Moving Image Arts Glossary

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Lens
The "angle of view" of the lens is also important.

Lens - Telephoto lens
Like using a telescope, a telephoto lens seems to bring the subject closer and make the perspective flatter.

Lens - Wide-angle Lens
This seems to make perspective more obvious. It's often used to make the viewer feel that they are close to the action. Wide-angle close-ups make the nose look bigger and the ears smaller, so the person looks odd.

Lens - Zoom lens
A zoom lens can go from wide angle to telephoto (or the other way) making the subject get bigger and smaller without moving the camera.

Note the difference in "feel" between zooming in on a subject, and moving the camera towards them. They both achieve a similar effect in that the subject becomes larger in frame, but moving the camera changes the viewer's perspective as well. Try filming a person two ways, once zooming in, and once moving the camera towards them, and compare the results.

Lighting and colour - Backlighting
A halo effect is produced shadows and dramatic contrasts.

Lighting and colour - Black and White or Sepia
Some camcorders and most editing systems can turn pictures black and white or sepia, it can indicate a scene that's in the past or in a character's imagination.

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

Lighting and colour - High key Lighting
This involves bright flat lighting.

Lighting and colour - Lighting From below
this can make a subject appear threatening or horrific.

Lighting and colour - Low key Lighting
Use this to produce strong shadows and dramatic contrasts.

Lighting From below
this can make a subject appear threatening or horrific.

Long shot/Wide shot
Here, people appear small in the landscape. This is often used at the start of a film as an "establishing shot" so that the audience knows where everything is happening. It can also be used to make a person look small or isolated.

Low key Lighting
Use this to produce strong shadows and dramatic contrasts.