A film camera allows you to do what a camera cannot: capture a sequence of events. Its movement significantly affects the interpretation of the presented story. We present the main camera techniques based on its movement and position.

The movement of the camera is a fundamental factor that can strengthen or weaken the message of a film. Even using a smartphone camera to shoot a short film creates a dynamic lens. Let's take a look at how professional cameramen use equipment to operate these styles.

Although we talk about changes in position, the operator's basic tool is stillness, that is:

Static shot

Every conversation, interview, or presentation of natural phenomena characterized by the absence of movement. The camera is firmly mounted, and its stillness is an advantage for presenting the material. Typically, the device is installed on a tripod.

When the camera needs to be put into motion, the basic technique is:

Pan

Panning is achieved by rotating left and right on the tripod head. The movement is only in the horizontal plane. Usually, the direction of movement is consistent with the direction of reading. The movement of the lens should be smooth and gradual. This type of filming is used in documentaries, films showing distant events, and long shots.

The opposite of a horizontal plane is the vertical plane. The technique used then is:

Tilt

The camera moves from top to bottom, but through rotation, not a change in position relative to the ground. This type of filming works well when presenting tall objects with an emphasis on their size, such as buildings, structures, or trees.

An extension of tilting is:

Boom

The camera does not change its angle relative to the ground but instead rises and falls. The movement must be smooth, and the technique is useful for showing differences between people or objects or for showing details without distortion that occurs when tilting the lens.

The first advanced movement that requires equipment is:

Tracking shot

The camera moves on a cart located on rails. The operator moves with the equipment. The zoom can achieve the effect of a close approach, but camera movement gives a more natural impression. This style works best in feature films or documentaries enriched with additional scenes that artistically complement the presented topic. It gives the viewer a sense of being drawn into the action, making the shots dynamic.

In the case of tracking shots, the camera moves perpendicular to the image. But parallel movement is:

Crane shot

The dynamic presentation is also high, but the viewer gets an overview of the action as if from the outside and holistically. The cameraman with the equipment also moves on a cart. For less advanced productions, chairs with wheels or sporting equipment can also be used. It is essential that the movement is smooth and uniform.

A more advanced filming technique with an English name is:

Jib shot

The camera is placed on a very long boom and moves above the scene. This style is used in large studios with an audience, at concerts, and sports events. The device moves dynamically over the heads of the audience. As a result, the external observer gains insight into the entire event – what is happening in its climax, on stage, and in the audience.

After presenting more advanced camera techniques, it is worth returning for a moment to the basic, yet highly skilled cameraman technique:

Handheld shot

The camera is mounted on the filmmaker's shoulder. This solution is used in fast-paced reports, street interviews, or with suddenly appearing people, such as politicians. Sometimes, this technique is used in films to give a more naturalistic character to the scene. Shots of street riots or warfaring from the perspective of a single soldier gain authenticity when the camera is among the actors, and the operator is in the same situation as the presented characters.

The opposite of the dynamics of filming from the shoulder is filming, where the key is:

Stabilization

It can be mechanical or electronic. Unlike the smooth movement on the cart, in stabilization, the operator leads the camera, moving independently. The stabilization device contributes to the smoothness of the movement. This style of filming works perfectly when recording conferences or smaller artistic events. These are the camera movement techniques. It is imperative to remember that their selection is crucial for the final effect of the production. Even shooting with a smartphone can create an interesting effect through skillful lens handling. However, inappropriate filming, even with advanced equipment, can diminish the effect of a good idea for the story being presented.