Basic Betacam Camerawork, 3rd Edition

Camera movement (1)

There is the paradox of creating camera movement to provide visual excitement or visual change whilst attempting to make the movement ‘invisible’. Invisible in the sense that the aim of the technique is to avoid the audience’s attention switching from the programme content to the camerawork. This is achieved when camera movement matches the movement of the action and good composition is maintained throughout the move. The intention is to emphasize subject – picture content, rather than technique.

Intrusive and conspicuous camera movements are often used for specific dramatic or stylistic reasons (e.g. pop videos), but the majority of programme formats work on the premise that the methods of programme production should remain ...