With the release of Osmo Mobile 3, it is now easier than ever to create smooth cinematic sequences with your smartphone. To take advantage of this convenient gimbal stabilizer, we put together five video transitions you can try out to take your filmmaking to the next level.
Camera In, Camera Out
One of the easiest and most effective video transitions is camera in, camera out. To do this, end your first shot by moving your camera toward your subject until it fills the frame. Then pull out from the same frame at a new location to reveal a completely different scene. Remember, you can use anything as your subject so long as it fills the frame, so get creative!
The Lens Cover
Similar to the in and out transition, this transition begins with your subject covering the lens with their hand at one location before removing it somewhere else revealing an entirely different scene. This transition is especially useful for vlogging scenarios where you’re talking to your camera. It is a convenient way to move the story to a new setting.
To achieve this transition, finish the first shot by covering the lens, and start the next shot by uncovering it. Then, place the two clips in an editor, such as the DJI Mimo app, so that the covered frames overlap and you are left with a smooth transition between two different settings.
The Wipe
Wipe transitions are a great way to move from one location to another without a noticeable jump.
Pan the camera until something in your environment covers the lens (think lamp-post, tree, or pillar), then start your second shot by panning in the same direction from behind a similar object. When editing, line up the two clips so that the two covered frames overlap, and the result will be a seamless transition from one scene to another. In our video, we used the pillar to transition between the park outside and the airport terminal. Then we used the window frame to hide the transition to the view of the mountain range.
The Sky Whip
By using the sky whip move, creators can move their story effortlessly between two outside locations by tilting the camera upward to the sky, before bringing it down to reveal a completely different scene.
To achieve this effect, end your first clip by tilting the camera to the sky, and then begin your next shot by angling the camera downward. To further sell the effect, you should add some motion blur and speed up the video. This transition is best done on cloudy days or days with clear blue skies so that there are fewer details to make the cut obvious.
The Floor Ramp
The floor ramp transition is excellent for seamlessly transitioning between two moving shots and making sure that your shot maintains dynamism throughout. The floor ramp transition uses the motion blur of the ground in both shots to transition between the two clips.
To create the floor ramp transition, finish your first clip by tilting your phone downwards so that the floor fills your frame, then start the next clip by tilting upwards from the floor to reveal the new scene. In an editor, add a speed ramp to the two floor sections of your video so that the motion blur hides the moment the video changes and you are left with a smooth transition that adds dynamic motion to your video.
Thanks to an improved design ensuring even more stability, transitions like these that involve lots of movement are perfect for Osmo Mobile 3.
Remember that while transitions can make your footage more cinematic, they are only one part of filmmaking. Check out our other tutorials to better master phone videography. If you want to take your content up a notch, pair your transitions with awesome sound effects. There are tons of music options out there that can capture the essence of what your video is conveying.
These are just 5 transitions that can help to enhance your story and make your content better but beware of overusing them. A video that contains more transitions than story can be confusing to the viewer and take away from the message your video is trying to convey.
More Information about Osmo Mobile 3
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