BASIC CAMERA
WORK
THE SHOT
Each continuous shooting period, from the
moment the camera starts shooting until it stops
is called a shot.
 Each new shot should lead you on to the next.
 With a new shot within a scene you want to
change camera viewpoint, angle, or distance.

SHOT DURATION
Average shot is 5 to 15 seconds
 If it’s too short, the viewer will be confused.
 If it’s too long, the viewer will become bored.
 Exceptions are theatrical production, concerts
and sporting events.


Maintain viewer interest by using zoom or pan in
these incidences.
CAMERA SHOTS &
ANGLES
EXTREME LONG SHOT (ELS)
Used to establish location and set the scene.
 Know as the establishing shot.
 Starts most movies.

LONG SHOT (LS)
Establishes the scene
 Shows your subjects in their surroundings (head
to toe)
 Tells the viewer where the action is taking place

MEDIUM LONG SHOT (MLS)
Cut through thighs or shins
 Never cut through ankles or knees (no joints)

MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
Shows main subjects fully but eliminates much of
background
 Tells something about who the subjects are and
what they are doing and what the movie is about
 Cuts through waist

MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU)
Cuts through Chest
 Used in dialogue

CLOSE UP SHOT (CU)
Zeros in on a key activity in the movie.
 Used to show emotions.
 Cuts thru shoulders.

BIG CLOSE-UP (BCU)
Shows small detail even larger than the close up
 Forehead to Chin

EXTREME CLOSE UP (XCU)

Focuses on one body part, like eyes or an ear.
SHOOTING ANGLE
Shooting Angle: camera’s viewpoint of the subject
 Eye Level-Most Common, what you should use
most of the time

SHOOTING ANGLES (CONT)

Low Angle (Worms Eye
View)-camera is well below
the main part of interest of
the subject and is aimed up.
Exaggerates height and can
make a subject appear
powerful, and authoritative.
 A LS or MS from this angle
can help establish location

SHOOTING ANGLE (CONT)

High Angle-camera is above
the part of main interest and
is aimed down.
Has the effect of reducing the
apparent height of a subject
and makes subject appear
small, weak or insignificant.
 Useful for creating dramatic
impact, especially for a
medium shot.
 Best to return to eye level for
a close up shot.

SHOOTING ANGLE (CONT)

Over the Shoulder-used when shooting a
conversation between two people
Speakers full face is shown while the camera is
aimed over the shoulder of the listener.
 Can shoot as MS or CU

TWO SHOT / THREE SHOT/GROUP SHOT

Keep subjects in a two shot close together
CAMERA STEADINESS
Best way to keep camera steady is to
mount it on a tripod!!!
 If you are zoomed in it is more evident if
image is unsteady.
 Basic Shooting positions:

Standing: stand with legs apart and use
elbows braced against body to keep camera
steady
 Kneeling: support right or left elbow on
one knee
 Sitting: use back of a chair or brace your
back against a wall and brace elbows
against body.

CAMERA MOVEMENT
& EFFECTS
PANNING

Panning: swinging the camera horizontally left to
right or right to left while shooting.
Use tripod to achieve effect.
 Use to:

follow moving subjects
 To shift viewer attention from one subject to another
 to display a panoramic view

PANNING (CONT)
When you pan to shift viewpoint,
pan should last two to three seconds
 When panning to show panoramic
view take six to eight seconds to
sweep camera through 45 degree
angle.
 To follow moving object move
camera fast enough to keep subject
in frame
 Don’t pan unless you have a reason
to do it.

SWISH PAN
A fast Pan=Swish Pan
 Can create an effective transition from one scene
to another
 Give the viewer the impression that a period of
time or a long distance passed between the two
shots.
 Stop shooting while you are in the first pan and
start the camera in motion before beginning the
second pan.

TILTING
Sweeping the
camera in a vertical
direction
 Tilt the camera to
follow action that
rises or falls
 Can use to establish
location
 Hold the camera
still for a few
seconds at the start
and end of the shot.

TRUCKING
Changing the camera viewpoint continuously
while the camera is running by changing camera
location
 Gives the effect you see when looking out the side
window of a moving car
 Move the camera sideways or in an arc across the
scene without changing the camera to subject
distance.
 Use a wagon or wheelchair
 Gives viewer real sensation of “being there”
 To enhance place object in near foreground.

TRUCKING (CONT)
DOLLYING
Move the camera
toward or away from
the subject.
 Use a dolly, same as
you would for
trucking.
 Begin shot with
camera stationary for
a few seconds then
dolly slowly and
steadily toward or
away from subject.

ZOOMING
Doesn’t really change camera-to-subject distance
but only makes it appear so.
 Begin each shot with a few seconds of non-zoom
and end it the same way.
 Use manual zooming only for special effects.
 Use it selectively


Previewing: Before you record a zoom shot,
preview it in the viewfinder. Check the
composition of the initial and final frames.
ZOOMING
Pedestal Shot (Ped Up/Down)
A shot in which the position of the
camera is raised or lowered with
respect to the floor.
 It’s the equivalent to holding a
camera on your shoulder and
bending or straightening your
knees to change the height of the
camera

LIGHTING
OUTDOOR SHOOTING
 When shooting outside shoot with the sun behind you
to use the sun to light your subject. If you shoot with
the sun in front of you your subject will appear dark
and look like a silhouette.
 The best time to shoot is early morning or late
afternoon. Shooting in the afternoon when the sun is
directly overhead will cause deep shadows under
your subject's eyes and nose. Ideally an overcast day
is best because shadows are minimal.
 If shooting on a bright day to diffuse the light move
the subject to a shady area with a shady background.
 To reflect or bounce light use a car sun shade and
reflect the light on your subject.
LIGHTING
INDOOR SHOOTING
 Shooting inside requires light. To increase
the lighting indoors turn on all the lights,
remove lamp shades, replace bulbs with a
higher wattage bulb.
 There is a difference in the color of the light
that the sun gives off and the color of the
lamps that are used indoors. Indoor lamps
give off an orange/reddish color, whereas
sunlight is blue. Try to avoid mixing both
types of light.
 Remove your subject from standing or sitting
in front of a window when shooting. This will
cause a backlight and your subject will
appear to look like a silhouette.
THE END