arc
to move the camera in a slightly curved dolly or truck
aspect ratio
the ratio of the width to the height of the frame
camera stabilizing system
camera mount which keeps the camera steady in movement
cant
to tilt a shoulder-mounted camera sideways
close up
an object seen at close range and framed tightly
closure
mentally filling in spaces of an incomplete picture
crane (noun)
a camera mount resembling a crane used to lift the camera
crane (verb)
the act of moving the crane up or down
cross shot
over-the-shoulder shot where you cannot see the other person (x/s)
dolly (noun)
camera mount that allows the camera to move in all horizontal directions
dolly (verb)
to move the object toward or away from the subject
extreme close-up
close up with very tight framing
extreme long shot
shows the subject from great distance, also used as an establishing shot
field of view
the portion of the scene visible through a lens
headroom
the space left between the top of the head and the upper screen edge
interocular distance
the distance between our eyes (about 2.5 inches)
jib arm
permits the operator to raise, lower, and tongue the camera
leadroom or noseroom
the space left in front of a person or an object moving towards the screen
long shot
subject seen from far away or framed loosely, also called full shot
medium shot
subject seen from a medium distance, anything between long shot and close-up
monopod
a single pole onto which you can mount a camera
mounting head
a device that connects the camera to the tripod or pedestal to create smooth pans and tilts, also called pan-and-tilt head
over-shot-shoulder shot
camera looks over a person’s shoulder at another person, includes other person’s shoulder and back of head
pan
to turn the camera horizontally
pedestal
a mount like a crane or dolly
point of convergence
the point where the sight lines of the two lenses of a 3d camera intersect
quick-release plate
a mounting plate used to attach camcorders and EFP cameras to the mounting head
robotic pedestal
remotely controlled studio pedestal that is guided by a computer and can execute many moves
rule of thirds
if the screen is divided into three horizontal and three vertical fields, the subject should be placed where a horizontal and vertical edge intersect
studio pan-and-tilt head
a camera mounting head for heavy cameras that allows for smooth pans and tilts
tilt
to point the camera up or down
tongue
to move the boom or jib arm with the camera from side to side
tripod
a three-legged camera mount
truck
to move the camera laterally
two-shot
framing of two people
window
a tv or movie screen
z-axis
an imaginary line representing an extension of the lens from the camera to the horizon
z-axis blocking
arranging the event (people and things) along the z-axis or in close proximity to it
zoom
to gradually change from wide angle to narrow angle or the other way around