Never be afraid to experiment

One of the best parts of being a video journalist is that nobody has ever really done it before, writes News Blogger James Shaw.

Although Central and Midlands Today have been broadcasting to my patch for years, an online version from the newspaper industry is a real first.

Which means you can pretty much try most things...as long as they work out in the end.

Unusual camera angles for example, are a real chance to show off your creative skills. Putting the camera on the floor, for example, offers a whole host of different possibilities.

I tried this (not for the first time, however) on my video about the European flag flying over Malinslee House in Telford.

Visually, it added a lot to a story which doesn't really appeal to the eye. There are only so many times you can film a flag pole before it becomes repetitive.

The shot of the of the offices from behind the flowers was an excellent way to fade out of the story. And of course, the use of plant symbolised the green shoots of a new administration in Telford, etc etc...

I did see another shot I would like to try, but damn it - I'm just not good enough. ITV's coverage of F1 is always good, but a shot during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix really took the biscuit.

The camerman managed, somehow, to spin the camera 180 degrees from upside-down as Kim Raikkonen's car blasted past. It is hard to explain without seeing the shot, but expect to see a repetition at some point in the next few weeks.

The editing suite is also a good place to start with experimenting.

My film of the V Festival in August remains a high point for trying something new. Editing a film using techniques 'borrowed' from Bullitt takes a lot of grey matter to co-ordinate the different sequences, but the end result really is worth the bother.

I have also tried slow-motion replays on my Telford Tigers videos. Of course, ice hockey is difficult to follow at the best of times, and even more so when it is being broadcast via a 320 by 240 window on the web.

But by using slow-motion and a little zoom (plus sharpen to repair the image) the goal action suddenly becomes much more watchable. I even made Claude Dumas's slipping of the puck through the 'five-hole' even more obvious. Whatever that means.

But if my experimenting with web video is going to work, I always following one golden rule - never use rubbish footage or editing.

If it hasn't worked and looks like a poor-man's version of a nursery school video, I just ditch it. There is little point in spoiling any reputation web video has built up by uploading unwatchable content.

On more domestic matters, I suspect my wife Claire's decline continues.

Not satisfied with stopping the cat and dog from running into the mirror (the comedy highlight of my day) she feels they might get cold during the winter months.

In a slightly odd imitation of human life, they now wear sports jacket, complete with hoodies (really, I'm not making this up).

The dog does look a tad disappointing with his, but the cat struts around looking like a hariy gremlin, complete with wierd green eyes.

I love her to bits, but I think it might be the time to tell Claire that cats and dogs shouldn't really wear clothes...except when they're warming up for another waltz on their hind legs.