Part Time Vagabond

Tips for Better Travel Videos, Pt. 1: Rock Steady

// July 16th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // HOW TO

Uh oh, it’s that time again. Uncle Harry’s breaking out the video camera to take along on his annual vacation to Disney World. Which means you’ll have to suffer through 2 hours of shaky, underexposed footage, mostly of people’s feet and loud carnival music. Harry may love his stuff, but you know you can do better. The next time you take a trip somewhere and you bring along your video camera, take these tips along with you so you can show Uncle Harry how it’s done.

Part 1: Rock Steady, or how to not make your viewers nauseous.

• Use a tripod. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But most people forget this most basic of camera techniques. Manufacturers make lightweight tripods these days that you can bring along with you. You can even use a monopod to help stabilize your shots. Joby makes the Gorillapod, a great portable go-anywhere tripod that can support some of the smaller camcorders.
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• Brace yourself. If you’re going to shoot handheld, use your arms as though they’re the legs of a tripod. The third leg is your body. Hold your elbows close, locking them into your torso, and use your free hand (the one not carrying the camera) to hold underneath the camera’s lens. That also gives you access to many of the camera’s controls.
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• Move in, zoom out. The telephoto feature on your camera is great if you can’t reach your subject, but getting physically closer is better. Zoom your lens out to its widest setting and get as close to the subject as you can. You’ll nearly eliminate camera shake this way (the longer your zoom, the shakier your shot), you can see details better, you get better lighting (the more you have to zoom in, the less light can enter the lens), and you get a more intimate shot. Focus is also more forgiving in a wider angle.
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• Use what you have. Don’t have a tripod or monopod, but still want a rock solid shot? Use a backpack or purse to stabilize the camera. Rearrange things inside the bag so it creates a “U” shape that you can nestle the camera into.
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• Lean. Yup, lean. Lean up against a building, light pole, another person, whatever is solid and can take most of your weight. Your body naturally moves to compensate for changing conditions, and your muscles can only hold a position steady for so long. Again, think of yourself as part of a human tripod. Using an immovable object as a support will help you to keep things from rocking and rolling.

These tips may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people fail to use them. After a little practice, you’ll become a pro at getting rock-solid steady shots that will blow Uncle Harry’s movies out of the water and win you the praise of a grateful — and non-nauseous — family.

In part 2 of Tips for Better Travel Videos, I’ll give you some ideas on getting good sound for your travel movies.

Road Trip Food: Eating Healthy in the Car

// June 28th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // GRUB, HOW TO, ROADSIDE

Erin Dow is chef/owner of Eatswell Farm, a Maine-based catering firm. She is also the Expert Chef for the Guiding Stars Licensing Company and the Consulting Executive Chef for Professional Catering Services, a company that provides backstage production catering to the music industry.

I do two kinds of travel: business travel and mommy travel. For business, my travel generally involves driving large trucks packed with thousands of pounds of catering kitchen equipment long distances, unpacking said trucks, setting up said kitchen equipment, catering an event, tearing the kitchen down, repacking the truck, and driving back home…generally within 24 hours. Mommy travel involves a family of five and a dog, a station wagon, and a long distance. The stress level is about the same.

Given the fact that traveling is a lot of work, diet is often the first priority to go out the window. We eat nasty bits to assuage our nerves, we share them to keep the kids quiet, and we opt for pre-packaged items to facilitate our misguided choices. But with about fifteen minutes of planning, you can reduce the impact your travel diet choices have on your health and still enjoy a treat.

• Skip the Big Gulp and whip up a smoothie and pack it in a thermos before hitting the road. It’ll satisfy your sweet tooth, your hunger, your thirst, and your wallet.
• Pack lots of water. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Proper hydration keeps us from misinterpreting the body’s cues.
• Bang out a batch of baked tortilla chips for the trip. This recipe from Gourmet is popular with my catering clients.
• Make homemade snack bars. Trail mix and granola are handy but often messy with kids. Many are dump and run, like this winner, full of nuts and seeds and covered in chocolate.

Finally, remember that even the healthy-looking options at the gas station—like energy bars—are often loaded with calories and are better suited as a meal replacement. Regardless, it’s preferable to have your calories come from homemade whole food choices rather than commercially manufactured items, and with a little forethought, it’s almost as easy.

HOW TO: Deal with Cabin Fever

// February 16th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // HOW TO

It’s mid-winter, and I’m antsy. Shorter days, being stuck indoors, and lack of sunlight (plus – surprsingly – a lack of snow here in Southern Maine) will really take a toll on even the heartiest of souls. For some, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real problem that can lead to depression, anxiety, and physical problems. Even if you’re not suffering from SAD, another affliction – cabin fever – can set in after too many hours/days/weeks/months of being cooped up indoors. What to do?

Seasonal Affective Disorder

SAD is pretty easy to detect. You’ll feel lethargic and have crashes, especially in the afternoon. You’ll crave carbs, have an increased appetite, and want to sleep more. A lot more. Worst of all, you’ll start to feel depressed, and that can lead to social anxiety and withdrawal. No one wants to feel that way, but unfortunately, SAD feeds off itself, so it can be difficult to pull yourself out of it, especially when you’re stuck inside.

Fortunately, you can treat yourself for SAD. Aside from seeing a doctor who can prescribe medications for the depression, a change in diet, exercise habits, and time spent outdoors can really help to alleviate, if not eliminate, the problem. Sure, you can use a light therapy lamp to get some more daylight, and it will likely help. A better solution is to go outside, no matter how cold (layers, people. Layers), and enjoy what daylight you do have. The extra exercise will get your blood flowing and your body burning extra calories and the “bad fats” that would normally be stored as extra weight. Plus, you’ll stay warm!

Diet is also a key factor in treating SAD. Erin Dow, Expert Chef for Guiding Stars Licensing Company (GuidingStars on Twitter), says  “For me, eating a diet that includes healthy portions of dairy and eggs, fish, lean white meats, avocado, and nuts [is] helpful; it provides me with a boost of Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, and tryptophan, an amino acid that many believe aids serotonin production in the brain and boosts mood.” Erin knows first hand the effects of SAD. “SAD is a bona-fide medical condition that I believe should be evaluated by a professional. I…believe that with our diet, we can help ourselves through these long winters. Eating a varied and colorful diet reduces…overall stress, keeping [your] body and mind healthier overall. Frankly, eating delicious foods makes me happier anyway, so it’s a win-win situation.”

In addition to a poor diet, if you’re confined by four walls with only a little bit of light streaming through the windows, it’s not enough to just sit by those windows, as your body knows it’s still got the darkness around you.

That leads me to a less severe, but no less irritating, winter problem:

Cabin Fever

We’ve all had this problem: You’re stuck inside because it’s too cold/snowy/dark outside, and you just don’t feel like going out into that. But you’re getting antsy, and you need to move around. Nah, you don’t want to go to the gym. No, you don’t want to go for a walk (didn’t they just hear you? It’s too cold/snowy/dark outside!). But man, you gotta do something! Maybe you’ll clean your room; you end up cleaning the entire house. Ok, that’s done. Hey, look at those old photo albums! You haven’t looked through all 97 of them in years! Well, ok, those weren’t as interesting as you thought. Maybe you’ll just go take a nap (SAD anyone?). But all you can do is toss and turn. Guess you’ll just go watch a movie on tv. Can’t watch a movie without popcorn. Oh, and a soda too. Maybe some candy to cheer me up. Nope. Hey, it’s raining out now! Well, you can still go out in that and be ok. You just need your raincoat. Now where is it?

Sound familiar?

Cabin fever is less serious than SAD, but no less irritating. While cabin fever is not an official medical condition, being stuck indoors for extended periods of time can lead to some of the same symptoms of SAD, on a less debilitating level. Cabin fever is not actually an official diagnosis of anything except needing to get your ass out of the house. It’s a damn fine excuse to strap on your boots, put on an extra layer of clothing, and hit the trails or wander the neighborhood.

I’m telling you: GO OUTSIDE!

Yeah, that’s actually a really good solution to all this. Go outside more. Even if you spend twenty minutes a day outside walking, running, getting the mail, something, that time spent with natural daylight will make you feel that much better. And the more time you spend out there, the better you’ll feel. If you’re at work, take a few minutes during your lunch break to walk around outside. The weekends are a prime time for outdoor activities, and the calories you’ll burn will actually make you feel better. Also, as we learned earlier in this post, eating the right kinds of foods can only help things improve. When it comes to both SAD and cabin fever, you have to take action to make things better. Once you take that very first step, your winter life will improve.

Disclaimer: No one in this article (myself or Erin Dow) are medical professionals. If you feel any of the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, I recommend you seek professional medical attention immediately. Seriously, do it. You’ll feel better.

5 Items for the Nomadic Videographer

// August 27th, 2009 // No Comments » // HOW TO

As you’ll well learn over the course of this blog’s existence, I am a video nut. I’ve been producing and shooting video for well over 15 years, but I rarely think to bring my gear with me on a trip. Video gear — especially the pro stuff — is heavy, bulky, and not all that fun to lug around. But now, with the advent of micro-camcorders and easy, portable editing solutions, the temptation to bring along a full complement of equipment is stronger than ever.

No one wants to lug around a hundred pounds of extra stuff when you’re just trying to enjoy your trip. Yet we still want to capture those memorable moments and show them off on the family blog. In an effort to lighten the load and still get that amazing shot, here are five items for the nomadic videographer:

1. AVCHD camcorder – These tiny handheld camcorders are made even lighter because of their solid state AVCHD recording media. Without the traditional recording mechanism of tape or hard drive based models, AVCHD camcorders shed those oh-so-important ounces, while giving you stunning High Def images. Try models from Canon or Sony. With all that saved weight, you’ll be able to carry an extra package of GORP.
2. GorillaPod SLR Zoom – Probably the greatest invention for outdoor video and still photography enthusiats, Joby’s Gorillapod is the lightweight go-anywhere tripod with bite. Three nearly infinitely posable, rubber tipped legs allow you to wrap the miniature tripod around a tree branch or grip it securely to a rock face. Joby has also just introduced a ball head for the Gorillapod SLR Zoom version, which allows free-flowing movement in a 360 degree circle. The ball head includes the GorillaPod’s traditional quick-release plate.
3. LED On Camera Light – LED lights are starting to make their way into professional videography, and with good reason. They’re small, lightweight, and bright, but use less battery power than traditional on-camera lights. In the woods or in darkly lit alleys, a good light is essential to seeing what’s on camera. This sub-$200 light from Bescor is small, lightweight, and dimmable.  *Tip: when shooting in the sun with deep shadows, use your camera light to fill in those shadows. Your subject will look much better.
4. Short Shotgun Microphone - Many pros have said it, yet most amateurs ignore it: Audio is an important – if not the most important – part of videography. If you can’t hear, what’s the point? The Azden SGM-X short shotgun microphone sits in your camera’s hot shoe while it’s 1/8″ mini jack plugs right into your camcorder’s microphone jack. Use the mic to not only do on camera “standups,” but also to pick up the amazing sounds you encounter on your journey.
5. Headphones – These lightweight earphones from Klipsch are a great complement to your shotgun microphone. Just as picking up the sound is important, hearing what you’re picking up is important as well. These earphones sit snugly and comfortably in your ears, without taking up a lot of weight or space in your pack. Though they may be pricier than you’re used to, they’re well worth the investment when you can hear the wings of that grey heron flapping from a quarter of a mile away.

BeerCakes!

// August 14th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // GRUB, HOW TO, VIDEO

I had to share this video from Backpacker Magazine. What a great idea! I wonder about using different flavors/types of beer to get a different consistency and taste to the pancakes.

HowTo: Make Memories, Not Just Images

// August 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // HOW TO

As someone who uses video cameras for a living, it can be difficult for me to occasionally put the camera down when traveling — to stop and smell the roses, if you will. Seeing the world through that tiny lens separates you from the experiences you’ve traveled to enjoy. When that happens, your memories will only be what you see in the pictures. You won’t have a story to tell.

A few years ago, I shot a documentary about the Elders of the Lakota Sioux tribe in South Dakota. The place and the people were stark, beautiful, and destitute. There was so much to learn, so much to see, and so much to experience. So, while everyone I talked to who had been a part of the program we were working with had proclaimed that they had experienced a spiritual awakening to one degree or another, I was so entrenched in my viewfinder and getting the perfect shot that I didn’t truly experience anything. It wasn’t until six months later, as I was piecing the film together, that I realized what I had experienced and who I had met. It took me six months to create the memories. And of course, by that time, they had faded. Don’t let your lens block your vision.

It’s easy to get lost in what you’re shooting. We all love a pretty picture, and we think that by snapping a shot of that beautiful sunset or getting footage of that gorgeous waterfall, we’ll be able to enjoy the feeling of being there long after we get back home. Yet when we do return, and the bags are unpacked, and the family is plopped down in front of the TV, something’s different. That sunset seems flat and not so brilliant. The waterfall is dull and somehow less mighty. We forgot that the camera only gives us a two dimensional representation of our experiences. The magic gets lost in translation. So take a few moments, put the camera away, and let the magic of your journey truly sink in.