Anyone else making their own climbing videos?

I've been trying to put together some videos lately, and was wondering if anyone else does the same. I would like to know a few things:
First, what software for editing are people using?
Second, are there any tips or tricks that you find indispensable in shooting/editing your videos?
Last, I would be psyched to see some examples of some mp.com users videos. I've been watching some videos on vimeo, but would like to see examples from the climbing community at large.

PM Cheyne Lempe. He has made several including a very well made one of his recent Patagonia adventure that is also found on the "Post Awesome Trad Movies Here" thread.

Adobe after effects for preliminary editing. Then adobe premier for putting all the shots together. I would recommend shooting with a high end DSLR because nobody wants to watch videos that aren't in HD anymore. Also try to get as many angles/perspectives as possible. Then cut them together to make something interesting. Also use vimeo!

I just added this last night.

Solitude from Trevor Vita on Vimeo.

Here is a link to the rest of my stuff.
vimeo.com/user11447609/videos

I'm a film major in college and just got my first Dslr to start making climbing films in my spare time. So far I've learned that less is definitely more. No one wants to watch a climb if the video cuts to a new angle every move. For bouldering, shoot one or two angles and cut once at the most. Adding shots of hiking, wildlife, or buddies messing around is standard these days and adds some character to your films. I use final cut for editing and motion for graphics and titles. I shoot with a canon rebel t3i

Darren in Vegas wrote:are there any tips or tricks that you find indispensable in shooting/editing your videos?

Buy the best tripod and head that you can afford.

In fact, buy an even better one than that. There's nothing that screams "amateur" like an unintentionally jerky camera move.

And make sure you spend a lot of time getting things right out in the field-- become an expert in exposure, lighting, and composition and it'll make things a lot easier when you sit down with Premiere to cut it together.

Take plenty of b-roll and re-shoot things until you get them right too, but don't feel like you need to use it. If you're only using 10-20% of the footage that you record in your final edits you're probably on the right track.

And learn the limitations of your gear-- you can shoot some incredible stuff on a m4/3 camera, but you need to know how to use it to its advantage. Don't try to do quick pans or track fast movement unless you're shooting on a very high-end camera or you're going to get some seriously distracting artifacts. Same goes for learning your camera's limitations for autofocus, dynamic range, etc.

Manual white balance and exposure. That is key. Nothing looks more amateur than the exposure changing drastically in the middle of a shot. Peter brings up a good point about the tripod too. Use the auto stabilization on your editing program for pans.

Final Cut Studio is a great piece of software. I don't like the new Final Cut X yet. If price is an issue and you are learning from scratch, maybe FCP X would be suitable for you though.

DSLRs are good to shoot on. The T2i is just as good video as any of the more expensive Canons. Spend your money on good lenses. I like the Tamron F2.8 zooms for the price. You want low constant aperture lenses. With DSLR it's important to not move the camera too fast or you'll get rolling shutter issues. If you can make the camera rig heavier with a handheld rig or use a tripod or jib, you'll get better results. Shoot the lowest aperture you can and still achieve the focus you want. Use polarizing filters (Edit: I mean ND filters) if needed. (The DSLRs perform worse at higher number F stops). There are also some video cameras that shoot pretty well and are easier to use in the field.

Sound is very important. Don't overlook it. Try and get clean sound through a good shotgun mic or lavs.

Editing is crucial. Shoot tons of stuff. Even stuff you don't think you'll need. Then try and make the video as short and tight as possible. You don't need a ten second shot of climbers walking up to the climb. Unless that shot serves the story. Expect to spend countless hours editing if you want your video to appear professional.

Now all that said... The most important thing is that you tell a good story with your videos. You won't be able to achieve the high end visuals that a full production can, but you can always tell a good story. If you have a good story, you can shoot a video on your iPhone and people will like it.

Check out Cole Gibson's documentary about Stoney Point. He does a great job telling the story of Stoney Point. It is quite professional, and he shot most of it with just him and a friend on DSLRs. Stoneypointdocumentary.com

Here's a little video I threw together from climbing with a friend in Bishop last year. We shot this on my iPhone and his Flip, and I just threw it together as a keepsake. This is an example of how not to make movies professionally (but since I do that for a living, I don't want to spend a lot of time making movies about my hobby.)

facebook.com/video/video.ph…

Darren in Vegas wrote:Are there any tips or tricks that you find indispensable in shooting/editing your videos?

Dubstep. Lots and lots of dubstep. The more dubstep in your climbing movie, the better it will be. If you can, try to play 2 or 3 dubstep tracks all at the same time. No one would be able to tell the difference anyway.

This is a mountain biking video that I helped shoot and produce a while back:

vimeo.com/19007783

It was shot on 7Ds and 5DIIs, and their limitations are quite apparent throughout, although it came together pretty well in the end.

Rob Gordon wrote:Here's a little video I threw together from climbing with a friend in Bishop last year. We shot this on my iPhone and his Flip, and I just threw it together as a keepsake. This is an example of how not to make movies professionally (but since I do that for a living, I don't want to spend a lot of time making movies about my hobby.) facebook.com/video/video.ph…

wow...that's pretty good for "thrown together".

Thanks for all the tips guys. Tripods, white balance, b-roll footage, and dubstep...lots of dubstep.

If anyone else has any other good tips about gear, editing, or shooting I would love to hear more.

Some of the videos you guys did are great. I would like to see more from others too.

Seriously, you cannot go wrong with a T2i. Great value. You can mount nice glass on it (you dont always need L series lenses either). Same sensor that's in the 7d. Shoots 1080 (which you dont really need either as most it will most likely be compressed for vimeo/youtube). Also compatible with Magic Lantern.

Big fan of these lenses:
Tokina 2.8 11-16
Canon 10-22
24-70 2.8
18-55 2.8
70-200 2.8

Spend some time shooting stills. It will really help with composing shots for video.

Story board. Know what you're going to shoot before you do so. I like to make a shot list before I go out.

Learn how to do smooth panning.

Music. Dont just use something you personally enjoy listening to. Try to find something that goes with the feel you're trying to convey. License it. You will be surprised by who might see your work.

Shoot in manual. Turn off the autofocus. Balance the color. A view finder is useful. Avoid buttshots(this has to be said). Do not shoot using the vertical orientation. This just looks terrible. Unintentional lens flare isnt that best and can really mess up a shot. Use a hood if you're out in the sun. If you're shooting in the shade, be aware of areas in your composition that are in the sun. A blown out area can really distract from the subject.

Editing. FCPx really isnt that bad. Windows movie maker really is. Youtube tutorials are your friend. After Effects is another wonderful program, but it is quite complicated if you're not used to layering. Learning Photoshop & AE at the same time is well worth the effort.

Timelapses are great. Just dont go overboard. There's a certain film crew that really wore that one out. Thanks guys.

Sound. If you're going to use sound from the shoot, take some time to learn about gain and how it effects the quiet parts of the footage. Consider a shotgun mic. They're relatively inexpensive and can make a huge difference if you're going to include voice overs taken at the crag (really helps with wind).

FCP X really is that bad if you are trying to do anything on a professional level (and by that I don't really mean quality of work, just industry standards). I think they've fixed this now with an expensive plugin, but you couldn't even export an OMF when it came out.

I don't have a problem with Apple trying to simplify things for the hobbyist, but they should have at least released an FCP X Pro where the timeline isn't this weird connect the dots game that can't be unconnected.

Edit: in Hollywood, FCP X is referred to as iMovie Pro as a joke.

Darren: Here's another video to check out. This one was shot and edited by my buddy Callum. This was only his second go at editing, and he just had one Flip to shoot on, but the video is pretty sweet. Neil retired from climbing for 6 months after a close call to death while pulling ropes.

East Face Central Tower Patagonia: vimeo.com/41232209

Also: If you're looking for a reputable place to buy used gear check out the Buy&Sell section at FredMiranda.com. I buy almost all of my camera equipment from people on there, and I've sold a few things as well. There are a lot of pros there that sell wonderful equipment at less-than-new prices.

This should always be within reach while you're shooting too . Proper white balance is always important.