I want to be like Grizzly Dave.

[Warden Callaway]

 

I've been uploading videos to YouTube for a few years. Mostly shot on my smart phone. This spring I set up a YouTube channel to build a library of videos from our local shoots. We upgraded our PC to a modern, faster model and got some real vedio editing software. I've shot video at the first two matches this spring using our Handycam.

 

I have a lot to learn but intend to keep the vedios simple. I split last week's video into two parts. I'm uploading in HD and wide screen.

 

What do you think? HD too slow to load? Too long? Like effects? Don't like effects? Background music?

 

There is a part 2, if you make it through part 1. There are other videos on the channel. I'm going to try to make a new video at each match so subscribe to get notice of new ones.

[Cheyenne Culpepper 32827]

boy the title of this thread startled me!!!!!!!

[Yul Lose]

Thought you wanted to stop shaving.

[Buckshot Dobbs]

Love the videos! Keep it up Warden!

 

BD

[Shooting Bull]

**In my best Lloyd Bentsen voice** I've met Grizzly Dave. I've shot with Grizzly Dave. I've been on the same posse with Grizzly Dave. Trust me son, you do NOT want to be like Grizzly Dave.

 

 

[Grizzly Dave]

Yup, ya need to quit shaving to be like me!

 

For cowboy videos though, especially edited ones there are far better folks to want to be like. Such as Jed I Knight, Hawkeye Gin, Tame Bill and others.

 

Fun videos!

 

I like music and effects at times, but use them sparingly in normal match vids, if at all. Doing vids for two match a month I don't do much editing except on special projects. I have several projects planned, but haven't been able to make them happen yet as they really need to be filmed at the range, which is a 3 hour round trip, and I'm never there except for matches. One of these days I'll get them done though.

 

As you will notice from my channel, I do try to get the shooter name, stage, match name and date in the titles so that shooters can find the vids easier.

 

One reason I don't often edit all shooters together for a stage is just that I am lazy Plus, as I said above, single vid single shooter makes it easier to find, but everyone has their own likes and dislikes and style, and you'll find your own.

 

Many folks I've talked to use my vids as training tools, so it's helpful to have them in the frame rather than mostly the targets. Where I do try to get the targets in the frame if possible is things like plate racks and flyers. I often try to pan the stage and targets before the first shooter to give an idea of the stage and target layout as the shooter vids are focused on the shooter.

 

If possible, keep the camera running long enough to pick up the announced time, it helps if the TO calls it out right away. I also try and get a shot of the shooters face, if nothing else it helps me remember who it was to label it later, but it's also nice to see the grins after they shoot a stage.

 

If you use an intro, keep it short, folks who frequent your channel will get sick of it in a hurry.

 

If compiling a number of shooters into one longer video, add titles with shooter name, your locals may know everyone, but us far off folks like to know who we're looking at as well.

 

Anyway, those are some things that I do and have picked up, but I reckon you'll find your own trail, but I hope these helped a little.

 

Keep up the good work and have fun with it, I look forward to seeing your vids down the trail!

 

Grizz

Edited May 13, 2015 by Grizzly Dave

[Grizzly Dave]

**In my best Lloyd Bentsen voice** I've met Grizzly Dave. I've shot with Grizzly Dave. I've been on the same posse with Grizzly Dave. Trust me son, you do NOT want to be like Grizzly Dave.

 

 

 

I love you too Philly.

[Warden Callaway]

Well I haven't shaving some 30 years ago but I keep my beard cropped. Even if I let it grow it wouldn't be Santa Claus class beard like Grizzly Dave's.

 

Yes, I need to find a way to acknowledge the shooters. We had 16 shooters and Mary keeps the records so I could go back and regenerate the video with names. This brings up another problem that as I also shoot, I got no video of two shooters ahead of me and a couple after me because I had to load, get ready to shoot, shoot, unload and put stuff up. I need to develop a backup camera operator. I'm tempted to set up a camera in front of the firing line.

 

I shot 44 minutes of video but only used some 22 minutes. Some video clips had flaws due to operator errors. Others were redundant so I picked the best example. If I could, I tried to get at a good angle to see the shooter and targets but I enjoy a good shot from the side of shooter.

 

I'm not the showman of the likes of Jed I or have the edit skill of Hawkeye Jin.

 

Anyone recognize the shooter in the slow motion title video?

[Grizzly Dave]

Warden - I have shooters that purposely sign up right before or after me so I can't get video of them shooting!

 

I also have several that have asked me not to take vids of them shooting, and one that doesn't want their face shown even running the timer. I do my best to honor the requests, but make no promises, and don't feel the need to screen everything and blur out faces in editing.

 

Check out Tame Bill's channel, he uses a static camera mounted on a prop quite a bit.

 

I try to balance things out with at least a couple vids of everyone on the posse over the course of a match, but have to admit I get more of the ladies. And as you say, without a second camera operator, it's hard to get vids of those around you if shooting in order. Sometimes it's hard to balance taking vids, shooting, and filling posse chores when the need arises. On stages with movement if you follow the shooter, it can take a toll over the course of a match. Sometimes for a given stage I'll take some from the left, some from the right, and some without following the shooter just for some variety. Some stage fronts are easier to work around than others, and I always tell spotters if I'm in their way to give me a nudge, spotting is more important than video.

 

I also take the still pics for the club website at one range I shoot at, so that means shooting early in the order, then visiting each of the other possies to get pics. So one stage a match I'll have far fewer vids.

 

I've also just started taking some shooter vids and also 'TO Cam' vids with my Midland XTC Action Cam that I have on my hat. That makes for some variety at least.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

**In my best Lloyd Bentsen voice** I've met Grizzly Dave. I've shot with Grizzly Dave. I've been on the same posse with Grizzly Dave. Trust me son, you do NOT want to be like Grizzly Dave.

 

 

THIS-from a guy that's still learn'n to walk.

OLG

[Warden Callaway]

I probably should make a general announcement that I will be taking videos to be published on YouTube. I was telling one shooter that I was taking video to make a YouTube video and he was pleased. He had always wanted to see a video of himself shooting. Mary, on the other hand, hates to have even her picture taken. The only good pictures I have of her are completely candid.

 

There is a lady that has a quality camera that is taking still pictures. They have started a slide show of her photos on the club's website.

 

http://owlcreekraiders.org/gallery.html

 

I could incorporate some of her pictures in my videos.

[Cheyenne Culpepper 32827]

THIS-from a guy that's still learn'n to walk.

OLG

but he's mitey qualified at making deep holes!!!!

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

but he's mitey qualified at making deep holes!!!!

So are meteors-

OLG

[Calico Mary]

sumbody iz in serious need of profeshunal help.....

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

sumbody iz in serious need of profeshunal help.....

 

We all have been tell'n P-lilly S-lime that for years.

The only good thing is he's 'crash-tested' with a rating of -100.

OLG

[Jed I. Knight, SASS #36423]

boy the title of this thread startled me!!!!!!!

 

Me too!

 

For cowboy videos though, especially edited ones there are far better folks to want to be like. Such as Jed I Knight, Hawkeye Gin, Tame Bill and others.

 

Fun videos!

 

Grizz

 

Thanks Grizz! But I wouldn't count yourself out. You've made some real good CAS videos. I admire a lot of your work on YouTube. And, you give very sound advice!!

 

I'm not the showman of the likes of Jed I or have the edit skill of Hawkeye Jin.

 

Thanks Warden. ;-) I am just trying to bring a different angle of Cowboy Action Shooting to YouTube. Young people are glued to this technology if we have something out there on YouTube that attracts them and holds their interest then maybe they'll come try out our sport and it will grow!

 

I'll have to check out what Hawkeye Gin is doing... Sounds interesting.

 

As a side note... Check out the pistol at 2:19. That is a perfect opportunity for that shooter to learn something from video (it is an amazing tool for studying shooting habits). That pistol barrel should not come back that far.

[Chief Rick]

Warden - I try to shoot first at our local matches. While I'm shooting I have my wife hold the camera. She usually videos me and the shooter that follows. By then, I'm usually done at the ULT and take the camera back over.

 

I very rarely edit videos. We typically have 15-20 (or more) shooters at a monthly match. 15 shooters times five stages is a lot of data. It does take a little while to upload that many videos in HD - several hours.

 

I also like to video the shooters from the side. It allows them (and me) to see transitions, foot movement, and how they are holding/shooting the guns. Sometimes, stage design makes that more difficult.

 

I title my videos by shooter name, but I usually fail to get the shooter's time as announced by the TO.

 

If you haven't seen it already, my YouTube channel is Chief Rick's Cowboy Action Shooting

 

Constructive criticism always welcomed.

[Warden Callaway]

Chief Rick, I've been a subscriber to your channel for some time. I also subscribe to Grizzly Dave and Jed I as well as a number of others including some in Europe.

 

Looks like you have the shooters trained to not block the camera's view. Do you use a tripod? Looks like your main stage is one long boardwalk with a lot of wall. It makes it difficult to record shooter and targets.

 

Putting each shooter to an upload simplifies editing but it use to be time consuming to watch and keep track of what you've seen and not seen. But we generally watch the videos on TV through an Apple TV streaming device and it just rolls on to the next in line. Still it takes a second or two to load load.

 

Here is a video I made of the April shoot.

 

 

It's the first time I used the Handycam and new edit software. I played with transitions (from clip to clip). My biggest problem was running the camera. I couldn't see that it was recording and often it was on standby.

[Grizzly Dave]

Warden - I put all vids for a given shoot into a playlist so that a view can simply choose 'play all' at the top of the play list view page and it will run thru them all. It's not as seemless as editing them all together as it buffers between each one, but it's something.

[Warden Callaway]

Uploading, file format, quality?

 

Our Internet service is 1mb upload speed. That's as fast as our provider can offer us. It takes 10 minutes to upload a 44 second video in HD. It takes over 4 hours to upload a 10 minute video.

 

The above videos are uploaded in Adobe F4V format 1920 x 1080. I've tried MPEG 720 x 480 format but it's not much faster on upload.

 

Any suggestions on improving upload times?

[Yusta B.]

Are you close to a library ? Some of them have free WiFi, that should be a lot faster than 1 mb.

[Chief Rick]

Looks like you have the shooters trained to not block the camera's view. Do you use a tripod? Looks like your main stage is one long boardwalk with a lot of wall. It makes it difficult to record shooter and targets.

 

Putting each shooter to an upload simplifies editing but it use to be time consuming to watch and keep track of what you've seen and not seen. But we generally watch the videos on TV through an Apple TV streaming device and it just rolls on to the next in line. Still it takes a second or two to load load.

 

 

I do not use a tripod. Currently using a GoPro HERO3, held in the hand in a skeleton case unless it's raining. The GoPro is small enough with a wide field of view that when I run the camera I can hold it in a location to see the shooter without catching spotters or other shooters directly in the frame. And while I wouldn't call them trained, our shooters are pretty courteous. It's not that they are staying out of the way of the camera as much as they're staying out of the way of the shooter. I try to position myself so that the shooter is always approaching the camera.

 

And yes, our range is one long boardwalk with full facades, except for the cemetery. Without using two cameras a choice has to be made as to which is more important - seeing the shooter's actions or seeing targets fall.

 

According to www.speedtest.net my upload speed is 1.90 Mbps. My videos are recorded and uploaded in 960x1280 MP4 format. A 30 second video is 55.6MB and takes several minutes to upload. I typically select five videos and start them uploading and then do something else, checking back periodically. That's why is typically takes me a couple days to upload and publish everything.

[Warden Callaway]

I have a cheapo SJ2000 action camera that does a fantastic job and comes with a lunch box full of attachments. I could risk setting it up on a tripod out to the side of the target area. It would be great to get a multiple camera angle and cut from one to the other or insert a box into the full screen.

 

A friend in Iowa has gotten into YouTube video production and uses several cameras - among them a GoPro. They get a lot camera angles plus live action and edit into one video.

[Grizzly Dave]

Editing and uploading is definitely time consuming. Most days when I get home from a match I unload the car, change clothes and get something to eat and then upload while I'm eating. Though I'm done eating long before I'm done uploading and labeling the vids. Depending on network and youtube speeds on a given day it takes me at least an hour, sometimes 2 or 3.

 

I start the individual ones uploading, then work on editing the POV stuff together, emailing still pics to the webmaster and stuff like then and by then some of the individual vids are uploaded and ready to label.

[Warden Callaway]

 

By the way, the star of the slow motion opening scene is Fingers McGee.

[twelve mile REB]

what software for edit and storage? Have camera but haven't done anything with it yet, Any suggestions would be appreciated

[Singin' Sue 71615]

Grizz...if'n you had ta edit, ther'd be nuttin' left on MY videos!!! Ha!!

[Grizzly Dave]

For basic editing and adding titles Windows Movie Maker does pretty well.

 

For more a more full featured editor I use Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12 but don't even touch the surface of what it can do.

 

For storage I just keep them in dated and labeled folders on my hard drive to at some point be compressed and burned to DVD, or maybe just deleted.

[Chief Rick]

what software for edit and storage? Have camera but haven't done anything with it yet, Any suggestions would be appreciated

What camera do you have?

 

As Grizzly Dave said, Windows Movie Maker is a good place to start.

 

If you have a GoPro, they have a program called GoPro Studio that can be downloaded for free. It's been awhile since I've messed with it.

[Warden Callaway]

 

Here is a nicely done video. It's a remix of an older video. I wonder if they are still shooting?

[Warden Callaway]

Here are my latest attempts at shooting, editing and uploading videos.

 

 

 

I ventured into transitions and added names of the shooters. I still couldn't get an example of everyone.

[Yul Lose]

Nice job, Warden.

[Warden Callaway]

What is there about YouTube tags and how they are used by YouTube search engine?

 

I use tags of "SASS" and "Cowboy Acton Shooting"?. When I search on SASS and Cowboy Action Shooting and the usual top videos come up. I refine my search to within one week and it still doesn't find them.

[Grizzly Dave]

Not sure how those tags work, never much messed with them.

 

AWESOME job on the vids! You have much surpassed what I do with mine.

 

I think I got burned out on the editing part back when I made the Intro and Getting Started vids, those each took me so much time partly due to the learning curve of the fancy editing software I got by the time I did the second one. But I sure like seeing the efforts of you and other folks who put the time in to editing a nice polished end product.

[Warden Callaway]

One of these, "even a blind sow picks up an acorn once in awhile", moments.

 

I figured out how the YouTube/Google search engine works. Apparently it doesn't use tags. But uses the video title and what's in the description. So I renamed my newest videos "Cowboy Action Shooting at..." and put "Cowboy Action Shooting" at front of description and BAM, there they are at top of search for videos uploaded this week.