7 July 2025
Summary:
Some moves are simple — but never ordinary.
PAN is the most classic of all camera moves. PAN means panorama or panoramic shot. Just a gentle horizontal turn — yet it can open up a whole new world. From left to right, or right to left, it guides the viewer’s eyes across space, like turning the page of a visual storybook.
It’s the camera’s way of saying: “Look at this… and now this.”
In mobile storytelling, PAN connects dots. It reveals context, follows action, and adds elegance to even the simplest scene. But it only works when done with care — and with a clear destination in mind.
Content
Pan in detail
The camera moves left or right, but the operator stays in place. You don’t walk forward or backward — you just rotate the camera horizontally. This movement — called a PAN — mimics turning your head. Imagine your eyes are the lens. You slowly turn your head left or right — that’s a PAN.
But a good PAN should never be rushed. Move too quickly, and you lose clarity. That’s why PAN is perfect for landscapes — it lets the viewer “soak in the view”.
Does the direction matter? Absolutely.
👉 Left to right
Feels natural for Western audiences — it matches how we read and track motion. It suggests progress, flow, something unfolding.
👉 Right to left
Creates tension. It feels less intuitive — like going against the current. This direction can suggest conflict, reversal, or disruption. Use it deliberately to change the mood.
The art of asking questions
Cinematic mode – Hollywood in your pocket
A pan without purpose is just a turn.
Common mistakes
❌ Common mistake #1
🔴 A PAN with no purpose.
Panning just for the sake of it? That’s like walking without knowing where you’re going. The camera moves sideways — but what’s the point? Viewers get confused: “What am I supposed to be looking at?”
A good PAN has a starting point and a destination:
🟡 From a crowd → to a single face
🟡 From a church door → to the altar
🟡 From a street sign → to a lively square
🟡 From a banner’s words → to the people holding it
Begin with intent. End with clarity.
❌ Common mistake #2
🔴 Too fast
PAN is not a race. If you rush it, the viewer can’t follow. The scene blurs, details vanish, and attention drops.
Instead, think of PAN like a sentence: Pause. Move. Pause.
Begin slowly. Glide steadily. Hold at the end to let the viewer process. It’s not just a movement — it’s visual punctuation.
❌ Common mistake #3
🔴 Opposite PANS back-to-back — in the editing.
This isn’t just a filming issue — it’s a common editing mistake.
You film two pans: one moves left, the next moves right. When you place them next to each other in the timeline, the viewer feels like they’ve been spun around.
The sudden change in direction breaks the rhythm. It feels jarring — like the scene reversed, or something went wrong with the continuity.
Our brains crave flow and spatial logic. When you pan one way and then immediately the other, the viewer loses orientation: “Wait — am I in the same place? Did we go backwards?”
Editing tip: Keep the direction of movement consistent between shots. If you do switch direction, add a static frame in between — a visual pause — to reset the viewer’s sense of space.
Want to learn? We’ll teach you! – Don Bosco Mobile Journalism – DBMoJo.
Master mobile video editing
Static Shot in Mobile Journalism
Every good PAN has a plan.
Takeaways
✅ A pan without purpose is just a turn.
✅ Left to right = natural. Right to left = tension.
✅ Pause → move → pause — like a sentence on screen.
A PAN isn’t just movement — it’s meaning in motion.
Every sideways glide has the power to reveal, compare, or build rhythm. When done right, the camera doesn’t just move — it leads. And where it leads, the story follows.
So take your time. Pick your starting point — and your landing.
Let your shot breathe like a sentence: pause, move, pause. The more intentional your PAN, the more the viewer feels like they’re gliding through the story — not just watching it from the outside.
#DBMoJo #MobileJournalism #MoJo #ShotType
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