Shooting Video of Yourself can be a Challenge
Since I started taking Kenpo, my instructor has mentioned off and on that taking video of yourself will help you self-evaluate how you are doing so that you can make corrections. I’ve done this a few times, but one big problem I had was that I practice in a small bedroom and the video camera I had has a narrow angle lens. I believe this is normal for most video cameras nowadays. If you try to shoot video in a confined space, you’ll probably not be able to get a full view of yourself. This is the challenge that has plagued me.
As I have yet to move furniture so I may have a larger practice area in my house, I am forced to workout in a small bedroom. I already had a somewhat older digital video camera and a somewhat newer compact still camera that also shot VGA video. Both of these cameras, no matter how descent they are at what they do, could not capture from head to toe what I was doing. Granted, my practice room is probably about 14X14 ft, so it is a small space. However, even placing these cameras on a tripod in the hallway, did not solve my problem. It didn’t take me long to realize I was stuck with camera lenses that could not help me shoot the video I needed in the space I worked in.
So, I went shopping for a new camera. I did not want to spend much money, however, I knew that finding a camera with a better wide angle lens may require some sacrifice in finances. I went to Costco, as they have a descent selection of demos to try. To my surprise, there were a few cameras with stickers on them saying “Wide Angle”. So, I fired them up, shot a store support beam nearby to see how much of it I could get in view at the shortest distance possible. A 25mm wide angle lens on a compact still camera that is capable of shooting 720p HD video was the answer to all my problems. Here’s the camera I bought:
Although this is an older model from what is available today, it’s lens was what I was after, all other features are a bonus. Now, in my small room, with the camera setup on a tripod, I can shoot video of myself from head to toe with the camera in one corner of the room with me in the middle. Problem solved with it’s 25mm “super wide-angle lens”. Even thought the camera is capable of shooing 720p HD video, I usually just shoot VGA quality for my own purposes. I can shoot and review myself immediately on one small device.
The Panasonic Lumix line with it’s 25mm wide angle lenses are a great way to solve the problem I had. Here’s the newer model of the camera I currently own:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3/DMC-ZX3
The older model I have has actually replaced my previous video camera and still camera. It is so compact and does such a good job at what it does, I really have no reason to lug around the other two. Now, if my cell phone did what this Lumix does, the Lumix would definitely be sitting on a shelf with my others. However, I’m sure that’s not going to happen for some years to come.
Although the focus of this article is to explain the challenges of shooting video in a confined space, I guess I might as well mention what I’ve discovered about my training by recording myself. So, here goes:
**I found that I had a tendency toward bad posture. I would lean forward with my head looking down quite often. Like my instructor has said, where your head goes, you body follows. Although what I feel during class and practice is quite different, to see it is to believe. I have been able to now be more mindful of this, although I had been told so in the past. Listening to what others say would be so much easier if one could see what they see. Now, I can do exactly that.
**I’ve found that there is a difference between intensity in movement felt and intensity seen. You may feel that you are moving with intensity and conviction, but video can reveal otherwise. Witnessing this for myself has enabled me to start to get a better feel for what is truly required of myself to produce the visual outward intensity on command. Thinking I am moving a certain way and knowing I am moving as desired are two different abilities of awareness. Shooting video has allowed me to work on this.
**Speed and power is subjective as well. It is subjective to what the self is feeling and what an observer witnesses. Witnessing my own speed and power has shown me what I think is not always what I am producing. Video shows me where I am weak and where I am strong. Sometimes, even what I think I am strong it reveals weaknesses I had been unaware of.
**With all that I have learned, will learn, and continue to work on, I now understand how important video is for progress in refining skills developed.
