home → Composition Techniques → Leading LinesSearch for:Search Button— Film —Leading LinesFamiliarize yourself with leading lines, starting with what they mean, how to use them, and some of their greatest examples.VideoExamplesArticleLeading lines definitionWhat are the leading lines?When talking about frame composition in film or photography, there is much discussion of “lines,” which are what guide a viewer’s eye in the frame. Leading lines are one technique filmmakers use to get the audience focus on what they want them to focus on. Leading lines intentionally set up lines within the frame - anything from roads to rivers to hallways — to guide the…
home → Composition Techniques → Negative SpaceSearch for:Search Button— The —Negative Space ShotFamiliarize yourself with the definition of negative space, starting with what it means, how to use it, and some of its greatest examples.VideoExamplesArticleNegative space definitionWhat is negative space?Every shot contains two types of space: Positive and negative. You’ve seen negative space thousands of times in your life, but you probably never knew what it was. Negative space is pretty easy to understand. All it is is the empty space around the main subject in a shot, while positive space is that main subject or the focal point.To learn more, check…
home → Composition Techniques → ForegroundSearch for:Search Button— The —Foreground ShotLearn what foreground framing means and how to use it, and check out some examples.VideoExamplesArticleForeground definitionWhat is the foreground?Every frame in a film has a foreground and background. The foreground is the plane that appears closest to the camera. It most often includes the main subjects of the shot, but not always. It’s up to a filmmaker’s artistic license what to put in the foreground versus the background.Check out our full guide to the foreground, with examples and breakdowns.Image foregroundForeground examplesIt’s helpful to see the foreground in action before exploring how it operates…
home → Composition Techniques → Rule of ThirdsSearch for:Search Button— The —Rule of ThirdsFamiliarize yourself with the rule of thirds, starting with what it means, how to use it, and some of its greatest examples.VideoExamplesArticleRule of thirds definitionWhat is the rule of thirds?The rule of thirds is a common way that filmmakers consider the composition of a frame when creating their shots. In the rule of thirds, you divide the frame into nine squares on a grid, using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Then, you place the subject of your shot at the intersection of those lines. The idea is that…
home → Camera Movements → Snorricam ShotSearch for:Search Button— The —Snorricam ShotFamiliarize yourself with the Snorricam Shot, starting with what it means, how to use it, and some of its greatest examples.VideoExamplesArticleSnorricam Shot definitionWhat is a Snorricam Shot?A snorricam shot is a filming technique where the camera is actually mounted directly to the actor, usually on their torso. The resulting shot shows the actor’s face in the frame, and allows the camera to move with them as they move through a scene. The audience is directed to focus on the actor’s face, but can also perceive the background of whatever they’re physically…
home → Camera Movements → Drone ShotSearch for:Search Button— The —Drone ShotFamiliarize yourself with the Drone Shot, starting with what it means, how to use it, and some of its greatest examples.VideoExamplesArticleDrone Shot definitionWhat is a Drone Shot?A drone shot is captured using a drone equipped with a camera. Most often, filmmakers use drone shots for sweeping aerial footage, or to film hard-to-reach places. This is why drone shots are commonly used in nature documentaries, where filming an area may prove too dangerous for manned cameras. In narrative film, drone shots are often used to showcase vast landscapes or follow movement at…
home → Camera Movements → Crane Shot Search for:Search Button — The — Crane Shot Familiarize yourself with crane camera shots in movies, starting with what it means, how to use it, and some of its greatest examples. Video Examples Article Crane shot definition What is a Crane Shot? What is the definition of a crane shot? Crane shots - sometimes called boom crane shots or jib crane shots - are a type of shot in which the camera is mounted on a crane or jib, either to move smoothly up and down, or side to side. A crane shot in…
home → Camera Movements → Boom ShotSearch for:Search Button— The —Boom ShotA boom shot is a common shot in a cinematographer's toolbox, and has been used to create some of film's most iconic moments.VideoExamplesArticleBoom shot definitionWhat is a boom shot?A boom camera shot, sometimes called a jib shot or crane shot, involves physically lowering or lifting the camera. This can be done using a boom arm, crane, or a jib, allowing the camera movement to be smooth as it follows the action. Boom shot camera movement has the effect of gliding seamlessly, without the frame shaking as the camera goes up or…
home → Camera Movements → Arc ShotSearch for:Search Button— The —Arc ShotGet to know the ins and outs of the arc shot, its definition, how to apply it in the field, and some of its most accomplished examples in cinema.VideoExamplesArticleARC SHOT DEFINITIONWhat is an Arc Shot?The arc shot (also sometimes referred to as the 360 shot), is a type of camera movement where the camera orbits around a subject while keeping the shot focused on that subject. Typically, the subject, or subjects, stay grounded in one fixed position as the camera circles, or even just semi-circles around them. The camera usually orbits…
home → Camera Movements → Trucking ShotSearch for:Search Button— The —Trucking ShotFamiliarize yourself with all you need to know about the trucking shot, starting with its exact meaning, how to use it in a scene, and some noteworthy examples.VideoExamplesArticleTRUCKING SHOT DEFINITIONWhat is a Trucking Shot?A trucking shot in filmmaking refers to a type of camera motion where the camera moves laterally, left or right, along with the subject it’s capturing. This technique is most typically achieved by mounting the camera on a dolly or specialized vehicle to move seamlessly through physical space with the subject. Meanings & PurposeTrucking Shot ExamplesThere are many…
