Moving Image Arts Glossary

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Camera Movements - Arc
The camera moves in an arc around the subject.

Camera Movements - Crane shot
This is a shot where the camera itself moves up or down.

Camera Movements - Hand-held Shot
This is used to convey a sense of immediacy.

Camera Movements - Pan
The camera is turned to the side to go across a scene or to follow a moving subject.

Camera Movements - Tilt
The camera tilts vertically up or down.

Camera Movements - Track
This means moving the camera itself towards or away from the subject or to follow a moving subject. It is not to be confused with a zoom, where the camera's lens is varied to give the impression of moving closer to, or away from, the subject.

Camera Movements - Whip pan
This is a sudden, fast pan.

Close-up
This includes head and shoulders only, so you can easily see the expression on the face.

Colour lighting
Cold or blueish lighting can convey a sense of alienation or technology, while warm or yellowish lighting can convey comfort, sunset and so on.

Crane shot
This is a shot where the camera itself moves up or down.

Cross dissolve
Editing transition where one image dissolves into another. Sometimes this is used to build up a relaxed atmosphere, or to show that we've moved on in time or space.

Cut
Editing transition where one image is suddenly replaced by another. The vast majority of editing involves cutting between one shot and another. Other more involving transitions, like those mentioned below, are best used between scenes.