How to record outdoor videos on a smartphone

How to record outdoor videos on a smartphone

We share 12 practical tips, techniques and recommendations to improve your outdoor video recordings

“You should make more videos.”

This has become both a request and a rebuke from our friends and readers at Atlas & Boots. Admittedly, video played third fiddle to writing and photography on our travels.

Peter has a degree in film, but photography is his first love, so video is relegated to me - the author - on our travels as he can't do both at the same time. I admit that I didn't take this task seriously on our big trip abroad. For example, the footage I shot at the legendary Rano Raraku location on the unique Easter Island was only four seconds long.

alt=“How to record outdoor videos on a smartphone”>Atlas & BootsMy video footage here was exactly four seconds long…

Over time, I've learned that our outdoor video footage is one of the most important things our readers enjoy, so I started taking it more seriously. I'm not in a position to lug around professional video equipment, so Peter spent some time teaching me how to record outdoor video on my smartphone and pointing me to relevant resources. Here is the best information I have gathered so far.

Invest in quality

If you're not investing in professional video equipment, invest in the next best thing. As Peter says in his photography gear guide, spending money on decent gear will pay off in the long run. We just upgraded to a Google Pixel 2 XL, widely considered the best smartphone for video recording.

alt=“How to Shoot Outdoor Videos on a Smartphone Pixel 2″>GoogleThe Pixel XL 2 has up to 128GB of hard drive storage - ideal for 4K videos

The camera handles image resolution very well and has an aperture of F/1.8, meaning it works well in low-light situations. The real winner is the improved processor that delivers ultra-high definition 4K video. The Pixel 2 XL also has one of the largest hard drives available for a smartphone at up to 128GB - ideal for bulky 4K videos.

Finally, it also offers free and unlimited storage for all our photos and videos in their original quality. We're happy with the Pixel so far and will be using it in anger on our upcoming trips to Australia and New Zealand. Watch this space.

Don't use the default video app

Almost all videos on Atlas & Boots' YouTube channel were shot using the smartphone's default video app. A far better option is a premium video recording app like Filmic Pro. At $14.99, it's not the cheapest app in the store, but the difference in quality is worth the money.

Features include variable speed zoom, variable frame rates up to 240 fps on the latest devices, and full manual control over focus, exposure, ISO, shutter speed, tint and color temperature. If you know what you're doing, a dedicated app can elevate your video far beyond what's common on a smartphone.

Learn basic techniques

Smartphones make pointing and recording so easy, but learning some basic framing techniques will greatly improve your outdoor video.

• Drittelregel: Teilen Sie die Aufnahme vertikal und horizontal in Drittel auf und rahmen Sie die Aktion in einem Schnittpunkt zweier Punkte ein und nicht zwischen ihnen.
• Fotografieren Sie im Querformat statt im Hochformat. Die meisten Bildschirme sind horizontal und weisen hässliche schwarze Balken auf beiden Seiten auf, wenn Sie vertikal fotografieren.
• Ändern Sie Ihre Perspektive beim Fotografieren. Verwenden Sie verschiedene Winkel und Tiefen. Erwägen Sie, die gleiche Aktion nach Möglichkeit mehr als einmal zu drehen. Die Clips können später in einem flüssigen Schuss zusammengenäht werden.
• Nehmen Sie einige Setup-Aufnahmen auf: Denken Sie an das Outdoor-Video als Ganzes. Ist es eine gute Idee, einige Setup-Aufnahmen zu filmen, um Kontext zu bieten und zwischen Szenen zu wechseln?

Consider storyboards

I generally just show up and shoot. Sometimes I get lucky, like when Mount Yasur decided to blast two seconds into my intro below and add a dash of drama. Sometimes I end up with a hodgepodge of footage.

To take your outdoor video to the next level, consider storyboarding first. What is the main message of the video? What is the Mastershot? What recordings will complement it? Who are you going to shoot? What will they do or say? Do you have to shoot multiple times?

This doesn't have to be Stanley Kubrick-level planning; just a little foresight will probably do the trick. Five years later, the footage Peter produced on his K2 Base Camp trek was of significantly better quality.

Put your phone in airplane mode

By default, some smartphones pause recording when there is an incoming call. This can be frustrating if you've been waiting a long time for a particular shot.

Turn on airplane mode to avoid unwanted distractions and interruptions. This also helps preserve battery life.

Adjust exposure and focus manually

Point-and-shoot can work well if you're filming in natural light that isn't too bright. In most cases, however, you would do well to set and lock exposure and focus manually. This creates smoother and more consistent footage. You can find out how to do this in the operating instructions for your video app.

Learn Lo-Fi Stabilization

If you have room for additional gear, consider a Glif smartphone tripod mount. The Glif adjusts to the size of your phone and case and can be attached to a tripod for smooth outdoor videos.

However, if you (like me) want to limit your pack to the bare essentials, learn some lo-fi stabilization techniques. Instead of holding up your smartphone, use both hands and lock your elbows along your body for stability. This will not eliminate unwanted movements, but will minimize the wobbling cam effect.

To capture movement, move your entire upper body, not just the camera. This means that outdoor videos are recorded much more smoothly.

A cost-effective and effective way to combat condensation is with a Humonitor anti-fog insert. Place these small pads inside the camera body to absorb trapped moisture and prevent condensation from forming on the lens. Each set is enough for 4-5 uses and can be dried in an oven (three minutes) and used again.

Carry a portable charger

If you're going to be filming with your smartphone for a long time, it's a good idea to take a spare battery or charger with you.

At Atlas & Boots, we don't travel anywhere without our MSC Power Stick. As mentioned in 8 Essential Gadgets for Safe Travel, the stick provides a full charge for most smartphones and, at just a little larger than a lipstick, is light and portable enough to stash in your daypack.

Without them, I wouldn't have been able to capture everything I wanted on our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.

Just keep filming!

Film as much as your smartphone storage allows - not just the action, but general views too. Take lots of shots of the entry, the conversation, the landscapes and any interesting features along the way.

If you feel like you're filming too much, I bet you'd have more footage when you got home - like I did with this Mauna Kea video.

If you're worried about filling up your storage, consider curating on the go. I filmed one minute at a time on the Mount Yasur volcano and then deleted it when the volcano didn't explode. This was a better strategy than filming continuously for five minutes and ending up with an explosion that would waste four minutes of space.

However, be careful not to be too reckless. More is more when it comes to editing. And of course, make sure you don't miss a great shot because you're too busy fiddling with your footage.

Add comment later

Poor sound can ruin great outdoor video footage, so be sure to stay quiet while filming and add your commentary about the ambient noise later. This ensures a clearer narrative.

If live comments are important, you have two options. The lo-fi solution is to try to shield the microphone from the wind and speak directly into it. The better solution is to buy a microphone for your smartphone, which is more expensive but ensures far better audio quality. Try the AmpRidge MightyMic S or the Rode SmartLav+.

Get good at editing

Much like I'm suspicious of multi-cuisine restaurants, I'm also suspicious of people who claim to be "writers, photographers and artists" or something like that.

To be good – really good – at any of these things takes time and dedication. Saying you're all three is basically admitting you're a jack of all trades, master of none. Based on this philosophy, I resisted learning any video editing for a long time.

I'm now coming to the realization that I can improve my video editing skills without pursuing videographer status. I'll start with the basic mechanics of Final Cut Pro X. Then I'll move on to the finer aspects of video editing (soundtrack, sequencing, etc.).

Given my shortcomings on Easter Island, I don't have to try hard to see improvement!

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