Misplaced Pages

Tracking shot: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from[REDACTED] with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 13:57, 5 June 2016 edit2604:2000:e040:a500:f51b:9e8e:ee77:de51 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit Revision as of 14:03, 5 June 2016 edit undo2604:2000:e040:a500:f51b:9e8e:ee77:de51 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
]'', a tracking shot was used during a battle scene]] ]'', a tracking shot was used during a battle scene]]
In ], the term '''tracking shot''' may refer to a shot in which the camera is mounted on a ], a wheeled platform that is pushed on rails while the picture is being taken. It generally runs lateral to or alongside its subject since the tracks would be visible in shots of any distance that moved toward or away from the subject, a maneuver which is formally called a ] and which is usually performed on a freestanding camera dolly that is not rolled along tracks. In ], the term '''tracking shot''' refers to a shot in which the camera is mounted on a ], a wheeled platform that is pushed on rails while the picture is being taken. It generally runs lateral to or alongside its subject since the tracks would be visible in shots of any distance that moved toward or away from its subject (a maneuver which is formally called a ] and which is usually performed on a freestanding camera dolly that is not rolled along tracks).


The term may also refer to any shot in which the camera follows a subject within the frame, such as a moving actor or a moving vehicle.<ref>Blain Brown. ''Cinematography: Theory and Practice : Imagemaking for Cinematographers, Directors & Videographers''. Focal Press, 2002; pg. 66; ISBN 0240805003.</ref> When using the term ''tracking shot'' in this sense, the camera may be moved in ways not involving a camera dolly, such as via a ], via handheld camera operator, or by being panned on a tripod.<ref>Mercado, Gustavo. ''The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition''. Focal Press, 2010; pg. 155; ISBN 0240812174.</ref> The term may also refer to any shot in which the camera follows a subject within the frame, such as a moving actor or a moving vehicle.<ref>Blain Brown. ''Cinematography: Theory and Practice : Imagemaking for Cinematographers, Directors & Videographers''. Focal Press, 2002; pg. 66; ISBN 0240805003.</ref> When using the term ''tracking shot'' in this sense, the camera may be moved in ways not involving a camera dolly, including via a motorized vehicle, like a car, via a ] or via a handheld camera.<ref>Mercado, Gustavo. ''The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition''. Focal Press, 2010; pg. 155; ISBN 0240812174.</ref>


The Italian feature film '']'' (1914), directed by ], was the first popular film to use dolly shots, which in fact were originally called "''Cabiria'' movements" by contemporary filmmakers influenced by the film; however, some smaller American and English films had used the technique prior to ''Cabiria'',<ref name="salt">Salt, Barry. ''Film Style and Technology: History and Analysis''. Starword Press, 2003.</ref> as well as ]'s '']'', released a month prior to ''Cabiria''. Earlier in 1912, ] used 4 tracking shots in his short film ]. A popular film using tracking shots was ]'s ''].'' Another example of a Steadicam tracking shot can be seen in Stanley Kubrick's '']'' when Danny is moving through the hotel hallways on his three-wheeled bike. The Italian feature film '']'' (1914), directed by ], was the first popular film to use dolly shots, which in fact were originally called "''Cabiria'' movements" by contemporary filmmakers influenced by the film; however, some smaller American and English films had used the technique prior to ''Cabiria'',<ref name="salt">Salt, Barry. ''Film Style and Technology: History and Analysis''. Starword Press, 2003.</ref> as well as ]'s '']'', released a month prior to ''Cabiria''. Earlier in 1912, ] used 4 tracking shots in his short film ]. A popular film using tracking shots was ]'s ''].''


The tracking shot can include smooth movements forward, backward, along the side of the subject, or on a curve. Dollies with hydraulic arms can also smoothly "boom" or "]" the camera several feet on a vertical axis. Tracking shots, however, cannot include complex pivoting movements, ]s or ]s.<ref name="kawin">Kawin, Bruce. ''How Movies Work'' University of California Press, 1992.</ref> The tracking shot essentially involves movements perpendicular its subject, although such movement may be curved. Dollies with hydraulic arms can also smoothly "crane" or "]" the camera several feet on a vertical axis. Tracking shots, however, cannot include complex pivoting movements, ]s.<ref name="kawin">Kawin, Bruce. ''How Movies Work'' University of California Press, 1992.</ref>


Tracking shots are often confused with the ]&nbsp;– such as the 10-minute takes in ]'s '']'' (1948)&nbsp;– or '']s''.


==Variant== ==Variant==

Revision as of 14:03, 5 June 2016

During filming of The Alamo, a tracking shot was used during a battle scene

In motion picture terminology, the term tracking shot refers to a shot in which the camera is mounted on a camera dolly, a wheeled platform that is pushed on rails while the picture is being taken. It generally runs lateral to or alongside its subject since the tracks would be visible in shots of any distance that moved toward or away from its subject (a maneuver which is formally called a dolly shot and which is usually performed on a freestanding camera dolly that is not rolled along tracks).

The term may also refer to any shot in which the camera follows a subject within the frame, such as a moving actor or a moving vehicle. When using the term tracking shot in this sense, the camera may be moved in ways not involving a camera dolly, including via a motorized vehicle, like a car, via a Steadicam or via a handheld camera.

The Italian feature film Cabiria (1914), directed by Giovanni Pastrone, was the first popular film to use dolly shots, which in fact were originally called "Cabiria movements" by contemporary filmmakers influenced by the film; however, some smaller American and English films had used the technique prior to Cabiria, as well as Yevgeni Bauer's The Child of the Big City, released a month prior to Cabiria. Earlier in 1912, Oscar Apfel used 4 tracking shots in his short film The Passer-By. A popular film using tracking shots was Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men.

The tracking shot essentially involves movements perpendicular its subject, although such movement may be curved. Dollies with hydraulic arms can also smoothly "crane" or "jib" the camera several feet on a vertical axis. Tracking shots, however, cannot include complex pivoting movements, aerial shots.


Variant

A variant of the tracking shot is the onride video, also known as a Phantom Ride, where the camera films during a ride on a train, an amusement ride (especially a roller coaster) or another vehicle. Such videos may be used to document the route. The camera can be fixed to the vehicle or held by a person in the vehicle. A tracking shot is also a video taken by Oracle-rocket.

See also

References

  1. Blain Brown. Cinematography: Theory and Practice : Imagemaking for Cinematographers, Directors & Videographers. Focal Press, 2002; pg. 66; ISBN 0240805003.
  2. Mercado, Gustavo. The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition. Focal Press, 2010; pg. 155; ISBN 0240812174.
  3. Salt, Barry. Film Style and Technology: History and Analysis. Starword Press, 2003.
  4. Kawin, Bruce. How Movies Work University of California Press, 1992.
Cinematic techniques
Lighting
Sound
Shooting
Field size
Camera placement
Camera angle
Camera movement
Lens effects
Other techniques
Special effects
Practical
  • Aerial rigging (wire-flying)
  • Air bladder effect
  • Animatronics
  • Bullet hit squib
  • Costumed character
  • Creature suit
  • Dead-character costume
  • Kitbashing
  • Miniature effect (hanging)
  • Prosthetic makeup
  • Puppetry
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Rubber mask
  • Matte painting
  • Sugar glass
  • Theatrical blood
  • In-camera
    Visual
    Categories:
    Tracking shot: Difference between revisions Add topic