding the camera out of the back of the vehicle and inches from the road surface I did a balancing act holding the top camera handle (like a pivot) and supporting movement holding onto the IDX battery attached. A short heavy strap was conected to the camera and around my neck 5: All shot on a racing track where we went around a couple of times to check best angles, smoothest moves and lighting issues. 6: Lead vehicle and cars being shot were driven by professionals enabling perfect timing moves - first time, reaching speeds of 80mph and at some points the camera was virtually under the front of the car or inches from the wheels. 7: Certain moves were timed, such as cars crossing over to get a sweeping camera move and so on. 8: On the big plasma screens at the racing circuit the final shots look really nice. 9: For other work we have done for this client we have also put footage through Apple's Shake to smooth out bumps. Although all the clips on the link above have not had any smoothing. Regards, Stu www.studioscotland.com

August 23rd, 2008, 07:48 AM	#3
Eugen Oprina Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bucharest Romania Posts: 221	Thank you very much Stu. Very nice shots. I still wonder if steadicam on ATW is a good ideea if I want it to be smooth. I have shot handheld on an ATW and it was ok for very short cuts but for some longer movement arround the car I wonder if steadi is the solution. Thanks again, Eugen