Try to keep all your shots frontlit (sun at your back) or sidelit (at the side). Rule of thirds is always good but it's more important to lead the rider with the cam and keep 1/2 to 2/3rds of your frame ahead of his position in the direction he's headed. Keep the camera recording for at least 15-20 seconds before and after any riders session. In fact just keep the thing recording all the time, you'll be surprised as some of your best footage will come out of those moments and you can never have enough B-roll anyway. Try to use manual focus at all times, autofocus will ruin your footage especially if you're shooting from a chase boat. Manual exposure is good too but only if you understand the concepts. Try to shoot from as many different perspectives and angles as you can. This is tough if you're always shooting from the boat but don't just stay at one focal length all the time. Use the zoom button Judiciously. Your eyes don't zoom and you don't move your head when viewing a scene anymore then you need too to keep a subject in view. Think of the camera as an extension of your eyes. I still have to consiously tell myself to hold that cam still and keep my finger off that zoom button. Certain Zoom effects can look cool if not overused but nothing will make your project look more amatuerish then a bunch of wild zooming/panning.
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