How to Use Pans Effectively When Videotaping

By eHow Electronics Editor

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A pan is a camera movement, either from one side to another or vertically from one position to another. Pans, if incorrectly used, can detract from your pictures. Correctly used, they can become transitions between one scene and another.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Avoid panning just because it is "moving pictures."
Step2
Make the movement in your pictures come from the on-screen action, not the movement of the camera.
Step3
When panning, hold a steady shot for three to four seconds, then pan, then hold at the end for another three to four seconds. However, you can use a "swish-pan," or fast pan, to connect two dissimilar subjects.
Step4
Break up pan or tilt shots with static shots. Pans and tilts should never follow one after another.
Step5
Use a pan or a tilt to relate one element to another.
Step6
Make your pans sensible. Don't pan from an exciting subject to a dull one.

Tips & Warnings

  • Learn to count in your head as you time out the static shots at the beginning and end of your pan shots.
  • Pan from a close-up of a sign and, as you pan, widen your shot to show that it is a sign on a particular building. Or, show your fishing buddy coming out of his tent at dawn, and pan to show the lake waiting for him.

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eHow Article:  How to Use Pans Effectively When Videotaping

eHow Electronics Editor

eHow Electronics Editor

Category: Electronics

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