Using the Camera

We experimented with different forms camera movement using techniques that produced very different looks. One technique was simply panning by moving the camera horizontally on a tripod, keeping the pan smooth and still.In our experiment, we used this technique to create interesting shots in which we panned 360 degrees. During this movement, the shot would pan across 3 different subjects ('band members'). We moved the lighting underneath the camera and pointing up at each subject so that each would be well-lit when the camera panned around to them, yet the lights still out of frame. However, when trying this we found that it meant that the gaps in between each band member were un-lit and empty.

Experimenting with 360 degree panning

This technique has the potential to create a fun and interesting music video, possibly even a one-shot video, but from our experiment we learnt that if we were to do so we would need to improve it. We could perhaps spin the lighting with the camera so that everywhere the camera pointed, it would be well lit. We could do this by having the camera, the camera operator and the lights on a spinning platform and have the band members stand around it. We could also make some sort of change to each subject by the time the camera panned back round to them, adding some humour and unpredictability to the video.Another form of camera movement that we tried was mounting the camera and tripod on a track. This allowed for long tracking panning shots that remained smooth and steady. These kinds of shots looked very professional however we found that they didn't quite fit with the look of a conventional music video.An example of a music video that effectively uses panning is Babel by Mumford & Sons. It uses panning shots and stitches them together to create a seamless pan around a room, giving the impression of a one-shot video.