Tips from a Professional Camera Operator

Useful advice to smooth and finesse your moves and tune your viewfinder eye!


"No one taught me how to be an operator. At a young age I found myself drawn to strong compositions in certain TV shows and movies, and I sought to emulate those compositions with my Regular 8mm camera. Over time I learned, through trial and error and the occasional tip from those more experienced than I, how to move the camera predictably and repeatedly.

There’s a lot more to being an operator than skill in moving the camera. It’s a very political job as well. I’ll address some of both aspects in this article." ~Art Adams

TOPICS COVERED:
- Learn the Geared Head
- When In Doubt, Keep Moving
- Half of Operating is Knowing When Not to Move the Camera
- Body Language is Our Friend
- Feedback
- Weight Distribution
- Compositions Don't Have to be Balanced
- Adjust the Camera, Not the Actor
- Walk the Set
- Look Around the Viewfinder
- Focus is Your Problem Too
- Learn When the Rules Don't Apply
- Over-the-Shoulder Shots
- Use Crosshairs and Frame Markers for Reference
- Find the Payoff of the Shot
- Don't Put Yourself At Risk
- A Little Bit of Trivia
- Check Your Space Before A Move
- Learn to Balance Your Head
- Ending a Tough Move

This is a great read for really anyone involved with filmmaking, but camera operators will benefit from it the most! Read the Full Article Here.