**Filming B-Roll: Tips and Techniques**

As we explore the world of filmmaking, b-roll footage becomes an essential component of our videos. In this article, we'll delve into some valuable tips and techniques for capturing high-quality b-roll footage that will elevate your content to the next level.

**Utilizing Glass Panels**

One of the most interesting aspects of filming b-roll is working with glass panels. The reflective surface of these panels can be used to create a variety of visually appealing effects. In our latest review, we had the opportunity to work with a machine set up in a unique environment featuring glass panels that were not only reflective but also had an orange element throughout. This created a beautiful and interesting visual effect that added depth to our footage.

When working with glass panels, it's essential to consider how you can use the reflective surface to your advantage. By adjusting the angle of the camera and experimenting with different lighting setups, you can create stunning effects that will add character to your footage. In our review, we noticed that the glass panels were not only visually appealing but also provided a unique opportunity for us to play around with lighting in our environment.

**Revealing Lighting and Color**

Lighting is a crucial aspect of filmmaking, and when it comes to b-roll footage, you want to make sure your subject is well-lit. In our review, we experimented with different lighting setups, including soft boxes and ambient white light. However, by using the reflective surface of the glass panels, we were able to reveal more subtle details about the color of the lights.

When working with lighting, it's essential to remember that sometimes less is more. Direct hard light can feel too harsh and unnatural, whereas softer, more gradual shadows create a much more pleasing image. In our review, we noticed that by using bouncing light, we were able to achieve a more natural look that added depth to our footage.

**Adding Color**

Color can be used to add an extra layer of visual interest to your b-roll footage. By experimenting with different colored lights or gels, you can create stunning effects that will elevate your content. In our review, we added a purple gel to a light source to create a beautiful, contrasting effect that added depth to the shot.

If you don't have access to specialized lighting equipment, there are still ways to add color to your footage without breaking the bank. Local hardware stores often carry colored bulbs that can be used as a makeshift lighting solution. By experimenting with different colors and lighting setups, you can create unique effects that will set your b-roll footage apart.

**Using Natural Light**

When working with limited resources or short setup time, natural light can be an excellent alternative to traditional lighting equipment. In our review, we took advantage of the largest window available to us as a key light source. By doing so, we were able to capture a beautiful, soft image that was not only pleasing to the eye but also free.

Natural light is especially effective when used in conjunction with other lighting sources. By bouncing light off surfaces or using diffusers, you can create stunning effects that will add depth and interest to your footage. In our review, we noticed that the soft shadows created by natural light were a key factor in achieving a pleasing image.

**Reversing Shots**

One of the most interesting techniques in filmmaking is reversing shots. By doing so, you can create unique visual effects that are not only visually appealing but also add an extra layer of storytelling to your footage. In our review, we experimented with reversing shots by moving the camera up and down, creating a smooth glide effect.

Reversing shots can be applied to anything, from people walking into frame to objects being revealed. This technique adds an extra layer of creativity to your filmmaking and allows you to capture unique visual effects that will set your footage apart.

**Using Environmental Features**

When filming b-roll, it's essential to consider how the environment around you can be used to add character to your footage. In our review, we noticed that the glass panels were not only visually appealing but also provided a unique opportunity for us to play around with lighting and color.

By using environmental features like windows, doors, or other objects in creative ways, you can create stunning effects that will elevate your b-roll footage. Whether it's adding a light source to a corner of the room or experimenting with reflections off glass panels, there are countless ways to use your environment to add depth and interest to your footage.

**Tip #1: Window Light**

One of the most effective ways to capture high-quality b-roll footage on a budget is by using natural window light. When working with limited resources, it's essential to make the most of what you have available. In our review, we took advantage of a large window as a key light source, capturing stunning images that were not only pleasing to the eye but also free.

**Tip #2: Bouncing Light**

Bouncing light is an excellent way to create soft, gradual shadows that add depth and interest to your footage. By using bouncing light, you can achieve a more natural look that sets your b-roll footage apart from traditional lighting setups.

When working with bouncing light, it's essential to remember that sometimes less is more. Direct hard light can feel too harsh and unnatural, whereas softer, more gradual shadows create a much more pleasing image. In our review, we noticed that by using bouncing light, we were able to achieve a beautiful, soft image that added depth to the shot.

**Tip #3: Adding Color**

Color can be used to add an extra layer of visual interest to your b-roll footage. By experimenting with different colored lights or gels, you can create stunning effects that will elevate your content.

If you don't have access to specialized lighting equipment, there are still ways to add color to your footage without breaking the bank. Local hardware stores often carry colored bulbs that can be used as a makeshift lighting solution. By experimenting with different colors and lighting setups, you can create unique effects that will set your b-roll footage apart.

By following these tips and techniques, you'll be well on your way to capturing high-quality b-roll footage that elevates your content to the next level. Whether it's working with glass panels, using natural light, or experimenting with color, there are countless ways to add depth and interest to your footage.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhey hello everyone I'm Dimitri with HX welcome to the part two of our b-roll tips and techniques filming Styles explaining some of the cool ways to get unique shots and I'm very happy to announce that we have a very special guest I'm super excited to uh share what he has in store Brandon from lionx Tex tips is going to be joining us in this episode sharing some of his Styles sharing some of his techniques and tips on lighting and how he used lighting through his advantage to achieve some of the most beautiful people on YouTube now uh I've been filming sort of little tips here and there as I go throughout the week so it's a little bit inconsistent is what I'm wearing but with the uh awesome editing of magic I can piece it together so it looks a bit more consistent I always love to experiment with height uh either from a really high angle so it creates a very nice unique type of look or even From Below angle so don't be afraid to uh move the tripod around and even if it takes just to set up one single shot for maybe 3 seconds or whatever it's still totally worth it and you'll be happy with yourself so a lot of people ask of how we get our slider shots and with that slight rotation that creates a really cool like effect like this the slide and rotate that's all manual uh I set my uh slider it's all level so the carriage is actually it's not going anywhere as you can see it's not like slightly slanted this way because it will make my job with the slide and rotation more difficult and also another thing is I have an x uh on the screen to indicate the uh middle of the frame and I try to keep that X on whatever part of the subject that I want to be sort of highlighted and it gives gives me a good reference in terms of if I'm sliding up too fast if I'm not rotating and fast enough and stuff like that so let's uh do this live recording one of my new favorite techniques in terms of getting uh a unique movement shot within my with my videos is utilizing the height adjustment tool so if your tripod has that um way where you can adjust the extra height for the tripod so you don't need to uh do anything with your legs this is a very cool way to utilize this uh thing on the tripod to get a very unique shot so I basically loosen it up and I hold it at the base and I push it down with my you know from this system above so it's a controled slide coming down all the way up and I refocus I'm pre focus and I precompose everything in the frame so everything is perfect and everything is uh just smoothly in shot and I can do it so smoothly now with this uh with my system because I know exactly how much pressure to apply when it's coming down that I don't even need to warp it in the post production however if the tripod that you're using does not utilize the height adjustment or in simply not available for the purposes of what I just showed you you can use this technique to help you create very Dynamic shot uh something that I don't see on many Tech YouTubers uh now this does require a bit of uh practice again this is all manual it's all about speed and consistency uh and fluid motion so let me show you what that is so what I'm talking about here is actually using the tripod legs Maybe be lowering one of the legs so it's slightly shorter than the other two and having the motion of Leaning the tripod into your subject uh so something like this you can either come come into or come out of it which uh would create different uh environment for whatever you're trying to do and also try to play with Focus if you can pull Focus while you're trying to do this movement it be it' be become an amazing shot uh obviously takes practice most likely will take you a couple of once a couple of tries to get it perfect but at least now we have sort of the Arsenal of things to do in the back of your mind when you do your b-roll so right now I'm working with the lean pc08 Cube case and it's one of the most beautiful enclosures that I've ever reviewed uh one of the interesting parts about filming something like this aside from it looking super sweet and you know I get the very awesome machine set up in there but you can notice the glass panels and you can notice they are reflective so you can play around with Lighting in your environment not just soft boxes that are lighting up sort of the ambient uh you know white around the case but uh notice what happened when I turned my bathroom light on so the light's coming from over there and check out what happens with the case the case glass panels are reflective obviously so we had this very nice orange uh element throughout the glass panel um now it could be added and it could be removed based on angle of the camera right and I can also turn that off or close that door or something uh to make the shot a little bit more interesting is this looks awesome to reveal the lighting on the case to reveal uh the different options for what is available but uh as you can see in this shot it looks absolutely magnificent to showcase the beauty of the glass height panels so try to use the environment that you're in to uh you know give your uh subject a bit extra character one of the most interesting and oldest techniques in the book on how to create a very interesting shot based on movement is reverse so right now I can achieve a very smooth uh slide coming down with the the tripod as I just showed you so take a look at it now and looks like a great shot right we're coming down we're revealing some of the hardware but what if we reverse that so this is a very cool technique because it allows you to capture the shots that you would otherwise need better tools for in my example I can only do a smooth Glide down I canot do the same going up reversing the shot of people moving is really cool to see people walking back in Reverse uh and can be applied to anything so it's a very simple method to create different shots and also if you're trying to if you're recycling some of the footage that already used inside your video this a good way to uh reverse the shot so it doesn't look identical throughout uh the entire scene one of the easiest ways to show color is uh well obviously aside from just focusing on certain lighting LEDs and whatever but what if you go out of focus so going out of focus creates this really cool blurry boka that reveals color very well and there is definitely no mistaking on what color you're seeing so in this review I actually just pull the camera lens out of focus so that I'm comfortable with the the B balls so they're not too big and they're not too out of too blurry uh and change the color of this case so that you the viewers can notice that the color change is actually happening without me having to actually focus on those lights tip number one window light if you do not have access to lights or you are short on setup time find the largest window available to you and use it as your key light windows are a great way to get a very pleasing natur natural look like in this shot here your shadows can fall off softly for a very pleasing image and it's free tip number two bouncing light for product Beal I generally do not like direct hard light just because it feels a bit too unnatural and harsh so instead you can bounce light this makes your light softer and gives it a much more gradual Shadow like in this shot here this leads me into tip number three adding color while this shot is better than it was before it could still use another layer for that blank white wall so I've added a light directly on the ground with a purple gel now you don't have to use this kind of light or even this kind of gel your local hardware store will likely sell colored bulbs to allow you achieve a similar effect on the cheap just pick up a couple work lights and some colored bulbs and you're good to go thanks to Demitri and hardware conu for having me I hope you guys have found these tips helpful so guys thank you so much for watching and joining the part two of how we b-roll filming tips and techniques uh make sure to check out part one in the description below if you haven't already and give us a like if you want to see more content like this because I'm sure there's plenty in store of what I can share as I go along filming uh the review videos for the har YouTube channel huge thank you to Brandon from lus techtips for joining in this episode giving very insightful information on lighting and I can't wait to get more uh guests on the show to just do you know their tips just raw information for our viewers so if you have any suggestions on who I should invite next for the drrolling tips and techniques series leave them in the comments below as always thank you so much for watching don't forget to subscribe and follow for behind the scenes and how to videos every Friday we'll see you in the next onehey hello everyone I'm Dimitri with HX welcome to the part two of our b-roll tips and techniques filming Styles explaining some of the cool ways to get unique shots and I'm very happy to announce that we have a very special guest I'm super excited to uh share what he has in store Brandon from lionx Tex tips is going to be joining us in this episode sharing some of his Styles sharing some of his techniques and tips on lighting and how he used lighting through his advantage to achieve some of the most beautiful people on YouTube now uh I've been filming sort of little tips here and there as I go throughout the week so it's a little bit inconsistent is what I'm wearing but with the uh awesome editing of magic I can piece it together so it looks a bit more consistent I always love to experiment with height uh either from a really high angle so it creates a very nice unique type of look or even From Below angle so don't be afraid to uh move the tripod around and even if it takes just to set up one single shot for maybe 3 seconds or whatever it's still totally worth it and you'll be happy with yourself so a lot of people ask of how we get our slider shots and with that slight rotation that creates a really cool like effect like this the slide and rotate that's all manual uh I set my uh slider it's all level so the carriage is actually it's not going anywhere as you can see it's not like slightly slanted this way because it will make my job with the slide and rotation more difficult and also another thing is I have an x uh on the screen to indicate the uh middle of the frame and I try to keep that X on whatever part of the subject that I want to be sort of highlighted and it gives gives me a good reference in terms of if I'm sliding up too fast if I'm not rotating and fast enough and stuff like that so let's uh do this live recording one of my new favorite techniques in terms of getting uh a unique movement shot within my with my videos is utilizing the height adjustment tool so if your tripod has that um way where you can adjust the extra height for the tripod so you don't need to uh do anything with your legs this is a very cool way to utilize this uh thing on the tripod to get a very unique shot so I basically loosen it up and I hold it at the base and I push it down with my you know from this system above so it's a controled slide coming down all the way up and I refocus I'm pre focus and I precompose everything in the frame so everything is perfect and everything is uh just smoothly in shot and I can do it so smoothly now with this uh with my system because I know exactly how much pressure to apply when it's coming down that I don't even need to warp it in the post production however if the tripod that you're using does not utilize the height adjustment or in simply not available for the purposes of what I just showed you you can use this technique to help you create very Dynamic shot uh something that I don't see on many Tech YouTubers uh now this does require a bit of uh practice again this is all manual it's all about speed and consistency uh and fluid motion so let me show you what that is so what I'm talking about here is actually using the tripod legs Maybe be lowering one of the legs so it's slightly shorter than the other two and having the motion of Leaning the tripod into your subject uh so something like this you can either come come into or come out of it which uh would create different uh environment for whatever you're trying to do and also try to play with Focus if you can pull Focus while you're trying to do this movement it be it' be become an amazing shot uh obviously takes practice most likely will take you a couple of once a couple of tries to get it perfect but at least now we have sort of the Arsenal of things to do in the back of your mind when you do your b-roll so right now I'm working with the lean pc08 Cube case and it's one of the most beautiful enclosures that I've ever reviewed uh one of the interesting parts about filming something like this aside from it looking super sweet and you know I get the very awesome machine set up in there but you can notice the glass panels and you can notice they are reflective so you can play around with Lighting in your environment not just soft boxes that are lighting up sort of the ambient uh you know white around the case but uh notice what happened when I turned my bathroom light on so the light's coming from over there and check out what happens with the case the case glass panels are reflective obviously so we had this very nice orange uh element throughout the glass panel um now it could be added and it could be removed based on angle of the camera right and I can also turn that off or close that door or something uh to make the shot a little bit more interesting is this looks awesome to reveal the lighting on the case to reveal uh the different options for what is available but uh as you can see in this shot it looks absolutely magnificent to showcase the beauty of the glass height panels so try to use the environment that you're in to uh you know give your uh subject a bit extra character one of the most interesting and oldest techniques in the book on how to create a very interesting shot based on movement is reverse so right now I can achieve a very smooth uh slide coming down with the the tripod as I just showed you so take a look at it now and looks like a great shot right we're coming down we're revealing some of the hardware but what if we reverse that so this is a very cool technique because it allows you to capture the shots that you would otherwise need better tools for in my example I can only do a smooth Glide down I canot do the same going up reversing the shot of people moving is really cool to see people walking back in Reverse uh and can be applied to anything so it's a very simple method to create different shots and also if you're trying to if you're recycling some of the footage that already used inside your video this a good way to uh reverse the shot so it doesn't look identical throughout uh the entire scene one of the easiest ways to show color is uh well obviously aside from just focusing on certain lighting LEDs and whatever but what if you go out of focus so going out of focus creates this really cool blurry boka that reveals color very well and there is definitely no mistaking on what color you're seeing so in this review I actually just pull the camera lens out of focus so that I'm comfortable with the the B balls so they're not too big and they're not too out of too blurry uh and change the color of this case so that you the viewers can notice that the color change is actually happening without me having to actually focus on those lights tip number one window light if you do not have access to lights or you are short on setup time find the largest window available to you and use it as your key light windows are a great way to get a very pleasing natur natural look like in this shot here your shadows can fall off softly for a very pleasing image and it's free tip number two bouncing light for product Beal I generally do not like direct hard light just because it feels a bit too unnatural and harsh so instead you can bounce light this makes your light softer and gives it a much more gradual Shadow like in this shot here this leads me into tip number three adding color while this shot is better than it was before it could still use another layer for that blank white wall so I've added a light directly on the ground with a purple gel now you don't have to use this kind of light or even this kind of gel your local hardware store will likely sell colored bulbs to allow you achieve a similar effect on the cheap just pick up a couple work lights and some colored bulbs and you're good to go thanks to Demitri and hardware conu for having me I hope you guys have found these tips helpful so guys thank you so much for watching and joining the part two of how we b-roll filming tips and techniques uh make sure to check out part one in the description below if you haven't already and give us a like if you want to see more content like this because I'm sure there's plenty in store of what I can share as I go along filming uh the review videos for the har YouTube channel huge thank you to Brandon from lus techtips for joining in this episode giving very insightful information on lighting and I can't wait to get more uh guests on the show to just do you know their tips just raw information for our viewers so if you have any suggestions on who I should invite next for the drrolling tips and techniques series leave them in the comments below as always thank you so much for watching don't forget to subscribe and follow for behind the scenes and how to videos every Friday we'll see you in the next one\n"