The camera that changed the world
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 3:11 pm
It was interesting to see on BBC4 last night the repeated programme 'The cameras that changed the world'. For those who did not see it, the documentary told the story of the development of the hand held camera in the late fifties until one was adapted for use in 1960.
Remember, that at the time filming was done on heavy 16mm noisy and heavy film cameras which were unwieldy and had to be supported on a tripod. Film makers in both France and the States wanted to be free of the tripod. To tell their story they wanted be to follow and get into the midst of the action with light weight hand held camera.
The early developments were not without problems, notably with synchronous sound. These were overcome with the advance in technical developments. It proved to be the birth of television as we see it today, particularly in the documentary field. A documentary about John F Kennedy was made of his run to the Whitehouse. Being light it followed him everywhere on his campaign. It was not shown on US television, not because of the many 'wobbly' shots, but the ground breaking political content was too controversial.
A French pioneer of this technique was interviewed for the programme. He refused to sit on a chair against and contrived and carefully illuminated background to be interviewed. So he was filmed as he walked about his apartment with the camera having to follow him.
We appear to have come full circle as eyebrows are raised at a hint of that roving and wobbly camera, whether the content is relevant or not. Was all this pioneering work in vain or does someone have to break the mould again?
Remember, that at the time filming was done on heavy 16mm noisy and heavy film cameras which were unwieldy and had to be supported on a tripod. Film makers in both France and the States wanted to be free of the tripod. To tell their story they wanted be to follow and get into the midst of the action with light weight hand held camera.
The early developments were not without problems, notably with synchronous sound. These were overcome with the advance in technical developments. It proved to be the birth of television as we see it today, particularly in the documentary field. A documentary about John F Kennedy was made of his run to the Whitehouse. Being light it followed him everywhere on his campaign. It was not shown on US television, not because of the many 'wobbly' shots, but the ground breaking political content was too controversial.
A French pioneer of this technique was interviewed for the programme. He refused to sit on a chair against and contrived and carefully illuminated background to be interviewed. So he was filmed as he walked about his apartment with the camera having to follow him.
We appear to have come full circle as eyebrows are raised at a hint of that roving and wobbly camera, whether the content is relevant or not. Was all this pioneering work in vain or does someone have to break the mould again?