What is a gimbal?
Gimbals have been around for while now, but they are suddenly everywhere. You’ve probably seen footage shot from a drone or a quadcopter in the past few months that had iconic helmet-cam shakiness. Did it look cool? You bet. But did you wonder what makes some footage possible by the shake-free footage? That gimbal device is what’s responsible for making that footage possible. Gimbals are an expanding family of devices that act as a stabilizer for an camera and can produce some great shots. Ever thought about buying one? We’ll tell you why!
Let’s walk backwards
In the past, you would have to walk very slowly to get smooth shots, but now with the new gimbals that are coming out, you can walk normal speeds and still get super smooth footage. So get your gimbal out, get it set up and try walking backwards to see those smooth shot results.
Shutter speed is key on a tripod or any other stabilizing tool. But it’s more important on a gimbal because the camera has to be steady enough not to shake when the gimbal picks up movement.
A gimbal may look like a tripod, but it isn’t. So if your interested in getting shots of your subject with smoother movements, a gimbal will be your best friend.
Keep that gimbal close to you
Want to know how to build muscle while videoing your subject? This is definitely it! Trust us, we know how it feels to film a subject with our arms feeling sore the next day, but here’s a few tips.
You will feel the difference when your arms are bent. Don’t extend your arms. It looks cool, but it’s not, and you’ll get tired way faster. So don’t hold your gimbal straight out with arms extended. Keep the gimbal close to you for complete control (and to give your muscles a break). You’ll thank us for this.
Let’s get low
Dion loves to get those low angle shots. And to be honest, it’s something Rachel never thought of but the results within a film are beautiful. Gimbals allow you to move the camera in different ways but keeping in mind not to put too much strain on your back when getting those low angle’s. When filming people dancing (receptions), walking, etc., definitely try it out – you’ll see some cool results!
Fast movements or slow movements – what’s better with your subject?
Fast moving shots are fun and yes, you can slow it down during the editing process but try being subtle and slow things down.
If you are trying to be subtle, don’t overdo it. Start with the subject at the edge of your frame but instead of moving to the other side, use your legs to move up ahead.
Treat your camera like a car for a moment and try not to steer too much. That’s right–go straight and let the subject move to where you want them! Your goal is to get them lined up in your frame where you want them, and then keep going straight no matter how close they get or how far away they go.
The key here is to keep yourself between the action and not be looking through the lens as much as possible. It’s a lot easier than you think once you practice it a bit.
The way you do this is by using your subject to guide your movement, start by visualizing where you want your subject to be in relation to you.
Pre-plan – it’s really okay to do!
As you get ready for your shot, you suddenly realize that the target is way off, not following the line you wanted.
You can slow the end of the motion down a little, or even make it faster if needed. Just remember to be proactive, plan and prepare for every shot in advance. Planning our shots before executing them gives us better control as well as prevents errors especially when using professional equipment like a gimbal.
Conclusion
Gimbals can be a great way to capture some amazing footage. With a little practice and skill, you can create some great smooth and beautiful shots.
As we continue to perfect our craft (we are always learning!), we find new ways to use our gimbal. Creativity is ever evolving.
If you are in need of a filmmaker or videographer, feel free to reach out HERE.
~ Dion and Rachel, Kansas City Videographers