Camera Terminology

In the exam you will have to discuss the different camera shots and angles in depth using the correct terminology. So this post has everything you need to know about camera!

Aerial shot (or crane): a view from directly overhead looking straight down– sometimes used to emphasize the spectacle. A crane shot is usually necessary to achieve this (sometimes called a bird’s eye shot)

Canted Angle – A shot which is tilted to one side. This is often used to create a feeling of disorientation, anxiety or chaos.

Close up (and variations): close ups, including extreme, big and medium close ups, are used to draw the viewer closer and to involve them in what is happening; they also used to observe reactions and emotions, such is happiness, elation or tension. These shots are often used to help the audience feel sympathy for that character or side with them. Alternatively, a series of close ups / extreme close-ups often make the audience feel quite claustrophobic and uncomfortable.

Crab Shot: a type of shot which involves the camera being placed in a confined space. e.g. A shot taken from inside a cupboard is the subject opens the cupboard door.

Crane Shot (or Aerial): a type of shot in which a camera is positioned on a specially designed crane, which can be raised and lowered and will. A crane shot is a high-angle shot but the versatility of the equipment allows a director to start a shot from a high-angle and then swoop down toward the subject at ground level. http://www.youtube.com/user/FilmSchoolOnline#p/u/9/8tZiFwSmhBI

Deep Focus: a camera technique that allows objects both near and far from the camera to be in focus at the same time.

Establishing shot: the shot (usually wide or long), often used at the start of a programme or film, a new section of a programme or at the start of a new scene to establish the relationship between the set/location and the characters and to show the whole view

Hand-Held shot: A shot filmed with the camera not on a tripod but instead held by the camera man, often whilst walking. This makes the shots seem quite shaky. This can make the audience feel the scene is more realistic, or can make us feel like we are part of the action.

Head-On Shot: for a type of shot in which the action comes directly toward the camera. Head-On shots are often used in war or action movies to enhance the sense of involvement and excitement of the audience, for example, charging cavalry may be directed at the camera.

High angle: A shot where the camera is positioned slightly higher than the person’s eyeline, looking down at them. This is often used to make a character seem weaker, younger or more vulnerable.

Long Shot: a distance shot where the camera is a long way from the subjects being filmed. A long shot can be effective as an establishing shot that sets the scene for the action and roles in the viewer.

Loose Frame – Describes a shot where there is a lot of room around an object or person. Usually used to show them as being alone or isolated or unimportant.

Low-Angle Shot: A shot where the camera is placed lower than the eyeline of the person in the shot, looking up at them. It can make the character shown seem big and powerful and it can make us or the character we are seeing through, seem small and weak.

Medium Shot: A shot showing around half of a person to their waist. Normally used to show their emotions and some of their body language and setting in order to aid our understanding

Over The Shoulder Shot: A shot which is filmed just over the shoulder of one character, normally looking at another character. This is used to make us feel like we are part of the scene and show us some of the character’s perspective.

Pan: camera action involving gently moving the camera left or right across the subject matter horizontally

Point-of-View Shot (POV or Subjective Filming): a camera shot taken from the position of the subject, used to enhance a sense of realism and audience involvement in the action.

Pull Focus – Describes a shot where one thing was in focus, and then the lens is changed so that something else stops being blurry and becomes in focus. Often used to draw the audience’s attention to something.

Rule Of Thirds – Describes a technique used to make a shot look interesting and realistic at the same time. Rather than placing a person or object in the middle of the frame, they are placed at the sides, or where the lines cross on this imaginary grid. If a director chooses to “break” the rule of thirds it can make the character seem uncomfortable, quirky, stylish, alone, or out of place

Shallow Focus – Describes a shot where an object near the front is in focus, and everything else behind is out of focus (blurry). Often used to make one thing seem more important.

Soft focus: in images, the use of a special lens or filter to create a hazy light around the subject. Soft focus shots are associated with the romantic or sentimental treatment of subject matter.

Subjective Filming (or POV): a type of shot in which the camera is positioned as if looking at the world through the character’s eyes.

Tight Frame: Describes a shot that is composed with the person or object given very little space around them. Often used to make them seem important, or trapped.

Tilt: a camera movement that involves moving the camera vertically up and down from a fixed position. Often used to show something off to the audience like a character’s body.

Tracking Shot: a camera shot in which the camera moves along rails to follow the subject. When the rails are replaced by a moving platform on wheels, the shot is called a dolly shot. As you won’t know how this shot was filmed you can call it either a Tracking OR a Dolly shot. A tracking shot normally helps us feel like we sympathise with the character, or focuses our attention on them as important.

Two Shot: A shot that frames two people on screen at the same time. It is used to show the audience the relationship between two characters.

Whip Pan: a very fast pan between two or more characters or points of interest. It gives the impression that the camera has been ‘surprised’ by activity and is used in the place of a more conventional shot/reverse shot.

Wide shot: A shot where the whole subject is shown within the frame. Also known as a Long Shot. This can be used as an establishing shot of a set or location or to show a large crowd of people. They can also emphasize the isolation of a single figure.

Zoom/Reverse Zoom: the adjustment of the camera lens which makes the scene / character appear to get bigger or smaller in the frame. A zoom is normally used to focus our attention on something as important.

180 degree Rule – Where, during a scene featuring two people or more, we can imagine a make believe line joining those two people together. Adhering to the 180 degree rule would mean you would always ensure your camera was on one side of that line and the camera would never be crossed to the other side. Sticking to the 180 degree rule allows the viewer to feel comfortable, helps us understand the positioning of the characters and makes it feel like real life.



Breaking the 180 degree rule (Crossing the Line) – Where, during a conversation or a scene between two people, the camera does NOT stick to one side of the line (see above) and crosses over at some point. This disorientates the viewer as we are unable to work out the position of the characters within the room. It makes the scene seem odd or strange and may reflect the feeling of the characters. (see video above)

To see video examples of various shot types: