Videos are also useful for teaching/training purposes to illustrate good and bad examples of bell handling style and/or the action of bell, clapper, stay, slider and rope (a slow motion play back facility is always useful in this context). Filming and replaying on a smartphone is usually the best way to demonstrate this.

If you are making a video for the first time, particularly if it is being produced for publicity purposes, you should review some of the examples already available on YouTube.

With a smartphone, or more sophisticated camera, you can now make really high quality videos of ringing. You may want to consider what you want to include in your video(s) about ringing. Here are some ideas:

• Video of ringers ringing in the ringing chamber/room. Check with the Tower Captain first and the ringers being filmed. Remember the important safety rules in the ringing room and avoid getting near moving ropes when filming.
• Video of the external tower and the sound of the ringing from outside. Try to stand somewhere where there is limited other background noise, such as traffic.
• Videos of the bells. Ask your Tower Captain if you can film the bells at the top of the tower. Always go with another responsible member of the band, ie. Tower Captain or Steeple Keeper and follow their instructions as to where you can stand. Generally you should never go into the belfry whilst the bells are ‘up’. Some towers have an area where you can safely stand, but follow the instructions of your Tower Captain and have adequate ear protection if the bells will be rung whilst you are in a safe location.
• Ringer’s social events, such as Branch or District socials. Filming during meetings or other formal business is usually not appropriate.

If you want to share your video with a wider group or the world, you may consider uploading it to YouTube.

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