Types of Camera Movements

Camera Movement

Camera movements are often implemented to add anticipation to shots, their best use is when new information is exposed. Camera movements can be distracting and even annoying when overused or used without a reason. Don’t use a camera movement to show that you can. Use it when you know you need it.

Camera movement is useful to help engage the viewer in the action in a scene, reveal emotion and elements on screen or set the pace. As such, it is essential to know when to use which types of camera movement in order to add information and drama to a scene.

The Three Main Basic Types of Camera Movements

Only the Camera Lens Moves

The Movement Created by Mounted camera.

Both the Camera Operator and Camera Movers together

Only the Camera Lens Moves

1. Zoom

Zoom is nothing but zooming your lens. It create different illusions, which can effects the audience perception of size and distance. Zooms happen at the push of a button. Zoom in refers to apparently “approaching” the character of object, thus making it look bigger in the frame. Zoom out refers to apparently “distancing” the character or object, thus making it look smaller. Commonly tripod is recommended when using the zoom technique to avoid shaking frame.

some people misconception, the terms “zoom” and “dolly” are not interchangeable. With zooms, the camera in standard position, but the lens magnify or minimize the size of the Character or object With dollies, the camera is being moved in a physical space.

2. Crash Zoom / Rack Focus

Crash Zoom is an interesting camera movement technique, which can give your shots more impact. This technique calls for focusing the camera on one Character or object in a close up shot, causing the whole thing in the background to be out of focus, then causing the Character become out of focus whereas the background becomes in focus.

This is done by changing the focal length so that one object will go out of focus at the same time as another comes into focus. The two objects must be at a correct distance away from each other for this camera movement technique to work, and tripod is recommended when using this camera movement technique.

The Movement Created by Mounted Camera

3.  Pan

Pan movement is simply moving the camera horizontally from left to right (Pan right) or right to left (Pan Left).  Note that the camera itself is not moving. It is often fixed on tripod, with the cinematographer turning it. Pan shots are used to show the audience more of the scenery. This technique is also often used to show moving objects like cars speeding or people walking; or to show sweeping vistas like an ocean or a cliff.

You should practice panning at various speeds until you find the speed that works best for you. A smooth pan with be slow enough to allow the audience to observe the scenery. A fast pan will create blur. If it’s too fast, it will be called a Swish pan.

4. Tilt

Tilt is must like panning but only it is done vertically. Just move the camera up or down, without lowering or raising the position of the camera. This camera movement technique is used to to reveal vertical objects like a building or a person.

You should note that when you tilt from bottom to top, the Character or object looks superior. When you tilt from top to bottom, the character or object looks less significant or thinner.

5. Pedestal

In this camera movement, The camera body will physically elevated or lowered. This camera movement is little opposite to tilt movement. The difference between pedestals and tilts is that in the tilt, the camera lens is just being aimed up or down, whereas in the pedestal, the camera is being moved vertically. This technique is simply used to get the proper view that you are looking for.

Both the Camera Operator and Camera Movers together

6. Track / Dolly

The camera should be mounted on a wheeled-platform and Moving the camera forward is called dolly in. Moving the camera backward is called dolly out. This camera movement is used to follow the character or subject.

Tracking is similar to dolling. The main difference being that in dollies the camera is moved toward or away from the character or object, but in a track shot, the camera is moved sideways, parallel to the character or object.

7. Dolly Counter Zoom

The dolly counter zoom movement is a unusual type of shot. The Dolly moves forward to the character or subject, at the same time zooming out your camera or wise versa. You can get  stylish effect in this shot the size of the character or subject remains the same but the volume of the background varies.

8. Boom / Crane

A boom essentially consists of a camera attached to an arm of varying lengths that can pivot through a fixed point. It is a smaller version of the cranes that are used for construction. A camera boom is used to get a view of character or subject from above. These are commonly used in films, and the boom moves up, down, and around. This system requires far more setup time because of the multiple pieces of equipment that must be assembled. So shots requiring boom movement require planning in advance of your shoot.

9. Floating Stabilizer

Floating stabilizer is a step up of the dolly movement. You can follow the subject around twists and turns. The movement of dolly has a limitation, floating stabilizer eliminates those limitations. The stabilizer is strapped to the cinematographer, and the camera is mounted to the stabilizer with metal jointed which are controlled by gyroscopes.

10. Handheld

Using this technique, the cinematographer simply holds the camera, and moves, however and wherever he needs to move to get the shot that he wants. when taking handheld shots you should avoid using the zoom techniques. Zooming while using the handheld technique will make your shot shaky.

                                                                                                                  - Jagadish