Tracking shots are an excellent filming technique that can benefit any filmmaker. Tracking shots give viewers an increased sense of motion, which can give them the feeling of being inside the film. When done correctly, tracking shots will hold your viewer’s attention longer, making them more likely to subscribe to your channel. With that said, tracking shots are not too tricky to pull off, and this article will give you tips on how to make them work for you.
Using Tracking Shots to Increase Engagement
As with any shot, it is essential to plan out the shot before actually filming. It is not always easy to determine how you are going to shoot a scene until you have the equipment in your hands. However, if you have watched many types of tracking shots online or in movies, it becomes clear that there are three main tracking shots – long tracking shots, dolly shots, and crane shots.
Long Tracking Shot
Long tracking shots are helpful for making a viewer feel as if they are wandering through a location or following a character as they travel. This is created with tracking camera movement. The long tracking shot is typically filmed from behind the subject and continues until they have disappeared into the background. This type of shot can be used to create tension as viewers will wonder where the subject’s gone once it disappears from view.
To shoot a long tracking shot like this, you will need to use a dolly system, rail slider, or have a person walking the camera with a stabilizer rig. When planning this shot for your YouTube videos, you will need to figure out where the subject is going and how they are going to get there. You will need to make sure the path for the camera is clear, and the talent knows exactly how they will be moving through the scene.
Dolly Shot
A dolly shot is used when you want the camera to track alongside a subject. This type of tracking shot can be relatively simple if you have access to a dolly system, which is basically two rails that can be laid down for your camera rig. A person could also easily pull the camera using a heavy-duty tripod with wheels or even use a slider. Either way, this type of shot will give the viewer the impression that they are moving right along with the subject.
Dolly shots can be used in a variety of different situations, and they make great transitional shots or for an opening scene. You can use dolly shots to lead into or out of a scene, helping the viewers feel as if they are moving about the location with ease. You can also establish your geography by having your subject travel down a path and then stopping at a certain point.
Crane Shot
Crane shots are another great way to add an extra sense of motion to your film. A crane shot is a specific type of tracking shot that uses a camera mounted on a moving boom arm, which allows the camera operator to get above their subject and follow them from above. This type of shot can be very useful for getting wide aerial shots, to track over a large group of people effortlessly, or for opening scenes.
Crane shots are not always easy to pull off, but they can certainly allow you to create an epic scene if you have the right equipment. If you only have access to a regular camera rig and not a crane system this shot might be difficult to pull off. Consider moving along a balcony or scaffolding. But if you want to get truly high shots, it may be worth investing in a crane system.
When filming tracking shots, it is important to make sure that there are no major obstructions around the area where your shot will take place. You do not want any part of the shot to be blocked by an object that will be in view for more than a few seconds. You should also take into consideration how much room there is between your subject and the background.
Getting Great Sound Quality in Your Videos
When shooting tracking shots, it is important to think about your audio quality just as much as your visuals. Audio is just as important as video when it comes to storytelling so getting the best sound possible is key when recording YouTube videos. When filming a tracking shot, you will definitely want to have an external mic for recording audio. Purchase the best microphone for YouTube that is within your budget. A better microphone will pick up the sound clearer with less ambient noise. You might also need a boom pole with a mic on it, depending on how far away they are from the camera.
In order to make sure the audio from your shot is great, you should test it out before starting production. Make sure your subject’s mic will pick up their voice clearly and that your external mic can get a good recording of everything else going on in the scene. In addition to this, you should check for background noise and other distractions that you might not notice while shooting. Having a good exterior mic will allow you to pick up on any issues that may arise with the sound, which will give you time to fix them before you put together your final cut.
There are two main external microphones you will want to think about using when shooting tracking shots – a shotgun mic or a lavalier mic. Shotgun mics are typically great for getting really good audio of your subject, especially if they are far away from the camera. Lav mics are great for use on your subjects because these mics can pick up on every detail of what is being said.
An external mic can make or break your tracking shot, so you will want to do everything you can to get the best quality audio. You should also make sure to get a couple of different takes of audio from your subject when you are filming a tracking shot. This will give you options when the time comes to edit your footage together.
In Conclusion
Tracking shots are a great way to add motion and excitement to your videos. By using a tracking shot, you can follow your subject from any angle and create an interesting scene that engages the viewer. In order to get the best results when filming a tracking shot, it is important to think about both the visuals and the audio. You will want to make sure there are no major obstructions in the scene and that you have a good external mic to capture sound. Additionally, you should take into consideration how much room there is between your subject and background. When editing your footage together, be sure to take advantage of the different takes you filmed of your subject’s audio. This will give you more flexibility when putting together your final cut.
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