For those who know me as a gadget geek, among my many electronic possessions is a handycam (Sony DCR-HC85E). Not a new one, mind you. It’s about 4 years old, and it records using mini DV tapes. Yes, the DVD cameras were out back then but I refused to get one because after weighing the pros and cons (I did hours of research just to check out which model to get, too!!) I decided to buy the tape camera instead. I won’t go into why right now (maybe another time), but I have to say that I never regretted buying this videocamera. The HDD cameras are out now, but my mini DV still works fine, so I’m not going to get one just yet. Even though I really, really want to.

ANYWAY, I’ve known eversince I purchased this videocamera that it can double as a webcam, but I never got around to testing that function – mainly because I don’t want people to view me in my underwear.

Haha!! That got your attention, didn’t it?!

OK, I never sit in front of my PC only in my underwear because it’s really too cold to do so. But I normally don’t look my best when I’m in front of my PC because I either look exhausted or really sloppy, and I don’t really want my friends to see me like that. Anyway I don’t really need a webcam because it’s not like I have a boyfriend miles away who totally misses me and wants to see me in my under– I mean, wants to see me.

But just now when I was testing my videocamera prior to a videography job, I remembered that supposed webcam function, and thought, why not? My poor videocamera has been left unused for a long time. I typically use it to record dance parties/events/performances and/or school events, with the latter no longer in existence since I am not working in a school anymore. Tonight’s videography job is an exception (will talk about that another time)… so why not make full use of my videocamera now?

So after coming back from that event, instead of going straight to bed like I should (I was at that event for seven long hours, during which I didn’t get to eat nor sit down. But don’t blame the event organisers. That’s really expected as part of my job as a videographer. I’ve suffered far worse), I rigged my videocamera up to my computer to test it as a webcam. Apparently it works, except the friend I tested it with couldn’t see my webcam, although MSN indicates that it’s able to show my webcam.

And I thought… hey for a change, why not try to put in a VLog? I’ve read about VLogs for ages but never got around to trying to put my own up for a change. For shame – considering that I’m supposed to be some sort of videographer, eh?

But the main reason is I never did is because I’m never really comfortable in front of a videocamera. Oh, I love still cameras and how they make me look, but that’s a snapshot. A moment frozen in time. And they’re totally Photoshoppable. Videocameras however record you talking and moving. They’re editable, I agree – but they’re harder to edit than still photos.

Besides, I don’t have much to say in front of a videocamera. I express myself so much better in the written word. And that’s mainly because there’s a useful button on the keyboard called “Backspace”. The “Delete” button is equally handy, too.

Anyway, here’s my first video log ever. I know it totally sucks, but hey, it’s a start