Filming tips
There have been many articles written about the use of digital cameras in the nursery, but using a digital video camera is just as straightforward.
Most schools have now invested in some sort of digital video (DV) camera and so probably your hardest task will be prising it out of the hands of another member of staff. If you don't have access to one in your nursery, then perhaps now is the time to consider purchasing one. As with anything, you get what you pay for, but you can find good deals well below 300. If you are serious about editing what you film on a computer, consider a more expensive model with both DV in and out. This will allow you to record your edited video back on to DV tape for archive.
Once you have a DV camera you will need to make sure you are familiar with all its controls and buttons. It is so easy to press a button and accidentally turn features on or off, such as the time and date stamp. Work out how to use the record and playback facilities, the zoom to adjust the distance from your subject, and how to charge the battery.
There are a few simple rules to ensure that you get decent shots. Use a tripod whenever possible. If you don't have one, then brace your elbows close into your body to make a human tripod. Usually ten seconds of film is sufficient to capture the moment, but remember the DV tape takes a few seconds to get up to speed before recording and rolls back when stopped, so try not to miss or cut short special events. Panning the camera and zooming in and out makes everyone feel sick, so stick to static shots by lining up the camera before you start filming.
It is possible to preview what you have filmed on your camera. You will need to be in VCR mode to do this, but you can also link your camera up to a television or a data projector. There should be leads with your camera, but they are easily mislaid.
Finally, you need to get consent from parents to film their children, something you should have in place if you already photograph them.
