As we all know, a whitetail hunter has more than enough to do to get ready for deer season. And, so do a number of people who are preparing to "shoot" deer in a different way.
NAW Television cameramen Ron Sinfelt (r) and Brian Rusk (c) discuss HD camera settings with InterMedia Outdoors TV editor Sean Hagen.
The guys behind the video cameras for North American Whitetail Television definitely have their own challenges to overcome, and those obstacles loom large at this time of year. In addition to needing to sort out new gear and learn to use it, a cameraman also has to get back into "shooting shape." I'm not talking just about becoming comfortable lugging around a 20-something-pound camera, gangly tripod and other needed gear, but also polishing up that eye. No matter how good the camera or how special the hunting spot, to get great video you must be able to visualize the scenes of a hunting story and then capture them in a way that flows from beginning to end. It's a team effort involving both the hunter and the cameraman . . . not to mention the deer themselves.
Same as with a ballplayer or musician, it takes a certain amount of practice to perform well as a member of this team, whether you're the one in front of the camera or behind it. Even the most experienced videographer will admit it gets easier to capture great footage as the season progresses, just as I know I'll be a better woodsman by Thanksgiving than I will be on Labor Day. But when you're producing a TV hunting show, you can't afford for hunting or camera skills to be lacking in early season; those trips to the field are just as important to capture as the later ones.
Sharpening our skills was the purpose of the in-house "camera school" held this past weekend at InterMedia Outdoors' TV production facility in Baxter, Minnesota. Video editors Josh Viste and Sean Hagen led the way in discussing shooting technique and in training our guys on the high-definition cameras they'll be carrying this fall. With our move to HD come a ton of questions about getting the most out of that equipment, but the payoff should be richer, sharper footage for our episodes next year and beyond.
As a hunter, any time you trade in your old bow or gun for a new one, there's an adjustment period before you feel 100 percent comfortable in the woods. Same goes for a cameraman, I'm sure. While it's a challenge to learn the nuances of any new camera, I have faith that our guys will be up to speed in no time. Then all we'll need is a few big bucks that want to become famous!
North American Whitetall North American Whitetail is designed for the serious trophy hunter. It provides authoritative coverage of world-class whitetails, the latest approaches to deer management and advanced hunting techniques.
