PRE-TRIP PREPARATIONS

• have camcorder checked, heads cleaned
• make yourself familiar with camcorder controls—e.g. backlight, spot light, white balance, focus, etc.
• test gear before departure
• practice shooting without looking in viewfinder
• purchase sufficient videotapes to take with you
• research destinations, especially places with multiple attractions
• jot down ideas for possible shots
• try to learn if photography/videography is allowed in place to be visited
• consider having two camcorders if there are two people together
• prepare several copies of lists of equipment with serial numbers
• consider what equipment you will need and balance with mode of travel and expected locations for taping—you can take more equipment when travelling by car than by plane—mines and tunnels may require extra lighting

EQUIPMENT

Power

• carry extra batteries (2 minimum, 3 or more better)
• if possible have external charger so extra battery can charge while you are out shooting
• converters for foreign power supplies or at least plug adapters
• if travelling by car may want to consider cigarette lighter plug cord
• adapter for throw-away batteries

Sound Equipment

• wireless microphones to place near guide
• small external microphone to attach near bus sound speakers for guided tours
• earphones (at least bud type)

Lenses and Filters

• wide-angle converter is especially good for out-bus-window shots, location shots
• UV filter to protect lens
• Lens pen, blower bulb, lens tissues

Remote control

• gets you in picture
• lets you get further from camcorder
• can avoid jarring camcorder when starting/stopping recording

Support

• small tripod—remote on handle for Sony/Canon
• bean bag
• monopod or hiking staff with camera adapter
• camera stabilizer cord
• shoulder strap

Miscellaneous Accessories

• carrying case
• preferably not with brand name prominently displayed
• leave hard case in car, hotel room, on bus
• camera bag or backpack or diaper bag
• fanny pack
• camera, extra battery, extra tape

• cables
• firewire, AV for connecting to other travellers’ camcorders
• RF cable if in North America or Japan to connect to hotel TVs
• notebook
• lighting

• laptop computer for editing
• tapes—take more than sufficient number of tapes with you
• cleaning tape
• electric tape, duct tape
• camcorder manual
• dark cloth, lens hood
• extension cord
• pliers, screwdrivers
• shoulder pak or fanny-pak

SHOOTING TO EDIT/SHOOTING TIPS

• get establishing shots—wide-angle views of the location, pan if necessary—exception may be to focus on a sign and zoom out to the wide-angle shot
• look for natural titles in signs, posters, brochures, billboards, etc. for live titles
• frame shots
• change image size (long shot to close-up)
• try for variety of angles, perspectives, heights
• look for the unique angle or perspective
• close-ups are most effective
• include people to show scale of buildings, monuments, etc.
• frame action by beginning taping a few seconds before important action starts and continue after it ends
• 5 or 6-second minimum per shot—some camcorders let you set a shot duration shot
• get insert shots in addition to main action
• shoot all things that catch your interest—it can be edited out later
• try to eliminate wind noise
• shoot with sun behind you if possible
• use stabilization
• use shoulder strap, even if camcorder is mounted on a tripod
• cover or turn off tally light, audio beeps
• disable auto-focus
• use tripod or monopod as extension to film over heads of crowd, over fences, etc.
• avoid digital zoom
• avoid zooming, firehosing, etc.
• avoid superimposed time/date indicators on picture
• leave the titling and fadeouts for editing at home
• some people like to voice slate their video with a brief description at the beginning of a sequence of shots
• tape ambient sounds (traffic, surf, etc.) in sufficient length to provide uninterrupted sound track for a segment
• direct before shooting scene so that instructions do not appear in soundtrack
• name cassettes, use write-protection tabs

VIDEO ON COACH TOURS

• where possible try to record actions
• include other tour members in some shots
• include yourself in the video—try to get in at least one scene at each
• take optional side trips
• shoot exteriors and interiors of hotel accommodations
• tapes or CDs of local music (if not for profit video)
• include local markets, street scenes
• avoid looking in viewfinder in markets, street crowds, etc.
• although performances might be copyrighted, audience participation is probably okay to videotape
• best seat is left front seat
• second-best may be empty rear seat
• use tripod or monopod
• view through flip-out monitor
• to shoot out bus window—avoid reflections with lens hood—set focus to infinity—use fast shutter speed
• use notebook to record possible comments that might come in handy during editing, ideas for editing, scenes to be included, etc.

POST-PRODUCTION

• recipe for video includes shortening
• 4 to 1 ratio of raw to edited footage is not unusual
• be ruthless—if in doubt, cut
• editing can be as simple as camcorder to VCR using pause control to eliminate unnecessary footage
• decide upon approximate length of production first (20-30 minutes often best)
• if longer, organize production into segments with intermissions
• may decide to do more than one version
• possible methods of organization
• chronological or diary
• building toward best
• themes (shopping, tourist attractions, entertainment, museums, history, architecture, art, etc.)
• narration
• determine what to say for each sequence
• try to avoid ad-libbing
• plan and write narration in advance and stick to script
• narration may be done in the field at the location or later as a voice-over

For more information:

Shooting Vacation Videos...that Everyone Really Wants to Se Camcorder 1992 Sep. p.013

Taping on Tour--How to Get All the Video You Want Without B Camcorder 1993 Mar. p.052

Taping Russia--On Assignment in Minsk, With a Camcorder.... Camcorder 1994 June p.028

Seniors With Camcorders--Turning Videomaking Into a Travele Camcorder 1994 Nov. p.056

Create a Video Travelogue--How to Turn Your Vacation Tapes Camcorder 1994 Dec. p.084

Simple Ways to Polish Your Vacation Videos................. Camcorder 1995 Oct. p.018

Low Miles...lots of Video--You Don't Have to Travel Far to Camcorder 1996 Sep. p.070

Video Ticket to Travel..................................... Camcorder 1997 Feb. p.028

Abroad With a Camcorder--Using a Video Camera When Visiting Camcorder 1997 Oct. p.094

Catching the Summer Action................................. Camcorder 2000 Sep. p.070

Planning a Vacation Video.................................. Camcorder 2000 Sep. p.084

Great Video From Your Car on the Road...................... Camcorder 2001 June p.082

Cutaways....................................................Camcorder 2002 Feb. p.104

Strange Rites in a Strange Land--Videotaping the Surreal... Camcorder 2002 Feb. p.110

Be Prepared for a Great Video Vacation..................... VideoMaker 1988 July p.016

Easy Does It Vacation Videos............................... VideoMaker 1990 July p.071

Have Camcorder--Will Travel................................ VideoMaker 1991 July p.072

Action and Atmosphere...................................... VideoMaker 1992 Mar. p.087

Seeing There--What to Bring and Do When Shooting Travel Vid VideoMaker 1992 July p.046

Video on Vacation.......................................... VideoMaker 1993 May p.060

Camera Work--20 Vacation Video Tricks...................... VideoMaker 1994 May p.017

Shooting the Journey: a Guide to Vacation Video............ VideoMaker 1995 Mar. p.076

Have Camcorder Will Travel................................. VideoMaker 1997 Oct. p.082

Travel Video--Five Tips to Tote Your Gear.................. VideoMaker 1999 June p.105

Home Video Hints--Ten Tips for Great Travel Video.......... VideoMaker 2001 June p.107

Home Video Hints--A Videographer's Family Vacation......... VideoMaker 2002 June p.059