Point of View (POV) videos are the rage with extreme sport enthusiasts.  Capturing the exhilaration of ski jumping, snow boarding, wind surfing and other adventure sports from the athlete’s perspective is a video thrill ride like no other.  Armchair viewers can almost feel the icy snow hitting their face as a extreme skier races headlong down a steep, rugged slope through trees and other hazards.  This part-of-the-action viewpoint has proven very effective for extreme athletes promoting themselves and their sports, with an individual POV video garnering views in the 10′s or even 100′s of thousands.

Cameras from GoPro and Contour are a large part of the POV success story.  Their compact size, quality HD video, durable encasement and waterproofing, make it possible to shoot great action videos in nearly any environment.   An excellent assortment of mounts is available for both GoPro and Contour cameras including: helmet, bike, flat surface, flex strap, hat, scuba, hand, surf and roll bar.  The variety of mounts give athletes greater freedom in choosing perspective angles, upping the interest level in videos.

Once the video is shot, the real tale is told in the editing.  Here are some suggestions.

1.  Select the right editing software.  Determine your needs then research software options before purchasing.  Top Ten Reviews offers a nice comparison of the latest video editing software.
2.  Watch video length.  Many videos are too long or have long segments from the same angle.  If viewers drop off before the video is over you haven’t done a good job of entertaining them.
3.  Switch up camera angles.  Make use of multiple-mount perspectives of the action.  Cut from one angle to another to inject visual interest.
4.  Tell a story.  Lay out angle shots to create sequences that unfold into a cohesive and compelling story.
5.  Match the music.  Carefully select music, then edit clips to match the phrasing and rhythm as closely as possible.  The final result will appear more polished when music and imagery are in sync.
6.  Review the video.  When you think you’re done editing, watch the video several times.  If something doesn’t hit you right, correct it.  If everything looks good, get it rendered and sent out!

POV videos not only spotlight amazing athletic feats, they are often set in awe-inspiring and majestic locations.  When the backdrop is as impressive as the sport, consider the surrounding terrain when choosing camera angles and mounting options to maximize visual intensity.

Here’s a great example of a POV Extreme Sport video using a GoPro Camera –

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Jamie Bidwell is a team member at www.covideo.com. Covideo provides video email software that helps companies build relationships quickly and reinforce their brands more effectively with easy-to-make video emails that truly communicate. jamie@covideo.com.

 

 

 

 

There are two items in today’s system update.

1)  Link Set Page – The link set editing page has been streamlined for a more intuitive process, beginning with the page tabs.  The old page had 4 tabs and required the user to bounce around a bit to make editing changes.    We’ve removed the ‘Set Default Link Set’ tab and integrated the default function into the main Add/Edit tab. The ‘Select a Link Set’ drop down menu has been eliminated.  Link sets are now displayed in list form with pagination options available.  Once a link set has been selected for editing, a pop-up overlay appears allowing the user to make changes without leaving the page.  This allows the user to edit multiple link sets quickly and easily.  Click on the link to watch a short demonstration of the new link set editing process.  LINK SET EDITING VIDEO.

2)  Manage Groups – The search function has been changed so that it displays contacts based on the tab you have selected.  If you are on the Add Contacts tab, your search will encompass all your imported contacts.  If you are on the Group Contacts tab, your search will pull from the selected group only.  This should eliminate confusion when searching for contacts to add to specific groups.