Basic Photography Course

movements necessary for good motion video are
divided into three categories:

Primary movement (movement of the subject)

Secondary movement (movement of the camera)

Tertiary movement (movement produced by

successive shots from different cameras)

Primary Movement

Movement in front of the camera, usually that of the

subject, is called primary movement. Primary
movement toward or away from the camera is stronger
than lateral movement. More emphasis is created by
having the subject move toward or away from the
camera. Exits and entrances are more impressive when
they occur toward or away from the camera. Lateral
movement of a subject should always be lead with the
camera The viewer wants to know where the subject is
going, not where it has been.

Secondary Movement

Secondary or camera movement is normally done

in television studios. Secondary movements include:
pans, tilts, dollys, zooms, trucks, and pedestal
movements. Secondary movements are used to follow
primary movement, to change or adjust picture
composition, or to emphasize or dramatize something.
Secondary movements must have a valid purpose. Do
not make them just for something to do.

DOLLY.

-A dolly is a piece of equipment that

normally requires a small crew to operate. You can
dolly-in to increase the size of an object gradually on the
screen or dolly-out to decrease the size of the object on

the screen. Likewise, dollying decreases or increases the
field of view. A zoom lens can be used for the same
purpose as a dolly. During a zoom, the camera does not
move; therefore, perspective does not change as it does
during a dolly.

TRUCK.

-A truck is a piece of equipment that is

basically a tripod with wheels. The camera is used to

follow lateral subject movement or you could truck the

camera along the objects. In either case,
camera-to-subject distance does not change.

PEDESTAL.

-A pedestal is used to either raise or

lower the camera. Pedestalling can provide the audience
with a view looking down on the subject or up at the
subject. A pedestal may also be used to compensate for
tall or short camerapersons or subjects.

Tertiary Movement

Tertiary movement results from a sequence of shots

from two or more cameras. When two or more
cameras are used, you can select from a variety of
pictures and determine which picture is to be recorded
and when. When more than one camera is used, you

can easily emphasize, de-emphasize, show action and
reaction in rapid or slow succession. The effect of
tertiary movement is accomplished through videotape
editing.

COMPOSITION

Video images, like still photographs, are subject to

the aesthetic rules of picture composition. There are,
however, factors peculiar to video that more or less
influence television composition. These factors are as
follows:

The small monitor requires objects to be shown
relatively large so they can be seen clearly on a
small screen. You must shoot more extreme
close-ups (ECU), close-ups (CU), medium shots
(MS), few long shots (LS), and very few extreme
long shots (ELS).

The 3:4 aspect ratio of the picture cannot be
changed so all picture elements must be
composed to fit it. The aspect ratio is the ratio of
picture height to width. There is no vertical
format in television. You must always think
horizontal format.

The video camera is the eyes of the viewer.
Therefore, camera movement, as well as the
static arrangement of elements within the frame,
must be considered.

When shooting uncontrolled action, you may not
be able to predetermine composition. Sometimes

all you can do is correct certain compositional

errors.

In motion media, the picture on the screen is referred

to as a shot. A shot is one continuous camera run from
the time the recording starts to the time the recording
stops. A shot may last a few seconds, several minutes,
or the entire program. A motion-video cameraperson
must always think in terms of shots.

Most rules of composition in still photography

apply equally well to composition in motion media.
Composition was covered earlier in chapter 5. The

13-13

contents

Basic Photography Course

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> movements necessary for good motion video are divided into three categories: Primary movement (movement of the subject) Secondary movement (movement of the camera) Tertiary movement (movement produced by successive shots from different cameras) Primary Movement Movement in front of the camera, usually that of the subject, is called primary movement. Primary movement toward or away from the camera is stronger than lateral movement. More emphasis is created by having the subject move toward or away from the camera. Exits and entrances are more impressive when they occur toward or away from the camera. Lateral movement of a subject should always be lead with the camera The viewer wants to know where the subject is going, not where it has been. Secondary Movement Secondary or camera movement is normally done in television studios. Secondary movements include: pans, tilts, dollys, zooms, trucks, and pedestal movements. Secondary movements are used to follow primary movement, to change or adjust picture composition, or to emphasize or dramatize something. Secondary movements must have a valid purpose. Do not make them just for something to do. DOLLY. -A dolly is a piece of equipment that normally requires a small crew to operate. You can dolly-in to increase the size of an object gradually on the screen or dolly-out to decrease the size of the object on the screen. Likewise, dollying decreases or increases the field of view. A zoom lens can be used for the same purpose as a dolly. During a zoom, the camera does not move; therefore, perspective does not change as it does during a dolly. TRUCK. -A truck is a piece of equipment that is basically a tripod with wheels. The camera is used to follow lateral subject movement or you could truck the camera along the objects. In either case, camera-to-subject distance does not change. PEDESTAL. -A pedestal is used to either raise or lower the camera. Pedestalling can provide the audience with a view looking down on the subject or up at the subject. A pedestal may also be used to compensate for tall or short camerapersons or subjects. Tertiary Movement Tertiary movement results from a sequence of shots from two or more cameras. When two or more cameras are used, you can select from a variety of pictures and determine which picture is to be recorded and when. When more than one camera is used, you can easily emphasize, de-emphasize, show action and reaction in rapid or slow succession. The effect of tertiary movement is accomplished through videotape editing. COMPOSITION Video images, like still photographs, are subject to the aesthetic rules of picture composition. There are, however, factors peculiar to video that more or less influence television composition. These factors are as follows: The small monitor requires objects to be shown relatively large so they can be seen clearly on a small screen. You must shoot more extreme close-ups (ECU), close-ups (CU), medium shots (MS), few long shots (LS), and very few extreme long shots (ELS). The 3:4 aspect ratio of the picture cannot be changed so all picture elements must be composed to fit it. The aspect ratio is the ratio of picture height to width. There is no vertical format in television. You must always think horizontal format. The video camera is the eyes of the viewer. Therefore, camera movement, as well as the static arrangement of elements within the frame, must be considered. When shooting uncontrolled action, you may not be able to predetermine composition. Sometimes all you can do is correct certain compositional errors. In motion media, the picture on the screen is referred to as a shot. A shot is one continuous camera run from the time the recording starts to the time the recording stops. A shot may last a few seconds, several minutes, or the entire program. A motion-video cameraperson must always think in terms of shots. Most rules of composition in still photography apply equally well to composition in motion media. Composition was covered earlier in chapter 5. The 13-13 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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