Apefos topic number 100: Celebrating my hundredth topic, I decided to post something that can be useful for the forum members:

HandHeld Camera Shooting: Why and When. Technical, artistic and circumstantial reasons to use camera in the hands.

The main goal here is to enumerate the reasons to use handheld camera and the relationship with the message/storytelling/client needs, not to discuss if you like it or not.

So let's go for the list of reasons for using handheld camera:

01 - conveniently sized for travel

02 - greater freedom of motion during filming

03 - small places or places full of people

04 - fast work for camera operator, ideal for news and docs, and low budget cinema

05 - allow more freedom in camera angle and position

06 - good solution for subjective shoots, for show the person point of view

07 - as a variation, can also be fitted in animals, in the nature, in person body, in vehicles, for different effects

08 - shaky camera can be used for artistic reasons (more later)

09 - film sequence gets an ad hoc, electronic news-gathering, or documentary film feel

10 - It suggests unprepared, unrehearsed filming of reality

11 - can provide a sense of dynamics, immersion, intimacy, instability, unease or nervousness, depending on how it is done

12 - It gives a raw, energetic aesthetic

13 - Too much shaky can feel distracted, dizzy or sick

14 - breaks the cinema industry standards, turning into a revolutionary style

15 - the amount and style of shaky camera can be artistic or can be poor camera skills, these two things are different

16 - shaky camera can be combined with camera operator movements and with of the frame shoots

17 - handheld camera is inexpensive and can mean financial freedom

18 - handheld camera can be full of energy and youth soul, even when shooting old people

19 - handheld camera is good for fight, with even punch the camera

20 - the camera can be fitted in supports which extends the arms, legs or body

21 - shoulder mount camera is a type of handheld camera wich can offers a balance between shaky and stable

22 - overhead supports also works good for a balance between stable and shaky

23 - handheld camera is discreet and desired where lifeguards, security guards, authority figures can stop your work if they see a tripod

24 - high end equipment means you are working making money, so people will ask for authorization, handheld camera solves this

25 - handheld camera can be hidden and used for surprises, or to use a surprise even in a film

26 - lens stabilization and sensor stabilization are enough for avoiding a tripod or support

27 - electronic stabilization, lens stabilization, sensor stabilization and post-production stabilization introduces different aesthetics compared to a raw handheld camera

28 - image stabilization can turn handheld to looks like steadycam or tripod

29 - handheld can introduce different kind and level of emotions

30 - can help achieving real time continuity or a long sequence shot

31 - can help tracking a subject or object

32 - its has an "you are there" energy

33 - looks like and amateur film, and amateur films are more realistic and plausible

34 - shaky camera can be combined with short average shot length, jump cuts, and incompletely frame the action

35 - can simulate found footage

36 - can easily do oblique (dutch) angle adding psychological uneasiness or tension, madness, unrest, exoticism, and disorientation

37 - steadycam is different compared to handheld, steadycam looks professional, observational, detached and also dreamlike, supernatural or surreal

38 - introduces realism, much desired in documentaries and indie narrative films

39 - the Objective truthfulness of Direct Cinema style

40 - handheld used with sync direct sound capture brings the true feeling

41 - the camera can be used to provoke and reveal reactions in people (filmed people and audience)

42 - can be associated with productions in the other side of traditional society, ghetto, nich, guerrillas

43 - can be strongly romantic

44 - can be combined with fast or slow shutter speed for different effects

45 - handheld camera can have social, ideological, anthropological and ethical uses and meanings

46 - it was intense used in times with political changes, economical changes, behavior/tradition changes and war

47 - a feeling of real life unfolding before the viewer's eyes

48 - handheld camera can be made when people are aware of it or not. When the camera is present, it must be considered that if the presence of the camera does not substantially alter the recorded event, or if people are already prepared for it

New ideas for using handheld camera are welcome!

Also suggest handheld feature films for our appreciation, and comment about the handheld relationship with the storytelling in the movies you say.

Other topics about handheld in P-V:

Lens discussion, what is possible to do handheld: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/4034/longest-lens-to-shoot-handheld-video-with-on-gh2

Previous discussion if handheld is valid or not: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/2122/hand-held-shooting-your-opinion