Getting Started: Handheld Camera Techniques

There are a lot of great things about today's camcorders. Digital recording and big viewfinders are just the tip of the iceberg. In my opinion, the best thing about modern camcorders is that they have become so small and portable. This means that you no longer have to lug a big videotaping contraption all over the amusement park. Your new camcorder can simply hang from a strap around your neck or over your shoulder and is so light you won't even know that it's there.

This huge benefit in portability has been carried over into many accessories. Batteries are small and lightweight; tapes have moved from full-size to compact. There's one bastion of bulk left among camcorders and their accessories—the tripod.

Oh, sure, it's gotten lighter and those cool telescoping legs are mighty impressive. But today's tripod is still bigger than an umbrella, and not quite so easy to set up when you're in a hurry.

So you have a dilemma. You want nice, steady pictures but you don't want the trouble of carrying a tripod with you. What's a videographer to do?

Steady, friend. And I mean that literally. You've got a perfectly good body. Learn how to carry yourself and your camcorder properly and your footage will be mah-velous.

Let's start with the basics of how to hold yourself when holding your camcorder. You may think that by standing absolutely rigid, like a video-crazed Frankenstein monster, you will be able to minimize jitters and have a nice, steady picture.

Quite the opposite. If you stand at attention, you'll look really dapper, but you'll be really uncomfortable, too. You will also be completely unprepared to react to outside forces, like the wind, for example. Just try to move a little. You say you can't? Then how are you going to be able to follow the action with your camcorder? It's much better to remain fluid and relaxed. Stand with your legs about shoulder width apart. Have your feet firmly planted on the ground. Bend your knees ever so slightly. Feel a little springy? You should.

Think about how many athletes use this stance in various sports, like golf, tennis and baseball. It puts them in a position to move quickly and to follow the action. It also turns them into a flesh-and-bone shock absorber.

It's ok to take a hint from these athletes. If someone bumps into you or if the wind picks up, you're body is ready to absorb the shock and not transfer too much of it to your camcorder. Most importantly, though, like a tennis player waiting for a volley, you will be in a position to follow the action.

Next rule: always keep both hands on your camcorder while you are shooting. Camcorders come in two basic varieties. There are full-size camcorders that use full-size VHS tape and rest on your shoulder during shooting. Then there is the compact camcorder, which is essentially a much smaller version of the full-size unit.

Each of these camcorders is stable in varying degrees. The full-size units are the most stable, because they are heavier and your shoulder can support them. Compact camcorders are small and light but must be supported entirely with your hands. This makes shots a little shakier.

Regardless of the size of your camcorder, it should always be held with both hands. Simply put, two hands are better than one. The more support you put beneath your camcorder, the more stable it will become.

When holding your camcorder in front of you, try to keep your elbows close to your chest. By doing this, your chest can help take some of the load off of your arms when you shoot.

See how you are at transforming yourself from a person with a camcorder into a videotaping machine?