Japan had my heart at Ramen. Then you add in fresh powder on the ski slopes, gaming arcades, karaoke, the Shinkansen and the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. The hustle and bustle, the food, the culture and the people all melt into an epic adventure no matter the region you travel to.
This video is a curation of footage from my third and most recent visit to Japan. I started the journey visiting my brother who had been living in Hokkaido, working as a ski instructor. After 2 weeks on the slopes, I then headed on the train down to Tokyo with two mates, to wander through the most incredible city in search of the best okonomiyaki.
Whilst it was only a small visit to only two locations, I tried to create diverse footage whilst always being on the go. Here is five takeaways for how I managed to record my footage whilst wandering about one of the most unique countries I have ever seen.
Shoot as much footage as possible
Don’t be afraid to film everything and anything that catches your eye. You can then take the time when you return from your travels or on the long flight home, to curate and edit your work. Having fresh eyes looking over your footage once you leave a location is how I manage to find the most interesting content.
Shoot things that appear to you as a traveller
Shoot things to be authentic and most likely this will be the same case for your audience. I also try to steer clear of shots which I see other content makers using like time lapses for example, to ensure my work is also conveying a sense of authenticity.
Use movement components with your shots
Use movement components with your shots to display the emotiveness of the scene. For example, use footage of cars going left, right and centre. Or you could portray people walking in all directions. If you prefer to shoot nature, follow the snowflakes as they fall. I try to bring my audience into my videos, through the use of emotive movement scenes such as these.
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Use different levels of zoom
Zoom can help bring to life a shot. Sometimes that will be a close-up, other times, the shoot will require a wide angle. Try to mix it up. This will also keep your audience from knowing what to expect from your next shot.
Find diverse angles on a scene
Most of the time you will initially see the one shot and angle of a location. So will everyone else. Therefore, try to swap the angles around with your camera or drone and change it up. Nine times out of ten, there is always a better angle to be found. Shoot your content from a couple of angles if time permits and choose your favourite at a later date.
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