Types of Shots

Pannning

Panning involves horizontal movement of the camera. The camera can be handheld and manually rotated or made stationary by way of a tripod or other device. Panning allows movement in the shot and can be used to create a panoramic view. Veritical (up and down) movement is restricted in a stict pan.

Tilt

Where panning involves horizontal movement, tilt involves the vertical. Here, horizontal movement is restricted and the camera moves and and down. Note that panning and tilt can be and often are used in concert. Add zooming and you address all three areas of three dimensional space.

Rack Focus

In rack focus, the camera pans between two primary subjects rather than jump cutting between them via editing. Typically one subject will go out of focus as the other comes into focus.

Dolly Shot

A camera is physically attatched to a dolly and moved along with the action of the scene. Dollys can be of the professional and expensive variety or done on the cheap with a piano dolly or furniture dolly.

Tracking Shot

When the dolly (see above) is placed on a track, you have a tracking shot

Jib Arm

The Jib Arm is a counterbalanced holder for the camera that allows for smooth and stable panning, tilt, or combination of the two

Telephoto

A fully zoomed-in shot. See the digital camera page for a definition of zoom.

Wide Angle Shot

A fully zoomed-out shot.