Tracking

Definition

Tracking is a filmmaking technique that involves moving the camera alongside or in relation to the subject being filmed, creating a dynamic visual experience. This movement can enhance storytelling by emphasizing action, heightening emotional impact, and providing a sense of immersion for the audience. By employing tracking shots, filmmakers can convey time, space, and character movement more effectively, making it a powerful tool in cinematic storytelling.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. D.W. Griffith was one of the first filmmakers to effectively use tracking shots to enhance narrative flow and emotional engagement in his films.
2. Griffith’s innovative use of tracking allowed for more dynamic scenes that could follow characters in action, making audiences feel more involved in the story.
3. The technique of tracking can be used both indoors and outdoors, showcasing different environments and contributing to the atmosphere of a scene.
4. Griffith’s implementation of tracking laid the groundwork for future filmmakers, influencing styles and techniques that are now standard in modern cinema.
5. By using tracking shots, Griffith was able to manipulate viewer perspective and focus, guiding their attention to key elements within a scene.

Review Questions

• How did D.W. Griffith's use of tracking shots change the way stories were told in early cinema?
  • D.W. Griffith's use of tracking shots transformed storytelling by allowing for more fluid movement within scenes. This technique enabled viewers to follow characters closely as they interacted with their environment, enhancing emotional engagement. By moving the camera alongside subjects, Griffith created a sense of immediacy and intimacy that was previously lacking in static shots.
• Compare the techniques of tracking with panning and discuss their impact on cinematic storytelling.
  • While both tracking and panning involve camera movement, tracking offers a more immersive experience by moving the camera closer to or alongside subjects, whereas panning merely rotates the camera on a fixed axis. Tracking can heighten drama by following characters dynamically through space, while panning provides context or establishes locations. Together, they serve distinct roles in storytelling but are often used in conjunction to enrich visual narratives.
• Evaluate how Griffith's pioneering techniques with tracking influenced later filmmakers and shaped modern cinematic practices.
  • Griffith's innovative use of tracking established foundational techniques that have profoundly influenced modern filmmaking. His ability to create engaging narratives through movement set standards for visual storytelling that filmmakers continue to utilize today. As cinema evolved, the principles behind Griffith's tracking shots were refined and expanded upon, leading to diverse styles like those seen in contemporary action films and dramas that rely heavily on dynamic camera work to convey emotion and narrative complexity.

Related terms

Dolly Shot: A dolly shot is a specific type of tracking shot where the camera is placed on a wheeled platform and moves toward or away from the subject.

Panning:

Panning is a technique where the camera rotates horizontally to follow a subject, differing from tracking which involves physical movement along a path.

Steadicam: A Steadicam is a stabilizing mount for cameras that allows for smooth tracking shots while the operator moves freely, creating fluid motion without shaking.