Basic camera shots and movements

In this post i will show you different types of shots and camera movements. These are really important in film making as without them the film would be very bare and boring. Shot types and camera movements give the film some meaning and feeling.

The video below will take you through some of the different shot types how ever some not all of them appear in this video.

 

 

Shot types

Some more shot types the guy in the video forgot to mentions is;

POV (point of view)

 This is a short scene from a film that shows what the charters is looking at this short shot normally shows the object and the characters reaction to it. Basically showing the object from the characters point of view.

Here is an example

                                       



Graphic match

This is a cut that is in between objects or spaces however the two cuts have to be similar in focus to each other this also helps give a smooth transition.

Here is an example

Ariel shot

This is where a shot is taken from a high level for example from a helicopter (a good example of this is the beginning of the famous musical the sound of music) or a tall building. it doesn't necessarily have to be a moving camera it could just be a still shot.

Here is an example 

Bridging shot

This is a shot used to cover a jump shop or in place of a continuity.

Here is an example

And finally a Montage shot

This is where a series of short shots are edited into a sequence this helps to save space, time and information.

Here is an example

Camera movements

As you can probably tell from the name camera movements are the way in which a camera is moved in a films. It helps give a film understanding, meaning and feeling. many of them are quiet simple to do and recognize however other can become a bit confusing and need a bit of practicing to get it right.

I will know show you a video on all the different types of camera movements

I would say the man in this video gets a bit excited over camera movement.

Now i will describe some of the movements already covered in the videos above but will also explain some others.as well.

Crab

This is another word for tracking.

Dolly

This is where a camera is mounted on a cart and travels along a track. This helps give a smooth movement. It can be used to follow a characters movement. This is also known as a tracking shot.

Here is an example

Dolly zoom

This is a technique that is used to either zoom in closer to an object of zoom out. Is used by simply adjusting the zoom angle keeping the subject the same size.

Here is an example

Follow

As you could probably guess the follow simply follows the subject at a reasonably constant distance.

Pan

This is where the camera simply moves horizontally left or right normally performed with the camera on its tripod.

Here is an example

pedestal

This is where the camera position is moved vertically with regards to the subject.

Here is an example

Tilt

This is the vertical movement of the camera up or down on the tripod as opposed to moving the whole camera. This could be used to film some one sitting down.

Here is an example

Track

This is more the less the same as the dolly shot but which stays at a constant distance from the action especially side to side.

Here is an example of a tracking shot from Kill bill.

Truck

This is another word for tracking or dolly.

Zoom

 This isn't a camera movement. Well to be truth full it isn't it is simply a change in the focal lens length. It does make it look like the camera is moving further away or closer to the subject.

Here is an example

Well now you know all the different shot types and camera movement you can toddle of and have a go at them your self you never know you could be the next Ron Howard.... err yes well moving on remember to come back and Follow the rest of my journey.



In my next post i will talk you through basic editing. see you then.