The better the quality the image, the better the quality the interpretation. This goes for any diagnostic image, not excluding cinematographs (videos). The reviewer cannot accurately assess footage during moments when:
The frame is not centered on the subject.
The camera is moving up or down.
The camera is shaking.
The operator is zooming or panning.
GetSound® recommends that you review these helpful tips when acquiring your video clips for the purpose of professional review:
The GetSound® App makes video acquisition and submission quick and easy… right from your iOS or Android phone. No camcorders needed! You can use the optical image stabilization feature built into your smart phone for best results.
This makes it easier to keep the entire horse within the frame at all times (see Tip #5).
It is important to remember that the human brain “stabilizes” the image that appears on the screen during filming. As we acquire the footage, our eyes will naturally fixate on some landmark and track it along, giving us the false impression of smooth camera movement. We’re often surprised to find extraneous motion upon subsequent review, as if we had been filming from atop a trotting horse!
When possible, keep the phone close to your body, rest your elbows on a nearby object and use your body (not your arms) to absorb bounces and shakes. Most of us do not have access to a tripod, so lean against a wall if there is one available. That’ll help keep the shakiness to a minimum. No wall? Put your butt on the ground, bend your knees, and prop your elbows on them. Presto: instant tripod!
Try to maintain the camera along the horizontal plane while filming. In other words, keep it as level as possible. This is most easily accomplished by keeping two hands on the phone, one on either end. Pull on each end slightly, as if you’re trying to stretch out a piece of fabric. Avoid rotating or moving the camera up and down by restricting your movements from side-to-side. Hold your hands and arms steady, and swivel at your hips to move back and forth.
Once you get the horse centered in the frame you can visually follow the horse directly by keeping the camera at a consistent virtual distance directly below the subject. Keep the camera as level as possible while filming.
Make sure that there is enough light and that its source (e.g. the sun) is behind you when filming. Your shadow should always stay in front or alongside of you, not behind you! This will reduce image glare and make the clip much easier to interpret.
If the image is hard to see, tap on the darkest part of the screen to lighten it. Repeat as necessary while filming.
The horse’s head, body, limbs and tail should all be within the frame throughout the entire length of your video, even if it is obvious that only one limb or region is affected. Remember, we are not only assessing how the affected area(s) moves but also how the rest of the horse’s body is reacting to the problem.
Stand far enough away from the subject so that the entire body remains within each and every frame of the footage. Only move the camera when the horse is advancing beyond the frame.
Try not to adjust the magnification of your camera. Accurate assessment cannot be performed during moments of panning or zooming, so this footage is wasted. If you have to adjust the magnification, do it once with the intention of nearly “filling-up” the screen when the horse is closest to you, but don’t zoom back in as the horse moves farther away. Since your smart phone lens does not zoom optically, you’re merely just enlarging the picture digitally and making it appear more pixelated to the evaluator. In these instances, it is always better to move a little closer to your subject to find the perfect shot.
Video: Do not acquire the footage in slow motion; film the horse in real-time. If necessary, your evaluator can slow the clip to enable further interpretation. Also do not adjust the color, contrast or exposure of the image.
Audio: Do not include or add any audio with your video; most evaluators will turn off concomitant music, comments, etc. by muting the clip during review.
With the horse standing square on a level surface:
With the horse moving on a hard (e.g. asphalt) surface:
With the horse on a soft (e.g. arena) surface: