The video is Priority one!

[Will Wilkens]

Great topic, and amazingly a common occurance among all of us. I've had my share of record/pause and autofocus slip ups, and fumbling with my dslr settings. It seems no matter how much I try and practice ahead of time and have the camera preset ready to go, the excitement takes over and all hell breaks loose.

 

[Kem Poyner]

video screw ups

The bag of chips story is hysterical... done that!! Glad to hear I am not the only one to do this. Couple years ago I shot over an hour of video of the side of my leg as I drove down the highway. On the audio, I could hear my voice in the background as I called everyone on my cell phone to tell them about the amazing video I just shot....missed the whole show.
This year I am using a double mount bar on top of the swivel head on my tripod. I built it myself. I am going to focus on HDR photography for the main effort. The video will be set on infinity and left alone to record. When I turn the swivel to compose my photo shots, the video camera will turn also filming the same area.
I have used a beanbag tossed on the roof of the car to support video camera...works good and is very quick.

 

[Bill Tabor]

I hear ya Kem. I have lots of memories or great portions of exciting chases that have perhaps no video. Sometimes these are at night - sometimes not. Lots of times the video I get is not really the main action I should have caught because I was too busy getting out of the ***** to shoot the action - that happens too many times.

I have tons of video from the years. Almost none has ever been shared...I don't typically even look at it myself. Some of it is ok, or even pretty good, but I think a lot of other chasers have done a better job FWIW. Shooting great tornado video does take some skill. You first have to find your prey, and then you have to have the skills and focus to capture what you want with quality when you need it. Likely this may require a team to help you out - such as driving the vehicle as you shoot for instance. Additionally production / distribution takes an immense amount of dedication, focus, skill as well. I've started to a few times...but never fully pulled the trigger. I suppose there is always another day. Perhaps I'll someday pull together a highlights tape.

 

[Bill Tabor]

Well while the Lone Grove tornado , I hit the record button to many times and got no video of it . It was all I could do talking on the ham , the cell phone and miss all the power line's . That is why I am looking for a chase partner .

Man, I know what you are talking about since I am always chasing alone. In particular April 24th 2006 Randlett, OK comes to mind: http://www.tornadoxtreme.com/Chases_By_Year/2006_Chases/April_24_06/april_24_06.html

Here is an excerpt:

I finally got to a clearing and pulled over to shoot this incredible tornado at about 8:31 pm CDT. It was just beautiful and had that lonely menacing look as well. It was to my WNW about probably 3 to 4 miles. There I am trying to shoot pictures of this tornado and I'm thinking it's going to dissipate any second with no pictures. I keep trying to shoot and the camera won't focus cause it's too dark. I try and snap it off and it won't because it isn't in focus. I finally get a shot or two off. Next I try and call the NWS to report it using my Streetatlas overlay and the OUN number. I couldn't get the cell to call for awhile. I get the camera up again and finally figure out that the lens is set to AF (autofocus) which I normally only use for non-tornado things. I switch to manual and manually attempt focusing. I screw that up too, but get some shots off. Damn I'm anxious! Asthma getting much worse. I finally grab the camcorder and put it on it and record seconds of the tornado. At least it seems to be able to take a picture for a change! Arrrggghhhh!!!!! Yes, this is how I felt multiplied by 100. I hardly got to watch the tornado. It seemed to be getting closer and rain wrapped and getting dark.

Sometimes in the thick of it, navigating, talking on the phone, plotting intercepts / escapes, trying to snap photos / run video, call in reports, and keep an eye on the road and tornado it is just overload!! That time...asthma - likely also due to mold was the result. But man, it can get crazy sometimes trying to multitask. And now I add live streaming video....

 

[Jason Boggs]

Sometimes in the thick of it, navigating, talking on the phone, plotting intercepts / escapes, trying to snap photos / run video, call in reports, and keep an eye on the road and tornado it is just overload!! That time...asthma - likely also due to mold was the result. But man, it can get crazy sometimes trying to multitask. And now I add live streaming video....

That's exactly why I haven't been too interested in streaming video. It's becoming just like you said, an overload. I take only enough video to use for the station I chase for. Other than that, it's still photography that gets most of the attention from me. All this new stuff is nice and innovative, but it's just taking the fun out of going out and enjoying the storm. To each his own, but I hate being stressed out while chasing. I get enough of that at work!