Unlike in comics or still photos, some visual media let you move the camera during a single shot. This can be done either by actually moving the camera itself or by changing the lenses to shrink or enlarge the image.

CAMERA MOVEMENT

In a zoom, the camera changes magnification so that the image seems closer or further away.

Why might the director or cinematographer have chosen to zoom in on the woman at the end of this scene?

In a pan, the camera swivels left or right. How does the pan in this scene emphasize what the woman is feeling?

If the camera moves, it’s called a dolly shot. A dolly shot that follows a character is called a tracking shot. Why might the director or cinematographer have chosen to track the man in the hat as he walks to the woman’s front door and then goes into her house?

In a tilt, the swivels up or down. How does the tilt in this scene create tension? How does it strengthen the effect of the high angle shot?

Combining techniques

As we saw in the last shot, media makers often combine camera distance, angle and movement to achieve a particular effect.

Take a look at this shot, which is from near the beginning of the movie. What techniques are used here? How do they help to tell the story or affect how we feel about what’s happening?