Advanced Camera techniques to put to use in A2

Crane shot- Typically a camera on a crane, although it is quite common to be attached to poles and boom arms this is much cheaper than being placed on a crane, and is much easier to maneuver but at the cost of reach. They are most commonly used during emotional and end scenes. They are not just used in films but are now used in sports, in boxing arenas e.t.c.

An example of a crane shot is in Richard Attenboroughs Oh! what a lovely war, in an emotional end sequence there is a shot of single grave and the crane is pulled backwards to reveal many identical ones.



Camera panning- basically, the horizontal movement or rotation of a video camera it is used in almost every film created and can be combined with several other techniques such as zooming to emphasize or de-emphasize a subject.

Tracking- Using a dolly (a small wheel vehicle with a tripod included on top, attached to a track) they are often used in running sequences and car chases. the shot itself has to be perpendicular to the camera lens axis. it provides a sense of realistic motion. the table below shows example of human motion at different speeds, including camera frames.

	Miles per hour	Feet per second	Number of Frames to move 10 feet at 30 fps
Casual stroll	2	2.9	102
Average walk	3	4.4	68
Brisk walk	4	5.9	51
Average jog	6	8.8	34
Average run	8	11.7	26
All out sprint	12	17.6	17
Car	30	44	7

Zoom- Zoom lenses on cameras allow cinematographers to give close up shots of subjects without moving the camera, however using this technique you submit clarity, definition and focus. However it can be used to create a very interesting effect known as the 'vertigo' effect. To create this shot you must synchronize the movement of the subject with the zoom so that the subject is always the same size but the background changes. Here is an example of the technique used in alfred hitchcock's vertigo.

First post: learning and experience

Hello again blogger! From studying AS media last year I learnt a variety of things such as camera techniques, for example panning, tracking, field of view and 3 point lighting techniques. I also learnt how to write a script and a treatment, for a feature length film, I have also become very capable using post production editing suites, final cut, livetype, adobe Photoshop and soundtrack pro on Apple iMac.
The most valuable skill however was time management, learning how to manage filming time to editing time and create the final film within two weeks.

This year I am going to provide triple the effort especially with my blogging and it's technique, this is why I am going to post during the holiday we have off to practice and hone my skills.