| Rotation |
Horizontal Pan (Pan) |
Left-right rotation to follow or reveal |
Captivating Image |
| Vertical Pan (Tilt) |
Up-down rotation to reveal scale |
Captivating Image / Stunning Image |
| Axial Rotation (Roll) |
Tilt around the optical axis → vertigo |
Stunning Image |
| Whip Pan |
Very fast pan, energetic transition |
Captivating Image |
| Translation |
Forward Dolly |
Camera advances toward the subject → intensity |
Captivating Image |
| Backward Dolly |
Camera recedes → reveals context |
Captivating Image / Stunning Image |
| Lateral Dolly (Truck/Slide) |
Parallel movement → parallax |
Captivating Image |
| Circular Dolly (Arc/Orbit) |
Circular movement around the subject |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Pedestal Up/Down |
Pure vertical rise/descent |
Captivating Image |
| Crane/Jib/Boom |
Ample movement in space (3D) |
Stunning Image |
| Optics & Combination |
Zoom In/Out |
Focal length change without movement |
Captivating Image |
| Dolly Zoom (Vertigo Effect) |
Dolly + inverse zoom → distortion |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Push-In / Pull-Out |
Fluid approach/withdrawal (dolly, slider) |
Captivating Image |
| Reveal by Movement |
Movement that reveals a key element |
Captivating Image / Stunning Image |
| Stabilization & Carries |
Steadicam / Gimbal |
Fluid shoulder movement |
Captivating Image |
| Handheld |
Handheld camera → realism, urgency |
Captivating Image |
| Slider |
Short ultra-stable translation |
Captivating Image |
| Motion Control |
Robotic repeatable movements (VFX, timelapse) |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Aerial & Drone |
Drone Push/Pull |
Aerial approach/removal |
Stunning Image |
| Drone Orbit |
Aerial circle around the subject |
Stunning Image |
| Top-Down Flyover |
Vertical view from above → graphics |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Rise-Reveal |
Rise from an obstacle then reveal |
Stunning Image |
| Timelapse & Speed |
Timelapse + Slider |
Slow cumulative movement over long duration |
Stunning Image |
| Hyperlapse |
Movement by jumps → speed effect |
Stunning Image |
| Speed Ramping Applied to Moves |
Speed variation in movement |
Captivating Image |
| Virtual & 2.5D |
Ken Burns Effect |
Digital pan/zoom on still image |
Captivating Image |
| 2.5D Parallax |
Layer breakdown → fake movement |
Mise en Abyme |
| Camera Mapping / Projection |
3D reconstruction from still images |
Mise en Abyme / Stunning Image |
| Digital Stabilization / Warp |
Correction or stylization in post-production |
Captivating Image / Stunning Image |
| Tracking & Interaction |
Tracking (Lateral Follow) |
Camera follows subject in parallel |
Captivating Image |
| Lead / Follow |
Camera precedes or follows in axis |
Captivating Image |
| Focal Orbit |
Subject centered during an arc |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Walk-and-Talk |
Continuous movement in dialogue |
Captivating Image |
| Common Combinations |
Tilt-Up Reveal + Forward Dolly |
Rise + approach → visual impact |
Stunning Image |
| Pan + Lateral Dolly |
Spatial description + parallax |
Captivating Image |
| Forward Dolly + Backward Zoom |
Psychological tension (dolly zoom) |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Orbit + Speed Ramp |
Spectacular accent on a point |
Stunning Image |
| Framing & Perspective |
Over-the-Shoulder (OTS) |
View over the shoulder |
Captivating Image |
| Point of View (POV) |
Camera = character's gaze |
Captivating Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Dutch Angle |
Tilted frame → tension |
Captivating Image / Stunning Image |
| Extreme Close-Up (ECU) |
Extreme close-up (eye, drop) |
Captivating Image |
| Extreme Wide Shot (EWS) |
Tiny character in landscape |
Stunning Image |
| Bird’s-Eye View |
Vertical overhead view |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Worm’s-Eye View |
View from the ground upward |
Stunning Image |
| Rack Focus |
Focus shift |
Captivating Image |
| Tilt-Shift |
Miniaturization effect via selective blur |
Mise en Abyme |
| SnorriCam |
Camera fixed on body → background moves |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Mirror Shot |
Subject filmed via mirror |
Mise en Abyme |
| Through-the-Lens (TTL) |
View through object (binoculars, keyhole) |
Captivating Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Silhouette Shot |
Subject in backlight |
Captivating Image / Stunning Image |
| Frame Within a Frame |
Framing through an opening |
Mise en Abyme |
| Freeze Frame |
Image frozen in time |
Captivating Image |
| Bullet Time |
Sequence of fixed cameras in a circle |
Stunning Image |
| First-Person Shooter (FPS) |
Subjective immersion (games, VR) |
Captivating Image |
| Surveillance Shot |
Security camera aesthetic |
Mise en Abyme |
| God’s-Eye Shot |
Omniscient centered view |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Dolly Out Reveal |
Slow recede that reveals dramatic context |
Stunning Image |
| Insert Shot |
Close-up on narrative object |
Captivating Image |
| Establishing Shot |
Wide shot to situate the action |
Captivating Image / Stunning Image |
| Match Cut |
Transition by visual similarity |
Mise en Abyme |
| Reverse Tracking Shot |
Camera recedes as subject advances |
Captivating Image |
| Forced Perspective |
Illusion of size/distance via framing |
Mise en Abyme |
| Anamorphic Lens Flare |
Characteristic horizontal flares |
Stunning Image |
| Lens Distortion Close-Up |
Close-up with wide-angle → deformation |
Stunning Image / Mise en Abyme |
| One-Shot Wonder |
Complex sequence simulated in one shot |
Stunning Image |
| Subjective Blur |
Blur to simulate mental state |
Captivating Image / Mise en Abyme |
| Refraction Shot |
View through distorting material (water, glass) |
Mise en Abyme |
| Montage (Non-Movement) |
Shot/Reverse Shot |
Alternation of opposing angles |
Captivating Image |
| Sequence Shot |
Long shot with integrated movements |
Captivating Image / Stunning Image |
| Moving Matches |
Fluid transitions via direction/speed |
Captivating Image |
| Kuleshov Effect |
Montage of neutral shots to infer emotion/meaning |
Captivating Image / Mise en Abyme |