PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras are commonplace in broadcasting, video production, live events, video conferencing, lectures, and more. They offer versatility and flexibility across a wide range of applications. With this versatility and flexibility comes the ability to be creative in capturing content. You’re certainly not limited to the applications listed below. They are just some examples of how you can be creative with PTZ cameras.
Cooking and Food Influencers
Cooking- and food-based video content are quite popular across social media platforms. Perhaps you’ve seen Tawakkul, the Azerbaijani chef who releases videos under the moniker Wilderness Cooking. His videos are shot in his village of Gamarvan and typically include the picturesque mountains, rivers, and general splendor of nature as a backdrop. While he may not have been the first person to shoot this type of content, he’s inspired many copycats to produce their own videos. There’s no shortage of nature cooking videos thanks to the popularity of Wilderness Cooking.
Across many forums, people are curious about the camera equipment and drones that Tawakkul’s videographer uses to capture the stunning vistas in every video. While it can’t be promised that you will capture the same level of quality footage, what is clear is that PTZ cameras can be used to capture wide and sweeping pan and tilts views, along with zooming in on the details important for capturing cooking video content.
While stunning vistas are nice, you certainly don’t need that to capture great cooking- and food-related footage with a PTZ camera. You can be creative with conventional footage right from your kitchen. You can attach the camera on a ceiling mount above what you’re cooking for an overhead vantage point which can be useful for unique zoom shots. The camera can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table for side shots. Multiple cameras can be used. Basically, you’re only limited to your mind (and budget!) when it comes to content creation.
Livestreaming Weddings
The COVID pandemic fast-tracked the adoption of livestreaming and PTZ camera usage. People accepted technology new to them out of necessity. Wider adoption of livestreaming was a big boon for those unable to attend key events in person, like funerals. They could now watch the event from home. A fast-growing segment of livestreamed events are weddings. It offers a practical and cost-effective solution for those not able to attend.
With the ability to remotely control cameras, mounting and installing cameras in various locations can create unique vantage points simultaneously. An overhead vantage point? No problem. You can set up all the conventional vantage points from tripods, wall mounts, pole mounts and more. It’s a wedding, so you certainly need the basics covered. However, beyond standard coverage, you can get interesting vantage points in addition to the conventional ones. Mount a camera in a tight spot and use a zoom preset to capture the flower girl or ringbearer walking down the aisle from a view that isn’t just head on. With wireless options, you can be creative with your placement of cameras. At the very least, you’ll have tons of interesting B-roll footage.
Concert Coverage
PTZ camera usage with concerts is standard, but much like streaming weddings, you can creatively capture concerts too. How creative you get depends on your imagination, budget, and the size of the venue.
For larger venues that include intricate lighting and pyrotechnics, the camera operator should ideally talk to the lighting crew and pyro technicians to know when certain stage lights and pyro events will happen. These are all timed during certain portions and segments of the performance, so knowing when they’ll occur puts you well ahead of the game and enables you to have a game plan on how you’ll creatively capture thrilling parts of the show.
Mid-sized and smaller venues typically don’t have pyro, but they all have lighting crews, so the camera operator should still speak to them to know what to expect in terms of lighting. Some overhead lights are more flattering to skin tones than others, like white and yellow, as opposed to purple that can wash out skin tones and brass instruments. Zooming in on faces at the right time with ideal overhead light colors can make the difference between spectacular footage and a hot mess. Avoid capturing a hot mess.
Racing Events
With many PTZ cameras equipped with features like auto-tracking, auto-framing, and high frame rates that minimize motion blur, PTZ cameras are ideal for events like automobile racing, regattas (boat racing), greyhound racing, and horse racing (and other equestrian performances). Like conventional sports, these features are indispensable for capturing motion. Unlike conventional sports, the motion here is much faster than human output.
To adequately capture your subjects, you’ll need equipment like cranes, jibs, dollies, gimbals or anything that enables the camera to move with the subject being captured. With motion comes freedom. You’ll be able to capture unique footage due to the speed of the subject. How creative the footage can be will depend on the vision of the operator, but not being encumbered with a stationary position adds another layer of creative potential.
Interested in creative ways to use PTZ cameras? Feel free to give us a call, reach out via chat, or stop by the NYC Superstore.
