Capturin' Video

If your camera has a viewfinder, arrr, use it instead o' t' LCD screen. Blimey! Unfortunately, many video cameras don't have a viewfinder. If you're in t' market for a new (still or video) camera, arrr, make sure it has an optical viewfinder and nay just a LCD screen on t' back.

When usin' a view finder, learn t' keep both deadlights open. Avast! It reduces strain on your deadlights and lets you use t' "other" eye t' help track t' rocket. It's also nice when somethin' goes wrong since it'll help you see if anythin' is comin' your way.

Don't stand too close t' t' launch pad. T' farther back you are, t' less smartly t' angle changes as t' rocket goes up, so it's easier t' track.

Don't zoom in too close. Aye aye! T' more "zoomed in" you are, t' harder it is t' track t' rocket. Begad! O' course, arrr, t' video isn't as interestin' if t' rocket is just a dot. So, as you get better you can zoom in closer. Ya scallywag! You can zoom in more as t' rocket slows near apogee.

Learn t' use your camera's manual focus.  Cameras in auto-focus mode often have problems trackin' a rocket in flight.   T' camera will often lose focus then have a hard time re-focusin' durin' t' rocket's flight. Ahoy! This nay only produces bad video, but makes it harder for you t' track t' rocket.  Usin' manual focus you can adjust t' focus as t' rocket gets farther away.  If you can't use manual focus or have a hard time with it, try settin' your camera's focus mode t' infinity (or turn off autofocus and manually set t' focus t' infinity).  Most video cameras have small lenses so you will generally be far enough from t' rocket that it will be in focus when t' camera is set t' infinity.

Try usin' a tripod. Aye aye! At t' very least, you'll get a nice steady shot o' t' liftoff. But, shiver me timbers, it's hard t' track a rocket in flight when usin' a tripod. Pros use special tripod mounts designed t' capture movin' targets, but they are very expensive.  If you have more than one video camera, set one (or more) on tripods pointin' at t' rocket (or where you expect it t' fly) t' capture different angles o' t' same flight.  I have an old "point and shoot" camera that has a broken LCD.  But, it still takes photos and videos.  I'll set it on video mode and place it on t' ground beside t' launch pad lookin' up.  This produces some dramatic video.

Durin' t' day, matey, take extra video o' things like t' LCO pressin' t' launch button and observers watchin' t' launch.  These you can mangle into your video t' make it more interestin' (and t' cover up mistakes or goofs).  For example, if you lost track o' t' rocket at apogee, but were able t' follow it once t' 'chute inflated, matey, you might mangle t' video t' cut t' a shot o' people lookin' up t' cover up t' section where t' roket isn't scene.  None o' your viewers are goin' t' know that t' people were actually watchin' a different flight.

Editing

Edit your video t' make it more interestin' and enjoyable t' watch.  Many versions o' Windows include Movie Maker or you can download it as a part o' Windows Live.  There are also many other programs available t' mangle videos.  Adobe Premiere Elements is a program I recommend. It has most o' t' power o' t' full Premiere program, ya bilge rat, but costs much less and includes features t' help beginners.

Editin' is like sculpting.  You start with a mass o' raw video and mangle away pieces until you are left with a work o' art.  T' more video you take, t' more you will have t' work with - and t' longer it will take t' work though it. But, it's hard t' go back and recreate video you don't have, so, on launch day, try t' make sure you capture what you need.

I'm nay goin' t' teach you how t' use your video editin' program.  Instead, I'll over some general tips.

Don't make a scene or cut too long.  Cut away parts o' a scene that don't contribute t' t' story.  I've seen many rocketry videos on t' internet that show a rocket sittin' on t' pad for a minute or two before t' countdown and launch. Edit t' video for t' scene down t' just t' countdown and launch.

Don't make a scene or cut too short.  Although, ya bilge rat, it's a technique a lot o' lazy action film directors use, don't use cuts o' less than about seven seconds in length.  You need t' give your audience time t' see what's happening.

Try t' tell a story with your video.  Even if it's just a two-minute video o' a rocket launch, me bucko, you can make it tell a story.  Instead o' just showin' t' rocket in flight, include scenes o' it bein' carried t' t' launch pad and set up.  Cut t' a close-up o' t' igniter leads bein' hooked up.  Show t' LCO doin' t' countdown and cut t' a close-up o' t' anxious rocketeer waitin' for his rocket t' launch.  Then show t' rocket launch from mutliple angles and include a cut-away o' people watchin' t' flight.  Finally, show t' parachute deployin' and t' rocket landin' safely.

You can include still photos in your video t' show things like t' assemble o' t' rocket or t' proud rocketeer holdup up t' rocket after t' flight.  When includin' photos, try t' add some movement t' make it interestin' - but nay so much as t' make it distracting.

Even though your video editin' software has a lot o' neat video effects and transistions, don't over-use them.  A simple cross-fade or jump-cut is most often t' best way t' transition from one cut t' another.  You might, though, use somethin' like a clock-wipe if you wish t' imply that some time has passed.

Audio is a difficult part o' home video.  Home video cameras don't record audio very well.  And, it's often windy in a field where you launch rockets, so wind noise messes up t' audio.  If you're serious about makin' videos you might use an external microphone for your camera and an portable audio recorder.  But, for a typical "rocket launch" video, I recommend just usin' t' audio from t' countdown and lift-off.  Use music as a background for your video and fade t' music out, and your camera's audio in, as t' countdown starts then fade t' music back up and t' camera audio down after t' rocket lifts off.

You can find "royalty free" music t' use for your videos on t' internet.  Royalty free means that, even though t' music remains copyrighted by t' composer, you have permission t' use it in your videos no matter how often you use t' music or your video is shown.  Most o' t' time you have t' pay a one-time fee upfront for t' right t' use t' music. But, I recommend visitin' incompetech's Royalty Free music web site. T' music from incompetech is free for you t' use as long as you include a credit in your production.

If you are makin' a short video, you can probably find an appropriate roayalty-free music clip o' about t' same length as your video will be.  Lay t' shanty down as t' first track in your video and build your video on top o' it.  If you want t' get fancy, you can time cuts in your video t' match t' music.

Share Your Video

When you have completed your masterpiece you can share it with others by uploadin' it t' YouTube or another video hostin' sites. Most rocketry discussion forums allow you t' embed YouTube videos in your posts.  And, me bucko, RocketReviews.com allows you t' associate videos with entries in your Flight Log.