Camera Movements!

 A camera movement refers to the way a camera shifts to visually narrate and shape a viewer’s perspective of a scene. In the world of film and video, there are several basic and advanced camera movements that can help enhance your story. 

What is a static shot?

A Static shot

A static shot allows actors to work the scene together and produce something authentic.

A static shot in film is also known as a locked-off shot, or an immobile shot. The frame can be filled with the movement of vehicles, characters, props, weather, etc, but the frame itself does not move in a static shot.

A static shot will be quicker and easier to capture than a dynamic shot. In a tight schedule or  working on a small budget, then  use of static shots can save you both time and money.   The static shot can be a versatile tool for capturing a wide range of moments.

Static shots are almost always far simpler visually speaking than dynamic shots. For this reason, many cinematographers and directors hold a great preference for dynamic shots over static shots. 

A  shot in which the camera moves, is known as a dynamic shot.

Establishing shots, closeups, POVs, etc, can all be shot either static or dynamic.

• Cleanly conveys information
• Allows viewer to study the frame
• Movement in the frame, not movement of the frame

What is a camera pan?

A camera pan is horizontal movement in which the camera moves right to left from a central axis. 

The Pan Camera Movement

The camera pan directs a camera horizontally left or right. A panning camera can be achieved with just about any camera rig. Whether it is handheld, using a dolly or crane, or even a drone. 

Pans are often motivated by a character’s actions. They can also be used to reveal new information to the audience. The pan is one of the most basic camera movements, it can also be one of the most effective. 

WHEN TO USE CAMERA PANNING:

• Establishes location of scene
• Tracks movement
• Elevates tension in a scene

A pan allows the audience to see more of the scene. Camera panning establishes the location, and also tracks the movement of the characters or objects within that location.

Also panning from one character to another can create more tension than a quick cut would. This type of camera movement allows the audience to experience the moment in real-time. 

A slow camera pan can also delay an action and build anticipation

Whip pans

When done quickly with speed, the fast camera movement is known as a whip pan. Whip pans are one of the best camera movements to add energy to a shot. Whip pans can be used between two characters rather than cutting to establish a more energetic connection.

Whip pan shot, also known as a swish pan effect, is a cinematography term that describes a camera movement that literally whips the camera back and forth on its x-axis to create a disorienting motion blur effect.

What does a whip pan (swish pan) do?

• Moves fast enough to blur imagery
• Can transition through time and space
• Can simulate fast moving objects or people
  
  

Tilt camera movements 

Tilt camera movements direct a camera upward or downward. A tilt shot is shot that uses a cinematographic technique called tilting in which the camera stays fixed but rotates up and down on a vertical plane. Tilting is similar to the motion of an individual raising or lowering their heads. 

Tilting is a little less common than panning but they are used fairly regularly for creative and practical purposes. Camera tilts can be used to give a character dominance in a shot or to reveal new information to the audience. Tilts enable filmmakers to capture the verticality of a film in moments of awe and spectacle.

Tilt Movement Affects Psychology and Physical Space

Tilting the camera down from the perspective of one character to another visually indicates superiority from the higher angle point of view. It’s a great tool to show power vs. vulnerability in the film. 

A dolly Movement

A dolly shot is a specific kind of tracking shot where we follow a subject on an apparatus called a dolly. A dolly is a cart that the camera is mounted on, which rolls along dolly track or on its own wheels. Dolly shots are designed to be smooth and controlled camera movements. 

DOLLY CAMERA MOVEMENT

Push In

A push-in moves the camera closer to a subject typically with a dolly camera movement . 

Push-ins can draw the audience's attention toward a specific detail. Filmmakers also push-in toward characters to try and infer what is occurring internally. 

Pull Out

The camera pull out is the exact opposite of the push in. A pull out is a smooth camera movement that moves the camera further away from a subject. This movement causes the subject to grow smaller while simultaneously revealing their surroundings.

• Pull outs can be used to reveal setting and characters. 
• Emotionally, pull outs can highlight a character’s isolation or loneliness.