US Patent 11250617 Virtual camera controlled by a camera control device

A technology is described for capturing electronic images of a three-dimensional environment using a virtual camera. In one example of the technology, positioning data may be obtained for a camera control device in a physical environment. The positioning data may define a physical position and physical orientation of the camera control device in the physical environment. A virtual camera may be placed and controlled in a virtual three-dimensional (3D) environment using in part the positioning data for the camera control device to determine a virtual position and virtual orientation of the virtual camera in the virtual 3D environment. A view of the virtual 3D environment, from a viewpoint of the virtual camera, may be determined using the virtual position and virtual orientation of the virtual camera in the virtual 3D environment, and electronic images of the virtual 3D environment may be rendered as defined by the view.