Shooting on location in developing countries is always a challenge for the videographer. You need to travel light and be able to adapt quickly to different environments and locations. Over the last 8 years I have made numerous trips to film aid projects in Asia and Africa in seven countries. Given that video is more and more being used to show how aid projects benefit a developing country, I thought this post would look at what I have learned.
Equipment
Take only what you need. That’s easy to say as you don’t always know what situation you’ll find yourself in. Apart from a camera mounted LED light panel, I never pack any lighting equipment. In the more than 30 videos I have shot in developing countries I have been able to get away without a lighting rig, something I never travel without when I’m
home.
Whilst I use Pelican cases for my gear in Australia, I use a professional backpack made by Lowelpro for my gear. Make sure you chose one that meets the carry-on allowance for international flights. Nothing is more comforting than knowing all your gear is in the overhead luggage compartment.
Break it up into compartments (see pic) and get into the habit of always putting gear back in the same place/pocket in the pack. Apart from my tripod, everything is in the backpack:
- Camera with main and spare battery and charger, lens cleaning cloth and polaroid filter
- Radio mic transmitter and receiver with spare lavalier mic, heavy duty windsock and cables
- Shotgun mic with mounting clip, cable and heavy wind windsock.
- Handheld mic with transmitter attachment
- Small double sided reflector
- Camera cards – pack enough to last two days at least before you need to dump your data
- Camera card Pelican case (see pic). I always keep this on me in a bum bag.
- Four outlet power board with two local adaptors – this is essential.
- Gaffer tape, multitool with screwdriver, pliers and allen key attachments
- Batteries for radio mics and light panel
- Zoom audio recorder and various plugs to record direct from mixers, amps, etc (very handy)
- Tripod in hard case. (the orange tube in the pic is plumbing hardware with screw ends.)
- Laptop, card reader, power supply, external HDD, mouse and carry case.
Shooting
When you’re travelling in-country with local nationals, its often hard to explain to them that you’d like time to set-up before you can start filming. I got very adept at rigging the camera with the shotgun mic, mounting the radio mic receiver and the light panel while driving to the location. This meant I was ready to go when we arrived. I usually miked up the person who was showing us around with the radio mic and used the camera shotgun for atmos, etc.
Lighting
Shooting interiors with no lights always presents its challenges. Thankfully the new generation of digital cameras have significant latitude and whilst you can’t always get a noise-free image, careful selection of shots minimises problems. I have shot in 100 year old Catholic churches in Beijing with only candles providing lighting. Framing your shot with candles in the frame is a good technique. The candles always expose well which then justifies the grainy image.
One of the aid projects I filmed supported AIDS/HIV sufferers who lived in the very poorest parts of the slums of Nairobi, Kampala and Dar Es Salaam. The contrast between the bright sun and the darkest corner of a windowless hut could only be solved by having one person holding the door open as far as possible with another person outside with a reflector. (The problem then of course was to keep all the curious neighbours away from the doorway and the reflector).
After shoot routine
It’s crucial to have a set routine each night when you finish shooting:
- Log the days shoot with Card numbers etc end then BACK UP each card to your HDD
- Put camera battery(s) on charge, clean and check gear and make sure you’re ready for the next day’s shoot
- Take your card Pelican case with you at all times, when you head down for breakfast or out for dinner. You can always replace stolen camera equipment, but your data is irreplaceable.
Whilst shooting in developing countries is never easy, its a great way to learn how to shoot quickly and ‘get the shot’.
Following is a short video I filmed in Rwanda.
