Grammar of the Shot, 2nd Edition

Handheld

Perhaps the best place to begin a discussion of camera movement is with the most challenging—going handheld. You may find it convenient to hold a smaller camera in your hand, but just because it is a readily available mode of shooting does not mean that it is appropriate and it certainly does not mean it is easy to do well. The first factor involved is a technical one: what camera you are going to use to shoot your project. Modern digital video technologies have allowed for cameras to be quite small and quite capable; they can weigh a few ounces to just a few pounds. If you are working on an emulsion film motion picture, the nature of the medium requires much heavier and much bulkier camera equipment—often weighing in at 20 to 50 pounds ...