Cinematography

Lens Shot Size Camera Angle Camera Movement

Lens

Classifies lenses by their lens design and horizontal field of view expressed in terms of a focal length range

Also known as: Field of View

Focal length ranges for specified fields of view are based on the 35 mm 4-Perf Camera Aperture (1.33:1 aspect ratio, 24.89 mm x 18.67 mm, 31.11 mm diagonal). Spherical lens design is implied unless explicitly stated. The horizontal field of view of an anamorphic lens with a 2x squeeze (implied) is twice that of a spherical lens of the same focal length.

Fisheye Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 6 mm to 8 mm, produces extreme distortion, mapping a broad field of view, typically between 160 and 280 degrees, into a hemispherical image

Creative IntentCreate stylized, surreal, warped compositions, or surveilliance camera look

Ultra Wide Angle Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 8 mm to 18 mm, mapping an extremely wide field of view, typically between 70 and 115 degrees

Creative IntentEmphasize scale of expansive vistas and landscapes

SynonymsSuper Wide Angle Lens, Extreme Wide Angle Lens, Panoramic Lens

NotesCommonly used for Establishing Shot framing

Wide Angle Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 18 mm to 35 mm, capturing more of the scene than the human eye field of view, typically between 40 and 70 degrees

Creative IntentInclude environmental context, distort foreground for dramatic effect, and capture large groups of people

NotesSometimes used for Establishing Shot framing

Medium Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 35 mm to 100 mm, roughly capturing human eye field of view, typically between 15 and 40 degrees

Creative IntentFor human POV shots

SynonymsNormal Lens, Portrait Lens

NotesThe alternative name 'Normal Lens' is applicable when the focal length roughly corresponds to the diagonal of the image format (e.g., 30 mm lens on 35 mm 4-Perf Camera Aperture format)

Telephoto Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 100 mm to 300 mm, magnifying distant subjects, mapping a narrow field of view, typically between 5 and 15 degrees

Creative IntentFlatten and compress space, isolate action, draw viewer's attention to distant elements

SynonymsLong Shot Lens, Long Lens

Super Telephoto Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths above 300 mm, extreme magnification for very distant subjects, mapping a extremely narrow field of view, 5 degrees or less

Creative IntentCompress vast distances, capture wildlife or distant action

NotesSpecialist lenses, often very large and heavy, and requires stabilization

Anamorphic Ultra Wide Angle Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 14 mm to 30 mm, mapping an extremely wide field of view, typically between 70 and 110 degrees

Creative IntentEmphasize scale of expansive vistas and landscapes, create wider aspect ratios with different compositional options as compared to spherical lens design, oval bokeh, horizontal lens flares, and edge distortion

SynonymsSuper Wide Angle Lens, Extreme Wide Angle Lens, Panoramic Lens, Scope Lens

Anamorphic Wide Angle Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 30 mm to 60 mm, capturing more of the scene than the human eye field of view, typically between 40 and 70 degrees

Creative IntentInclude environmental context, distort foreground for dramatic effect, and capture large groups of people, create wider aspect ratios with different compositional options as compared to spherical lens design, oval bokeh, horizontal lens flares, and edge distortion

SynonymsScope Lens

Anamorphic Medium Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 60 mm to 175 mm, roughly capturing human eye field of view, typically between 15 and 40 degrees

Creative IntentFor human POV shots, create wider aspect ratios with different compositional options as compared to spherical lens design, oval bokeh, horizontal lens flares, and edge distortion

SynonymsPortrait Lens, Scope Lens

Anamorphic Telephoto Lens

DefinitionFocal lengths typically from 175 mm to 500 mm, magnifying distant subjects, mapping a narrow field of view, typically 15 degrees or less

Creative IntentFlatten and compress space, isolate action, draw viewer's attention to distant elements, create wider aspect ratios with different compositional options as compared to spherical lens design, oval bokeh, and horizontal lens flares

SynonymsLong Shot Lens, Long Lens, Scope Lens

Shot Size

How much of the subject and/or object and environment are visible in the frame

Establishing Shot

DefinitionA frame that establishes the location and time of day

Creative IntentIntroduce and curate the mood of the scene and set scene context

Extreme Wide Shot

DefinitionFraming that establishes the scale of the environment and sometimes the relationship with the story and characters

Creative IntentIntroduce the mood and scale of the scene

SynonymsEWS

Wide Shot

DefinitionFraming that establishes the scale of the environment and the relationship with the story and characters

Creative IntentIntroduce the relationship with the characters

SynonymsWS

Full Shot

DefinitionFraming that covers head to toe of a character with some background

Creative IntentDefine the physical presence of the character within the context of the environment

SynonymsHead to Toe Shot, Body Shot

Medium Wide Shot

DefinitionFraming from knees up of a character

Creative IntentDefine the environment and how the characters interact with each other or fit in the environment

SynonymsThree Quarter Shot, MWS

Cowboy Shot

DefinitionFraming from mid-thigh up of a character

Creative IntentShow how the characters interact in the environment and is used to typically hide what is below the frame

NotesAlternative to Medium Wide Shot

Medium Shot

DefinitionFraming from waist up of a character

Creative IntentEmphasize multiple characters, and sometimes a single character, while keeping the environment visible

SynonymsMS

NotesTypically used for Two Shot, Three Shot, and Group Shot Framing

Medium Close-Up Shot

DefinitionFraming from chest up of a character

Creative IntentShow facial expressions and gestures of the character

SynonymsMCU

Close-Up Shot

DefinitionFraming dominated by a character's face

Creative IntentIntensify the drama by drawing the viewer's intimacy with the character and their emotional state

SynonymsCU

Extreme Close-Up Shot

DefinitionFraming that fills specific detail

Creative IntentDraw attention to tiny details, especially the character's eyes or mouth or hands, to convey emotion or intent

SynonymsECU

Macro Shot

DefinitionFraming that shows a close up of an object with an object to image magnification ratio of 1:1 or greater

Creative IntentShow a physically small object and fill the frame

Camera Angle

How the camera is positionally angled relative to subject or environment

Overhead Shot

DefinitionCamera directly or close to directly above the subject or environment

Creative IntentCreate an objective and impersonal view of an environment or an object.

SynonymsBird's Eye View, Top View

High Angle

DefinitionCamera looking down, high above subject, but not directly above

Creative IntentProject drama or vulnerability of the subject or environment

NotesSometimes used for Establishing Shot

Eye Level

DefinitionCamera at character's eyeline and pointed at the character

Creative IntentShow neutral view of the character

Shoulder Level

DefinitionCamera at character's shoulder height

Creative IntentGive subtle power to the character

Low Angle

DefinitionCamera below eyeline of the character and tilted up

Creative IntentSuggest character's power or dominance

SynonymsHeroic Angle

Hip Level

DefinitionCamera at character's hip or midline height and tilted up

Creative IntentGive the character more dominant posing or prestigious positioning

SynonymsWaist Level, Cowboy Shot, Cowboy Draw

Broader ConceptLow Angle

Knee Level

DefinitionCamera at character's knee height and tilted up

Creative IntentShow the environment from a child's perspective or create tension in horror, thriller, or action sequences

SynonymsChild's Perspective

Broader ConceptLow Angle

Ground Level

DefinitionCamera at ground level and tilted up

Creative IntentShow the character in the most dominant, powerful, or menacing position to enhance drama

Broader ConceptLow Angle

Worm's Eye View

DefinitionCamera at ground level with exagerated perspective of the foreground elements and looking straight ahead

Creative IntentExotic and immersive perspective that exaggerates the scale of the subject within the environment

Dutch Angle

DefinitionCamera rotated to present a non-level horizon

Creative IntentCreate strange, unusual, or disorienting framing of the scene

SynonymsDutch Tilt, Canted

Camera Movement

How the camera physically moves during a shot

Static Shot

DefinitionNo camera movement

Creative IntentConcetrate on performance or composition

SynonymsFixed Shot, Locked Off Shot

Static Handheld Shot

DefinitionCamera maintains subtle movement

Creative IntentConcetrate on performance or composition, bringing a sense of documentary realism

SynonymsBreathing Fixed Shot

Pan

DefinitionCamera pivots on the horizontal axis

Creative IntentCapture character and object motion or reveal the environment

NotesPans left or right on the horizontal axis

Whip Pan

DefinitionCamera performs an extremely fast Pan

Creative IntentCreate a dynamic transition or disorientation, often conveying tension or passage of time

SynonymsSwish Pan

NotesPans left or right on the horizontal axis

Tilt

DefinitionCamera pivots on the vertical axis

Creative IntentReveal vertical information, often the subject's grandeur or dominance

NotesTilts up or down on the vertical axis

Push In

DefinitionCamera moves closer to the subject

Creative IntentDraw the viewer deeper into a subject's emotional state or to create tension

SynonymsDolly In

NotesDependent upon the camera support moving towards the subject

Pull Out

DefinitionCamera moves away from the subject showing more of the environment

Creative IntentMove the viewer from intimate detail to a broader perspective

SynonymsDolly Out

NotesDependent upon the camera support moving away from the subject

Tracking Shot

DefinitionCamera moves in a straight line through space, frequently to track a moving subject or environment

Creative IntentCreate immersion and fluid continuity as characters or objects move through the environment, or use for a POV shot

SynonymsTrucking Shot

Dolly Shot

DefinitionCamera moves smoothly in a fixed path (straight or curved) through space

Creative IntentEmphasize intensity or reveal with a smoothest physical change of the camera position

Crab Shot

DefinitionCamera changes direction to move sideways from original path

Creative IntentNavigate smoothly through an environment to reveal different perspectives of the environment

Arc Shot

DefinitionCamera moves along a curved path

Creative IntentShow relationship of the subject to the environment and amplify emotion

NotesFor outside-in variation of Arc Shot, see Orbiting Shot

Orbiting Shot

DefinitionCamera moves along a curved path with fixed radius around an approximate focal point

Creative IntentEstablish the subject's emotional state or physical position in the environment

Zoom Shot

DefinitionLens focal length changes, altering image size and perspective

Creative IntentDraw attention to or away from a subject or alter narrative focus

NotesUnlike a Dolly Shot, the background and foreground scale uniformly

Dolly Zoom

DefinitionCamera dollies while zooming, usually along the same axis

Creative IntentEnhance or reduce the zooming effect to amplify viewer interest by increasing dynamism and parallax

Vertigo Shot

DefinitionCamera dollies in one direction while typically zooming in the opposite direction, altering the perspective of the scene while maintaining the subject's framing

Creative IntentCreate disorientation, unease, or heightened psychological tension often to convey subject's shock or dread

SynonymsZolly Shot, Push Pull, Contrapuntal Zoom

Broader ConceptDolly Zoom

Handheld Shot

DefinitionCamera is held by an operator, while standing or moving, creating subtle or sometimes erratic movement bound to operator movement

Creative IntentImmerse the viewer in the action, highlighting the subject's emotional state

SynonymsShaky, Float

Steadicam Shot

DefinitionCamera moves on a stabilized rig to isolate operator movement

Creative IntentCreate immersion and fluid continuity, combining the mobility of a handheld with the smoothness of a Dolly

SynonymsGimbal Shot

Boom Shot

DefinitionCamera moves on vertical axis

Creative IntentReveal or conceal environment

Jib Shot

DefinitionCamera moves on a boom arm, typically used for limited range of vertical movement but capable of movement across multiple axes

Creative IntentReveal or conceal environment in a smooth, but constrained motion

Broader ConceptBoom Shot

NotesHas less vertical travel compared to a Crane Shot

Crane Shot

DefinitionCamera moves on a crane with greater range of movement compared to a Jib Shot

Creative IntentEmphasize scale dramatically and dynamically or create epic reveals or conclusions

Broader ConceptBoom Shot

NotesHas more vertical travel compared to a Jib Shot

Pedestal Shot

DefinitionCamera moves up or down on a pedestal often in a studio space

Creative IntentPerform smooth movement without disrupting the composition

NotesMostly used in TV studio work like news broadcasts

Broader ConceptAerial Shot

Drone Shot

DefinitionCamera moves through indoor and/or outdoor space with unrestricted movement

Creative IntentEstablish expansive geography or dynamic motion allowing gradual or dramatic reframing

Broader ConceptAerial Shot