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Dutch angle - is otherwise known as oblique angle or German angle or Canted or Batman angle it is a cinematic technique often used to portray the psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed. A Dutch angle is achieved by tilting the camera off to the side so that the shot is composed with the horizon at an angle to the bottom of the frame. Many Dutch angles are static shots at an obscure angle, but in a moving Dutch angle shot the camera can pivot, pan or track along the directors established diagonal axis for the shot.A dutch angle converting slowly to a horizontal straight and zoom in to a closeup can some time generates amazing results. Read the full story

Crane shot - as the name suggest is a shot taken by mounting the camera on a crane. The most obvious uses are to view the actors from above or to move up and away from them, a common way of ending a movie. Some filmmakers like to have the camera on a boom arm just to make it easier to move around between ordinary set-ups. Most cranes accommodate both the camera and an operator, but some can be operated by remote control.This is most widely used to telecast live stage shows. Read the full story

Close-up shot tightly frames a person or an object. This is very commonly used shot and used regularly with medium and long shots. Close up can be an independent shot by simple straight cut or can be used with an effect such as camera zooms in to the specific details of the subject

Close-up shots generally minimize the emotional distance of the audience from the subject. Close ups are mainly used to keying out the main characters of the story.

Close-up shots do not show the subject in the broad context of its surroundings. If overused close-ups may leave viewers uncertain as to what they are seeing. Close-ups are rarely done with wide angle lenses, because perspective causes objects in the center of the picture to be unnaturally enlarged. Certain times, different directors will use wide angle lenses, because they can convey the message of confusion, and bring life to certain characters.

Bird's eye shot refers to a shot looking directly down on the subject, to get a feel as the frame is captured by a flying bird. The perspective is very foreshortened, making the subject appear short and squat. Bird's eye shot is normally used to give an overall establishing shot of a scene, otherwise to give Special importance or significance to the smallness or insignificance of the subjects.

These shots are normally used for battle scenes or establishing the exact location of the subject. It is shot by lifting the camera up by hands or by hanging it off something strong enough to support it. For a scene that needs a large area shot, then it will most often likely to be lifted up by a crane or even in a helicopter. Read the full story

"American shot" is a translation of a phrase from French Film Criticism, "plan américain" and pertains to a medium-long shot of a group of characters, who are arranged so that each and every of them are covered in the frame.

The usual arrangement is for the actors to stand in an irregular line from one side of the screen to the other, with the actors at the end coming forward a little and standing more in profile than the others. The purpose of the composition is to allow complex dialogue scenes to be played out without changing the position of the camera. It is other wise referred to as 3/4 shot.

Aerial shots are done to capture a footage of exterior locations such as large landscapes. These are done with a camera attached to a huge crane or a helicopter.

This type of shots will be very effective to capture a fight scene takes place on the top of a building. Read the full story

Click on individual items for details:
Areial Shot
American Shot
Birds eye Shot
Close up
Crane Shot
Dolly Zoom
Dutch Angle
Establishing shot
Follow shot
Forced perspective
Freeze frame shot
High-angle shot
Long shot
Long take
Low-angle shot
Master shot
Matte
Medium shot
Pan shot
Point of view shot
Reaction shot
Sequence shot
Shot
Shot reverse shot
SnorriCam
Talking head
Tracking shot
Trunk shot
Two Shot
Video frame
Whip pan Read the full story