Help on how to do a pan transition

Andy Films

Andy Films

Member
Hello technical experts,

I was curious as to how to take two shots and create a transition through the use of a pan.

The technique is uses so many times where a certain shot end with a quick pan to the right and the next shot begins from the left to the right as if it were seamless.

Most notably, it seems to be used in TV and music videos a lot where fast paced transitions are necessary.

I have a DVX and I want to accomplish this. I know that a majority of it is accomplished during shooting but creating a quick pan at the end of the first shot and beginning of the second, but when I put it together it doesn't work out. Just jump cuts.

I tried to even place a split second dissolve to make it appear natural, but no dice. I even guessed it may do with morphing, but I am truly clueless. Or maybe it could be accomplished by slowing the shutter speed before a pan to create some motion blur.

I really would like to know if anyone has done this transition and give me a little help on how to professionally pull off this move.

I am editing on Final Cut and shooting on a DVX100B.

Thanks so much!

Andy
 
Keep the shutter low. The more blur, the better. You will want that dissolve in there, too. Really whip that camera fast. Also it helps if the end of the first shot and the begining of the next are similar in color and brightness. I have done this whip pan many times. Sometimes it was as a transition, sometimes it was to hide a cut. Definitely some shots will cut together more smoothly than others.
 
jareds right, this is also one of my favorite ways to cut from shot to shot when i don't want the obvious cut to be seen, it has a time and a place. try zooming in a little bit, it makes more blur when you do your pan. pan out quickly, but not too quickly because you'll have to pan back in at around the same speed to get the right effect, and it's hard to get your proper frame when you whip back in if you're going too fast, but it's all about patience and practice.
 
It shouldn't take any different shutter speed than you're normally shooting with. It's usually just a matter of making sure the shots match logically, in terms of geography and the focal length/zoom of the shot. If you try to mix a medium shot and whip pan transition to a close up, it won't seem right. Similarly, if you try to whip pan from a chest height camera angle to a waist height camera angle, it won't look right.

Also, it may just not look right to you because you know it's coming. Test it on someone who isn't involved. Don't mention it, just let them watch your clips and ask them after the fact if they thought anything was strange.
 
Thanks everyone for your advice, I really appreciate it.

I had some clue toward how to accomplish it, but when I try and ask it to professionals, it gives more more assurance to keep practicing it the best way.

Thanks again guys!
 
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