Video Vocabulary Illustrated

Camera Movement Terms

panning moving the camera horizontally http://vimeo.com/52759387 Pan: Moving the camera lens to one side or another. Look to your left, then look to your right - that's panning. From Mastering Videography - Camera Techniques - 02 Panning http://vimeo.com/52759387 And http://www.videomaker.com/article/14221-camera-movement-techniques-tilt-pan-zoom-pedestal-dolly-and-truck

tilting moving the camera vertically http://vimeo.com/52760101 Tilt: Moving the cameras lens up or down while keeping its horizontal axis constant. Nod your head up and down - this is tilting. From Mastering Videography - Camera Techniques - 03 Tilting http://vimeo.com/52760101 And http://www.videomaker.com/article/14221-camera-movement-techniques-tilt-pan-zoom-pedestal-dolly-and-truck

zooming changing the focal length of the lens http://vimeo Zooming is one camera move that most people are probably familiar with. It involves changing the focal length of the lens to make the subject appear closer or further away in the frame. Most video cameras today have built-in zoom features. Some have manual zooms as well, and many have several zoom speeds. Zooming is one of the most frequently-used camera moves and one of the most overused. Use it carefully. From Mastering Videography - Camera Techniques - 06 Zooming part 1 http://vimeo.com/52758567 and http://www.videomaker.com/article/14221-camera-movement-techniques-tilt-pan-zoom-pedestal-dolly-and-truck

tracking moving the camera physically http://vimeo.com/52760270 While panning and tilting you're not really moving the camera but pointing it around. Tracking is physically moving the camera.. From Mastering Videography - Camera Techniques – 04 Tracking http://vimeo.com/52760101

dolly shot motion towards or motion from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4xPWo1JJ_A A dolly is a cart which travels along tracks. The camera is mounted on the dolly and records the shot as it moves. Dolly shots have a number of applications and can provide very dramatic footage. In many circles a dolly shot is also known as a tracking shot or trucking shot. However some professionals prefer the more rigid terminology which defines dolly as in-and-out movement (i.e. closer/further away from the subject), while tracking means side-to-side movement. Most dollies have a lever to allow for vertical movement as well (known as a pedestal move). In some cases a crane is mounted on the dolly for additional height and flexibility. A shot which moves vertically while simultaneously tracking is called a compound shot. Some dollies can also operate without tracks. This provides the greatest degree of movement, assuming of course that a suitable surface is available. Special dollies are available for location work, and are designed to work with common constraints such as doorway width. From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/dolly.html

trucking side to side camera movement with respect to action Trucking is basically the same as tracking or dollying. Although it means slightly different things to different people, it generally refers to side-to-side camera movement with respect to the action. The term trucking is not uncommon but is less widely-used than dollying or tracking. Yet another equivalent term is crabbing. The example pictured here shows a simple, very mobile set of tracks used with a standard tripod to create smooth trucking shots. From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/trucking.html Trucking is like dollying, but it involves motion left or right. Truck left means "move the camera physically to the left while maintaining its perpendicular relationship." This is not to be confused with a pan, where the camera remains firmly on its axis while the lens turns to one direction or the other. You might truck left to stay with a pedestrian as she walks down a street. From http://www.videomaker.com/article/14221-camera-movement-techniques-tilt-pan-zoom-pedestal-dolly-and-truck

pedestal Moving the camera up or down without changing its vertical or horizontal axis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vwM5Y9aMNk Moving the camera up or down without changing its vertical or horizontal axis. A camera operator can do two types of pedestals: pedestal up means "move the camera up;" pedestal down means "move the camera down." You are not tilting the lens up, rather you are moving the entire camera up. Imagine your camera is on a tripod and you're raising or lowering the tripod head (this is exactly where the term comes from). From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/trucking.html

crane moving up and away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnkEFjW87o8 Moving the camera up or down without changing its vertical or horizontal axis. A camera operator can do two types of pedestals: pedestal up means "move the camera up;" pedestal down means "move the camera down." You are not tilting the lens up, rather you are moving the entire camera up. Imagine your camera is on a tripod and you're raising or lowering the tripod head (this is exactly where the term comes from). From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/trucking.html

arc shot camera moves around the subject http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_bdm3XpE8w An arc shot is a camera move around the subject, somewhat like a tracking shot. In mathematics, an arc is a segment of the circumference of a circle. A camera arc is similar — the camera moves in a rough semi-circle around the subject. Some definitions of the arc shot describe it as being tracking and dollying at the same time, i.e. simultaneous side-to-side and in-and-out movement. From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/arc.html

Camera Angles and Related Terms

birds eye/aerial/god’s view shot top down perspective http://www The scene is shown from directly above. This is a completely different and somewhat unnatural point of view which can be used for dramatic effect or for showing a different spatial perspective. In drama it can be used to show the positions and motions of different characters and objects, enabling the viewer to see things the characters can't. The bird's-eye view is also very useful in sports, documentaries, etc. From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/camera/angles/

high angle subject from above http://www. youtube. com/watch A high angle shows the subject from above, i.e. the camera is angled down towards the subject. This has the effect of diminishing the subject, making them appear less powerful, less significant or even submissive. From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/camera/angles/ Video examples from Scrubs sitcom

low angle subject from below http://vimeo This shows the subject from below, giving them the impression of being more powerful or dominant. From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/camera/angles/

eye level angle camera placed at subject’s height http://www. youtube This shows the subject from below, giving them the impression of being more powerful or dominant. From http://www.mediacollege.com/video/camera/angles/ Video clip from How To: Shoot at Eye Level