The secret to cinematic FPV is motion blur. Here's how to master it.

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00:00:00 - Motion blur: the key to high-quality video
00:00:51 - Where does motion blur come from?
00:01:27 - Aperture and exposure
00:03:08 - ISO and image noise
00:04:54 - Shutter speed and motion blur
00:08:08 - Low shutter speed for extreme motion blur
00:09:42 - Shutter angle = how much motion blur
00:12:20 - How to think about motion blur
00:13:21 - The problem with GoPros and how ND filters fix it
00:16:14 - My preferred setup: Auto shutter, ISO locked at 100
00:17:41 - Locked shutter results in over-exposure
00:18:39 - Why I never lock both shutter and ISO
00:19:58 - This is the "correct" way. But not my way.
00:22:59 - Why not also use auto ISO?
00:24:02 - Two things we overlooked

[msh]

The basics of photography and some videography in less than half an hour without making me sleepy. teaching is a skill and an art, you don't have to be a guru in something to teach it well but you have to be a good teacher. well done Bardwell.

[morimetz]

As a freelance photographer/videographer with a degree as a media engineer I can say this was very well explained beginning to end and I watched all of it although I didn't learn anything new :) I agree that getting the right exposure with locked shutter really is a nightmare sometimes!

An additonal topic you could have discussed is the behavior of motion blur in relation to proximity (and also speed of course), that's why 360 degree shutter feels a bit too much in your backyard, but when you're cruising a mountain range it should be fine. I personally like 90 degree shutter for my footage, so I have a clear image and blur at the edges and if I get close to stuff. The extreme wide angle of a GoPro causes the edges of the image to move faster than to center which gives the amazing sense of speed in FPV videos, but only with shutter angles 90 degree or higher.
I really liked the locked exposure with auto ISO in your example, I would even set the ISO limit to 100-400. if you fly through a dark area it should reflect in the image getting darker, I personally don't like video where it brightens up as you go into darker areas, it looks cheap and a bit unnatural to me. When you hit a bridge gap for example and the auto exposure brightens your image for a really short time it really triggers me visually :D

[ERadicator]

Mr.Bardwell, plz let me tell you that you have SO UNDERSTANDABLE English for a non native eng speaker, that I truly want to shake your hand and tell you THANK YOU. The way you speaking and usage of simply and well known words saving just tons of time because it can be understood without subs, at normal or even X2 speed and so on.

[GabeGeiger]

What an absolute masterclass, thanks for being so thorough without bogging it down!

[calledtojourney]

This is the BEST explanation of motion blur with drone videos I've seen, and I completely agree that relying on ND filters is problematic unless you're in a situation with stable light, but it's still difficult to get the right exposure with them. Keeping your ISO low and allowing auto shutter speed is a great balance between correct exposure and good motion blur, though locking both can work in a relatively stable light environment.

[sweetfpv]

Hey JB. I am one of those professional cameramen. I fly with locked shutter and iso. But for another reason than you might expect. To explain this, it is best to take your example flying behind your shed. My thinking is that people who watch the video are looking at where you are flying to. So I look at the meadow behind the shed. Which, with your settings, blows out. In my opinion that is not preferable. As a cameraman I always take in account what part of the frame people are looking at.

So I knew all theory before watching your video. But still I watched it. Great video!

[BowOneFire]

I dont know why but i really like the footage of the locked iso and shutter + nd32 at 19:01, even when it goes underexposed

[lukeuphigh]

this is a great guide for people that dont do a lot of editing in post.
I myself fly a lot of FPV for cinematic and commercial purposes. The most important thing is to tell the camera what to do and not let it decide for itself.
For example the shutter is always at 180° and the iso is either fixed or as low as possible with a maximum of 400. Then you use the correct ND filter.
If you happen to fly through some darker areas yes, the footage will be underexposed but since your ISO is not to high you can bring back a lot in post without getting a noisy image.
Joshua is absolutely right about everything he is saying! However if you want the best quality and dont shy away from some work in your editing program there is no way around the 180° shutter, locked or as low as possible ISO and the correct ND filter 😄
Great video!

[TaoCovillault]

Genius ☺️✨
As a videographer, and newbie in droning, I was eagerly waiting for the last point, hands on the keyboard, but no...
You covered it all 🤪

Your content is very precious Joshua, thank yoy so much 🙏✨

[MactacFPV]

The issue with stabilization and motion blur doesn't really have anything to do with the stabilization algorithm, or with how it "looks" at or "analyzes" the footage - Reelsteady/GyroFlow/etc all use the gyro for stabilization, not the image. In fact, you could stabilize a completely black video no problem because the image isn't being analyzed by the algorithm. (well technically it is, but not for the stabilization part).
The problem shows up when you have motion that is pretty "bumpy" or random - because the motion is all over the place, you get motion blur in all sorts of directions. Which is fine, but then when you stabilize it, you have perfectly stable video, but with motion blur showing "motion" in all sorts of directions when there isn't any (due to the stabilization). If you set your shutter to around 1/240 (for 60fps) or 1/120 (for 30fps), you can still get a bit of motion blur without running into much of a problem.
Also, if your motion is fairly smooth or in one direction (like smoother or cinematic fpv) it really doesn't become an issue because the motion blur "matches" the motion. If you are walking or hiking or something where the motion is all over the place/bumpy, it's going to be more of an issue.

[MarVermelhoIfpi]

Great video, the basic photography concepts are even easier to understand then other videos that focus on teaching that. Congrats!

[jessehoffman]

I honestly wish i found this video when i was first starting out with camera drones, before ever even getting into FPV. You explain the photography/videography basics better than almost any video ive ever watched (and ive watched a TON on this topic).

[paolomattiello]

I've researched and watched many videos about motion blur, and this is the best one by a mile. Going over the same issues and trying all the things that I tried to achieve the results. I just wish I'd see this before!

[aantoniv]

This video was super informative! Thank you. TLDR for me: on GoPro with drone use ISO 100, auto shutter speed and adjust ND filter to the conditions: super sunny days- use nd32; cloudy day - use nd16; dark day - use nd8; super dark or inside house - give a try to no filter…

[LeviewFPV]

OMG I can't agree with you more! I was watching the first part of the video and already thinking about commenting that whenever I lock the shutter in the gopro I get overexposed or underexposed footage that ruins my flight, when I turn it to auto, I get amazing videos. I have NDs, but when I fly, I go through so many scenarios, that AUTO shutter is the way to go for me ! Thank you for explaining this theory applied to FPV. FINALLY (I am obviously subbed)

[SteadfastRC]

I learned something today for like the next 3 months! Great video Joshua!

[SkeezyFPV]

Thanks for more great content! I started watching your channel when you did the interview with the Ukrainian civilian drone guys helping in the war. YouTube put it in my feed probably because I still watch lots of military type stuff. I’m a Marine artillery vet and the interview (not sure if it’s still up. Lots of people seemed to be getting their panties in a bind over that great interview you did) was what got me into FPV ironically. Anyway, six months later, here I am flying FPV and learning about motion blur! Thanks for introducing me to fpv and helping me get in the air!

[DVRGNT]

That’s definitely the most comprehensive simple explanation for this concept I’ve seen. Thanks! Also, YouTube recommended a livestream, not sure it made the best pick

[WKfpv]

In my experience I think the 180 rule works ok for the cinematic mountain diving kind of stuff, but for proximity that's what I like to do, it makes everything too much blurry. I absolutely agree with your approach.

[RickJamesFPV]

Excellent video JB! Thanks for clearing up a few things for me🙌🤙🏾