Long shot – A shot in which you can see usually all of the subject at a slight distance.
Establishing shot – Usually at the beginning of scenes, this shot covers a wide amount of space so the audience can see the location or scale of the location.
Canted angle – A shot used to distort what’s on the screen (often used in fight scenes to disorientate the audience); the camera is slanted.
Medium long shot – A shot that shows most of the subject but not all (if it’s a person, head to knees).
Aerial shot – A shot that looks down on the scene from somewhere high up (like a building or a helicopter). It usually covers a wide amount of subject and can be used to make the subject look insignificant or show the scale of a location.
Tilt up –
When the camera is moved upwards slightly to follow a subject or show more of
it without actually moving the positioning of the tripod (can be used with a
handheld as well). Tilting up usually
makes the subject look taller or more powerful.
Tilt down –
When the camera is moved down slightly to follow a subject or show more of it
without actually moving the positioning of the tripod (can be used with a
handheld as well). Tilting down usually makes the subject look smaller or more
vulnerable.
Dolly – When
the camera is set on tracks and moves forwards and backwards to follow a
subject smoothly.
Zoom – The
lens of the camera is adjusted to either show the subject in more or less detail.
Tracking –
When the camera is set on tracks and moves left and right to follow a subject
smoothly.
Handheld –
The camera is used without a tripod etc, held in position by your hands. It usually
gives shaky footage so it is often used in horror films to give a sense of
reality to the scene and sometimes to disorientate the audience.
Crane – Usually
taken by a camera on a literal crane. It is used to see the subject from above
or to follow the subject and often makes the subject look smaller.
