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The Film & Video Institute

The Video Maker's Journey
Part Five
< Part 4 | Introduction | Part 6 >

PART FIVE
Taking the video camera shots - 2.

A couple of examples

NEWSTEAD HOUSE, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
First frame of a panning shot. Second frame of a panning shot. Third frame of a panning shot.

Begin the pan with a 3 second shot
without moving.

Pan slowly allowing around 5 to 7
seconds for the tree to move from
right to left of the screen.

End the pan with a 3 second shot
without moving.

Panning and tilting should normally be used sparingly - but it is essential when taking some scenery shots. There seems to be a convention that you should pan from left to right. I prefer to go either left or right so as to end the shot on the most interesting view. I usually tilt from the base then upwards.

If the pan or tilt crosses notable views - take separate static shots of those views.

When panning or tilting start the shot with a 3 second still, then pan or tilt slowly and end with a 3 second still. As you pan or tilt an object should take 5 to 7 seconds to cross the screen. Remember, don’t reverse back over what you are shooting.
Top end of a sequence showing a camera tilt upwards. Finish at the top with 3 seconds where the camera does not move.
Middle of a sequence showing a camera tilt upwards. Move slowly enough so that something like the main roof line here takes around 5 seconds to cross from near the top to near the bottom of the screen.
Bottom end of a sequence showing a camera tilt upwards. Start at the bottom with 3 seconds where the camera does not move.

SAN GIMIGNANO, ITALY


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© copyright Arthur Bullock, 2007


Page updated on 21 March 2008

Authors' views are not necessarily those of The Institute of Amateur Cinematographers

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