Camera Movement

 In this lesson, we were taught the art of camera movement different kinds of techniques used in film. Read the following so you can learn the primary facts about camera movement also!

What is camera movement?

Camera movement is something you as an audience to a film are already aware of, but haven't paid any attention to. Camera movement is defined as the way a camera shifts to visually narrate and shape a viewers perspective of a scene. We see this in every film we watch. 

How is camera movement useful in film? 

The simple answer: It allows directors to shift the audience’s perspective. The audience's attention is obviously going to be where the camera is focused on, and more often than not, wherever the camera is focused on is a significant part of the film for the audience. 

Who is responsible for movement in production?

The director. There are many famous directors out there who are very successful in the art of camera movement.

Two famous directors: Steven Spielberg & Jordan Peel. Peel has directed movies Get Out, Nope, and Us. On the other hand, Spielberg has directed Jaws, Jurassic Park and West Side Story. 

Did I already know any camera movement techniques before this lesson? 

Yes, before this lesson, I already knew a few camera movement techniques. The main ones being the Zoom In and Zoom Out. The reason being that these are fairly obvious techniques. When a camera zooms in on a character or subject, for example, the audience is aware of what the camera is doing. However, I personally didn’t think that it was considered a technique which was interesting about this lesson. 


Here's a chart me an my teammate worked on for this lesson. By reading, you will also learn about different techniques in camera movement in the following:


Camera Movement Technique 

Definition 

3 Key Points 

Static 

Camera shot in which the camera is not moving. 

  • Conveys information. 

  • Allows the viewer to study the frame. 

  • Movement exists in the frame, not of the frame. 

Pan  

A camera movement where the camera pivots left or right on a horizontal axis while its base remains in a fixed location.  

  • Follows a moving subject. 

  • Typically motivated by the reveal of a subject or object. 

  •  Requires tripod. 

Roll 

A camera is locked on sticks and moves up or down. 

  • Reveals subject or object that is important to the story. 

  • Can make characters vulnerable or dominant. 

  • Captures verticality of a films world. 

Dolly In/Push In  

When the camera moves in forward to focus attention on the subject.  

  • Eliminates excess space around it.  

  • Emphasizes a moment. 

  • Can direct attention to specific detail. 

Dolly Out/Pull Out  

When the camera moves backward to focus attention on the subject.   

  • De-Emphasizes a character. 

  • Unveils the context of a scene. 

  • Unveils characters or setting. 

Zoom In  

A camera movement used to isolate a subject 

  • Isolates subject by compressing space. 

  • Zooming in to reveal location. 

  • Magnifies the size of a subject. 

Reverse Zoom/Zoom Out  

Reveals a location that the subject occupies by zooming out 

  • Can be used for comedic effect. 

  • Creates unease. 

  • Reveals context of a scene. 

Tracking  

When a camera moves right to left or right to left.  

  • Done using a dolly track or slider. 

  • Considered a high-end camera move. 

  • Follows a traveling subject.  

Trucking  

A type of tracking shot in which the entire camera moves left or right along a track.  

  • Follows characters 

  • Establishes characters and setting in a storybook fashion 

  • Camera moves laterally  

Random Movement  

Camera movement motivated by audience experience rather than character actions.  

  • Heighten intensity of a scene. 

  • Establish subjectivity for the audience.  

  • Gives a subjective documentary feel to the film.  

Boom  

Camera movement in which camera moves typically upward or downward.  

  • Used for reveals and characters.  

  • Known as establishing shot.  

  • Using boom crane camera movements. 

Camera Roll  

Rotational camera movement that rotates the camera over its side.  

  • Can be dizzying or unnatural.  

  • Highly effective but shouldn’t be used too often. 

  • Disorients the audience. 










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