Camera Work Tutorial
Part 1
These tutorials are designed to provide you with knowledge and skills to improve every aspect of your camera work. They begin at the absolute novice level and work through to professional operations.
They are also applicable to any type of camera work. It doesn't matter whether you aspire to be an amateur movie maker or a career camera operator — the same basic principles and techniques apply to all.
To get the most out of these tutorials, you should have two things:
- Access to a video camera. You should know how to turn it on, load a tape, press record, etc. If you're having trouble with these basic functions, refer to your camera manual or supplier. You can also ask questions in our video forum.
- Patience. Camera work is a skill which requires lots of learning and practice.
Initially it won't really matter what sort of camera you use, but one with a good range of manual functions is preferable. You can get choosy about your camera later.
Although the only equipment you really need is a camera, if you're serious you might want to consider buying a few extra toys. To get started the best accessory you can buy is a good tripod.
Terminology
It's unavoidable — if you're serious, you've got to know some jargon. Fortunately, it's not too complicated. This page contains a few essential terms to get you started.
Shot: All video is made up of shots. A shot is basically from when you press record to when you stop recording. Like the individual photos which make up an album, the shots get put together to make a video.
Framing & Composition: The frame is the picture you see in the viewfinder (or on a monitor). Composition refers to the layout of everything within a picture frame — what the subject is, where it is in the frame, which way it's facing/looking, the background, the foreground, lighting, etc.
When you "frame" a shot, you adjust the camera position and zoom lens until your shot has the desired composition.
There is a general set of rules in the video industry which describe how to frame different types of camera shots, such as the ones illustrated below (for more information see Types of Camera Shots).
VWS (Very Wide Shot)
Shows the subject's environment.
WS (Wide Shot)
Shows the whole subject.
CU (Close Up)
Shows a feature of the subject.
Transition: Shots are linked (edited) in a sequence to tell a larger story. The way in which any two shots are joined together is called the transition.
Usually this is a simple cut, in which one shot changes instantly to the next. More complex transitions include mixing, wipes and digital effects. A moving shot (e.g. pan) can also be thought of as a transition from one shot to a new one.
The transition is very important in camera work, and you need to think constantly about how every shot will fit in with the ones before and after it. The key is not so much how the transition is achieved technically, but how the composition of each shot fits together.
For more information see Video Transitions.
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