Basic Camera Movements

the most used camera movement there is. often used when the videographer is not sure what else to do.

• trucking

• zoom

• tilting

• rack focus

moving the camera from left to right instead of in and out. it is best to do this using a fluid motion. in some instances, the camera might move along a track, as well, to add fluidity.

• pan

• zooming

• tilting

• trucking

this is when you adjust the ens to start out blurry then shift the focus to make it crisper, or vice versa. this helps change the focus from one subject to another

• locked-down

• zoom

• dolly

• rack focus

this is when you move your camera horizontally (either right to left OR left to right) to establish a sense of place. in this case, the camera does not move but stays stationary.

• pan

• truck

• dolly

• tilt

when you move the entire camera forwards and backwards, typically on some sort of track or motorized vehicle.

• trucking

• tracking

• rack focus

• dolly

this is when you move your camera vertically up or down while the base is on a fixated point. this is a good way of creating grandeur or introducing a character

• pedestal

• tilt (ing)

• rack focus

• locked down

this is when there is no camera movement. the camera is put on a stable platform (typically a tripod) and simply captures what is in front of it.

• pedestal

• pan

• zoom

• locked down

this is when you move the camera vertically up or down while it is fixated in one location. originally the operators had to adjust the stand the camera was on to compensate for the hight of the subject. this is easy to do on an adjustable tripod.

• zoom

• pan

• tilt

• pedistal