White Knuckle Productions Video School Review

MTV has “The Real World” and deer hunting has “White Knuckle Productions“. There are tons of hunting videos out there, but very few are in the class that White Knuckle is in. They simply tell a story. Their season isn’t about harvesting big deer, but telling the best story they can. Kyle Reenders (Principle Cameraman/Editor for White Knuckle Productions and Whitetails, Inc.) and Todd Pringnitz (WKP and Whitetails Inc. President) have a hell of a thing going. They’ve established a great following of people and deer hunters who can’t wait to see what type of seasons the WKP crew has. There is nothing flashy – and life isn’t always kosher – but you get a front row seat of their season, each year.

With that said – I couldn’t pass up the chance to attend their recent video school, and get some pointers and tips for the operating a camera in real world deer hunting situations.

One of the first things that becomes apparent when you’re watching the White Knuckle Productions DVD’s and Whitetails Inc Web Show, is that these guys film all phases of the deer season, as well as the hunt.

This includes, but is not limited to velvet footage, gaining permission on property, looking at maps, shed hunting, hanging tree stands, and planting food plots. This past season, Timmy Thacker even had his trip to the hospital on film!

When you have all of the footage from the entire year, you have everything you will need to create a complete story of your year – which is what White Knuckle is great at, obviously.

Recent HD Cameras For Deer Hunting

Todd and Reenders also spoke about the quality of the new, miniature HD cameras, and how you can use them in place of the bigger cameras when the conditions are right, or when using a bigger camera isn’t practical – like for a second angle, climbing up a tree. They also mentioned products like the Joby Gorillapod, that can aid you in creating steady footage, without spending an arm and a leg.

The Five Step Check

Todd and Kyle created a 5 Step Checklist for every time you turn the camera on to film. They are as follows:

1) Clean Lens

2) Note and keep lighting at best possible angle

3) White Balance – check it out, confirm it is accurate

4) Focus – recognize what focus you’re using, and how it will appear to the viewer

5) Audio check – confirm the audio levels are at the appropriate settings

Capturing Your Hunt on Film -Video Cameras and Equipment

These are a few of the cameras that were mentioned for capturing your hunt on film. I’ve listed them in order from least expensive, to most expensive.

1. Sony CX110
2. Sony MCSOU
3. Sony NX7OU
4. Sony AX2000
5. Sony NXSU

Microphones for Hunting – Recording Audio On Your Deer Hunt

1. Samsung UM1
2. Sony UWP_V1

Filming Your Deer Hunt – Camera Equipment and Accesories

1. UV Filters – Protect your lens with these, and be sure to keep them clean.
2. Zoom Controllers – Get one, and use it. It allows you to zoom and focus the camera, with literally the touch of a finger. These are a great aid, and allow you do to more, while moving less.
3. Tripod – There are many quality tripods out there, expect to send around three digits to get a quality tripod. There is also some savings if you get a Tripod Kit, that includes both a Fluid Head, and a Tripod.
4. Fluid Head – A fluid head allows you to get smooth footage while panning and moving the camera. It attaches to your tripod, and tree arm, directly to your camera. Don’t skimp on this – it has a direct correlation to the quality of your footage.
5. Tree Arms – There are many models out there. The 3rd Arm, Muddy Outdoors, Hunter Cam Cradle. Again, this is a critical part to your viewing enjoyment!

Filming Your Hunts in Low Light

Obviously during the first few minutes of the day, and the last few minutes at night are great times to harvest deer. This is a big challenge when filming because of the quality of the footage goes down where there isn’t much light to work with (obviously). To combat this – Todd and Kyle recommend

1)Setting Shutter Speed at 30

2) Setting your Iris at 1.6

3) And setting your Gain at 18dB.

These settings allow you to get the best quality of footage, for the longest time. However, Todd and Kyle explained that were is a difference between filming light and shooting light. They recommend getting out of the tree when your filming light it out, so that you’re not tempted to shoot something off camera. Todd reiterated often throughout the video school that if you’re going to film hunts, you have to put the filming portion of the hunt first -and the hunting portion second. This will likely be my greatest challenge as I move forward filming my hunts.

Taking Quality Trophy Deer Pictures

With every successful hunt, comes an opportunity to take trophy photos – and White Knuckle does above and beyond to ensure that they get quality trophy deer pictures. Some of of the tips they offered were:

1. Get Low – make sure you’re not standing over the deer to make it look weirdly small. Todd and Kyle recommend laying on the ground.
2. Clean Up The Animal – Clean up any blood, and stick the tongue back in the deers mouth, and position the animal in a clean, professional setting.
3. Change It Up – Be sure to take pictures from all different angles – you never know which ones you may like best.
4. Note The Lighting – Make sure to use the lighting to your advantage. It doesn’t hurt to change it up and try something unique.
5. Take Tons of Pictures – Whike Knuckle Productions recommend you take tons of pictures – hundreds. Once you’re done, your odds of having some quality trophy photos are much better when you take lots of them!
6. Use Props - It never hurts to include your hunting stand, your bow, or even a cameraman in the trophy picture. Use props that are visually fitting, and help tell the story about the hunt!

Cameraman Equipment List

1. Lens Cleaner
2. Extra Cards or Tapes
3. Extra Battery for Camera and Wireless Mics
4. Tree Arm

Foul Weather Tips For Deer Hunting With a Video Camera

When you’re as hard core as the White Knuckle Productions crew is – you don’t let weather stop you. Here are some things Todd and Kyle recommended for filming your deer hunts in bad weather

1) Weatherproof camera cover

2) Un-lubricated Condom

3) Rubber band with zip lock bag

The things listed above are to best weatherproof your camera in harsh conditions. The weatherproof camera bad is obvious, but the un-lubricated condom isn’t! Use the un-lubricated condom to put over your shotgun microphone, so it won’t allow moisture into the mic. I wonder if these are reusable? (joking)

2011 White Knuckle Productions Video School Summery

My finals feelings as I left the 2011 White Knuckle Productions Video School were – completely satisfied. I learned a lot, had some great brush up on stuff that I had already learned – and felt like I could approach either of the instructors in the future, shall I have a question I don’t know the answer to. I’m not sure what else I could ask for. Besides – I got to hang out and just kick it with a bunch of deer hunters, what’s not to love! Hope to see you all there, next year!