CINEMATOGRAPHY TERMS

Dutch angle

A camera shot that tilts the camera on its X-axis (horizontally) to disorient the viewer or create an uneasy mood.

Panning shot

The camera moves left or right in order to either follow a target, to gain more information about a location, or to focus on a new target.

Crane shot

A shot with a change in framing accomplished by placing the camera above the subject and moving through the air in any direction (the whole camera moves up and down) (used frequently with high angle).

Tracking shot

Any shot where the camera follows backward, forward, or alongside the subject.

Zoom shot

Adjusting a camera to give the illusion of moving closer or further from a person.

Angle

The relationship between the camera and the object being photographed gives emotional information to an audience and guides their judgment about the character or object in shot.

Bird's eye shot

This shows a scene from directly overhead, a very unnatural and strange angle, making familiar objects seem totally unrecognizable.

High angle

The camera is elevated above the action using a crane to give a general overview, making the object photographed seem smaller and less significant.

Low angle

The background of a low angle shot will tend to be just sky or ceiling, adding to the disorientation of the viewer.

Worm's eye view

The camera view of an object from ground level or below; a more extreme version of a low angle.

Extreme long shot

Often used to set the scene of a story; the shot is taken from very far away and is meant to give a general impression rather than specific information.

Close up shot

This shows very little background, and concentrates on either a face, or a specific detail of the scene.

Long shot

This category includes the FULL SHOT showing the entire human body, with the head near the top of the frame and the feet near the bottom.

Extreme close up shot

An extreme version of the close up, generally magnifying beyond what the human eye would experience in reality.

Medium shot

Features a figure from the knees or waist up.

Over the shoulder shot

An out-of-focus shoulder and head in the foreground while another person, object, or the background is in focus.

Point of view shot

Taken from the POV of the character so the viewer feels like they are doing the action.