Capturing the field through smartphone video-taking – a visual methods workshop
On the 16th of March 2026, a group of early career researchers (ECRs) and postgraduate researchers (PGRs) led by Dr Shivani Singhal collaborated with the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) and the Centre for Global Development to deliver an interactive session designed to enhance skills in using visual methods.
Approximately 25 participants from several schools across the University of Leeds attended, including Earth and Environment, Politics and International Studies, Geography, Biology, Law, Business and Civil Engineering. The diverse mix of PGRs, ECRs, and senior academics created an enabling environment for multidisciplinary exchange and collective learning.
The workshop was facilitated by Dan Waters of Adarak, who introduced participants to the fundamentals of filming using their own smartphones. Drawing on his extensive experience in producing videos for universities and other organisations, Dan highlighted the value of video in research, particularly as a tool for supporting interdisciplinary communication, providing richer contextualisation, and enhancing dissemination, especially to non-academic audiences.
Dan then guided participants through the full workflow of video production, from planning and scripting to equipment use, effective field capture, and editing. This was followed by a practical exercise in which participants filmed one another around campus. Working in small groups, they were encouraged to reflect on how their respective research intersected.
It was clear that participants genuinely enjoyed the hands-on activity, particularly when Dan produced a short, edited video using the footage captured that afternoon. One participant remarked on how “easily applicable” the methods and equipment were – an observation that I shared. I had always assumed that producing high-quality video required sophisticated technology. However, Dan demonstrated that much of the craft lies in technique rather than equipment. Specifically, effective filming hinges on choosing the right camera angle, selecting an appropriate shooting location, prioritising sound quality, asking purposeful questions, eliciting articulate responses, and capturing enough ‘cutaway’ shots to support the narrative.
Beyond the practical skills, Shivani also discussed the ethical dimensions of visual research, including anonymity, consent, and respondent feedback. This then prompted a rich discussion, with participants sharing their own experiences of navigating these issues in the field. For instance, I described situations in which research respondents explicitly asked for their names or photographs to appear in my outputs, even after being informed that their involvement was anonymous. Another participant highlighted the responsibility of researchers in assessing potential harm, noting that individuals may not fully anticipate the implications of being identifiable in research materials. Shivani emphasised that these ethical dilemmas ultimately require cultural sensitivity and an ongoing approach to consent that extends across multiple stages of the research process.
Given the enthusiastic response, the organisers are already planning a follow‑up workshop focused on editing techniques and visual analysis. Building on the momentum of this session, they hope to continue strengthening the community of researchers engaging with visual methods across the University. Those interested in future collaborations are welcome to contact Shivani at [email protected].
Written by Mel Yan. Resources from the workshop are available here, with thanks to Shivani Singhal and Dan Waters:
Adarak guide to virtual filming