Camera TerminologyChloe Wise

Aerial Shot: a camera shot taken from directly above, it is often used to to emphasise the spectacle. The aerial shot is

also known as a bird’s eye shot.

Canted Angle: A canted Angle is shot that is tilted to either the left or right. It is often used to create the feeling of disorientation.

Close Up: Close ups are used to involve the viewer in what is happening. Close up shots can also be used to observe reactions and emotions.

Crab Shot: A crab shot is a shot taken in a small confined space. An example of this is a shot taken in a cupboard door.

Deep Focus: A shot that allows objects both near and far to always be in focus

Establishing shot: Often used at the start of a film or a program and is usually a wide shot. It establishes the relationship between the location

and character.

Hand Held Shot: A shot filmed without the use of a tripod. It is used to make the shot seem shaky and is taken by the camera man; sometimes

whilst walking.

Head on shot: Head on shots are often used in war and action films to enhance the sense of involvement and excitement for the audience.

High angle: Makes the character seem vulnerable and powerless. It can be combined with a crane shot and provides a view from above the

character.

Long shot: When the camera is a long way from the characters or subjects. Long shots are effective as an establishing shot as it sets the

scene.

Loose frame: When there is a lot of room around an object or person. Enhances the idea of a character being alone or isolated.

Low angle shot: A low angle shot can be used to emphasise the size of the object or subject being filmed. It is often used with the camera

approaching a subject from below.

Master Shot: a shot used at the beginning of a sequence to establish the component elements and relationships, this allows the audience to

create an understanding of what is happening.

Pan Shot: an action involving gently moving the camera 180 degrees across the subject

Point of view shot: when the camera shot is taken from the position of the subjects, used to make the shot realistic.

Pull focus: a shot where a object is on focus but their surroundings are blurred.

Rule of Thirds: a technique used in order to make the shot look interesting. Rather than placing a person or object in the middle, they are placed at the sides.

Shallow focus: where an object near the front is focused on and everything else is blurred.

Soft focus: used with a special lens or filter in order to create a hazy light around the object or individual.

Subjective filming: when the camera is positioned in the character’s eyes, looking at the world.

Tight frame shot: when the shot is composed with the person or object given very little space around them.

Tilt Shot: a shot involves the camera moving vertically up and down from a fixed position.

Tracking Shot: when the camera moves along to follow the subject

Whip Pan: a very fast pan between two or more characters

Wide Shot: can be used to establish a shot of a set or location or to show a crowd of people.

Zoom/Reverse Zoom: when you adjust the camera lens to move in close or to pull away from the subject

180 degree rule: during a scene featuring two people or more. Camera’s are places 180 degree’s from them, ensuring that your camera was on one side to that line and is not to cross that line.

Breaking the 180 degree rule (crossing the line): during a scene between two people, the camera can pass the line at some point.