The Long Telegram

Working with digital SLR cameras for video is a constant balancing act, a trade-off between the control and depth of field you get from the Canons and the Nikons of the world versus the fact that this is not, in fact, a video camera.

The best (maybe only) manual can be found on Vimeo, where people are posting breathtaking short documentaries, montages and generally beautiful work. The name of the game is to watch what they do and to copy them relentlessly.

I’m offering up my favorites in three blog posts sorted by genre.

This time around, I’ll focus on short documentaries and news videos, which is where I spend most of my time as a journalist. The Canon dSLRs present some serious challenges to videographers in the realm of audio, focus and stabilization. These journalists have overcome those obstacles and even taken things a step further with some really innovative shots. Beyond that, they’ve done it some of the harshest conditions you can find.

To do this, they’ve likely adopted some set up that looks like a Swiss army knife. They know the constraints and the possibilities, and they work within them.

Danfung Dennis – Battle for Hearts and Minds

Danfung Dennis took his camera and followed Echo Company, 2nd Batallion, 8th Marine Company, into the Helmand River valley. I can’t wait to see the full version. When I was deciding what sort of setup to get for my camera, I copied Dennis’ set up almost exactly. It makes you mobile, flexible and the results are great for both audio and video.

Tyler Ginter – Why We Fight

This video is an official release of the U.S. Army, so it’s got a serious amount of spin. That being said, they could work with this training team and set up shots in advance. The result is some cool reverse angles in a live-fire situation.

LiPo Ching - Disabled in Vietnam

Honestly, I’m not sure if the San Jose Mercury News is shooting its videos on dSLRs, but the spirit is definitely there. And it runs across all their work. My favorite is this video on disabled youth in Vietnam. But they also have videos on sex trafficking and police brutality. The editing techniques they use are great. I’m hoping that this is the future of video news online.

Jason Taylor – Sereka Cambodia

Jason shoots promotional videos for international NGOs and aid organizations. He’s working on a full-length documentary on the world’s slums. This video from Cambodia is hard to watch, and the camera work brings the situation into stark relief.

Eliot Rausch – Last Minutes with ODEN

I saved the best for last. This is the most powerful six minutes of video storytelling I’ve ever seen on the Internet. The bike riding sequences act as both a release and a bridge for the narrative. Amazing.