Driving in Havana

 

 

A tracking shot is any shot where the camera follows backward, forward or moves alongside the subject being recorded. In cinematography, the term refers to a shot in which the camera is mounted on a camera dolly that is then placed on rails – like a railroad track. As a result, this type of shot is often referred to as a dolly shot. A handheld steadycam or gimbal may also be used for smaller scale productions. The camera is then pushed along the track while the scene is being filmed or moved manually when using a handheld rig. The technique is often used to follow a subject that would otherwise leave the frame (ergo, it is often called a following shot), such as an actor or vehicle in motion. In this spirit, any conveyance, such as a motorized vehicle like a car, may also be used to create 

 

a tracking shot.

Super eight

Happy 50th Birthday Super 8!

We’re celebrating a very special birthday this year – Super 8 is turning 50!

Fifty years ago, Kodak introduced Super 8 mm. This “super” format solved some of the challenges of standard 8mm, which launched a few decades earlier. Regardless of those hurdles, 8 mm cameras became a common sight at family parties, special events, and vacation destinations by the 1950s. But with the invention of the 50-foot cartridge in 1965, anyone could shoot without interruption for a much smaller investment. Suddenly everyone was a filmmaker!

Many of today's great filmmakers — Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, David Fincher, Tim Burton, Peter Jackson, Michael Bay and Christopher Nolan — got their “start” creating Super 8 movies in their back yards. This powerful little format has gone on to forge an emotional path into the hearts of many artists and filmmakers over the decades. And its unique look is still revered today.