Shot Size Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Extreme wide shot (EWS) | Shows a vast setting; people appear small. |
| Wide shot (WS) | Shows the full subject and surroundings. |
| Medium shot (MS) | Frames a person roughly from the waist up. |
| Medium close-up (MCU) | From the chest up; common for interviews. |
| Close-up (CU) | The face fills most of the frame. |
| Extreme close-up (ECU) | A detail such as eyes or hands. |
| Two-shot | Two subjects in one frame. |
| Over-the-shoulder (OTS) | Framed from behind one character towards another. |
| Clean single / dirty single | One person alone, or with part of another person in the foreground. |
| Insert | A close shot of an object or action cut into a scene. |
Camera Angle Terms
- Eye level: camera at the subject's eye height; feels neutral.
- High angle: looking down; can make a subject seem vulnerable.
- Low angle: looking up; can make a subject seem powerful.
- Dutch angle: tilted horizon to suggest unease.
- Bird's-eye view: directly overhead.
- Point of view (POV): what a character sees.
- Eyeline: the direction a character looks, which must match across shots.
Lens and Exposure Terms
- Focal length: how wide or narrow a lens sees, in millimetres.
- Prime / zoom: fixed focal length versus variable.
- T-stop: a measure of actual light transmission, used on cinema lenses instead of f-stops.
- Depth of field: the range of distance that appears sharp.
- Bokeh: the quality of out-of-focus areas.
- Rack focus / pull focus: shifting focus from one subject to another during a shot.
- ND filter: reduces light without changing colour.
- Dynamic range: the span from darkest to brightest detail a camera records.
- Latitude: how much over- or under-exposure footage can tolerate.
- False colour: a monitoring tool that shows exposure levels as colours.
Lighting Terms
Key light
The main light on the subject.
Fill light
Softens shadows created by the key.
Back light
Separates the subject from the background.
Practical
A visible light source in frame, such as a lamp.
- Negative fill: black material used to deepen shadows.
- Bounce: light reflected off a surface to soften it.
- Diffusion: material that scatters light for softness.
- Flag: a panel that blocks light from part of the scene.
- Contrast ratio: the brightness difference between key and fill sides.
- High key / low key: bright and even versus dark and contrasty.
Lighting a glowing screen on a face is a classic test of these terms; see our guide to the screen light effect.
Camera Movement Terms
- Pan / tilt: horizontal or vertical rotation on a fixed point.
- Dolly / track: the camera physically moves on wheels or rails.
- Truck: sideways movement parallel to the subject.
- Pedestal: raising or lowering the camera vertically.
- Crane / jib: sweeping vertical and horizontal moves on an arm.
- Steadicam / gimbal: stabilised handheld movement.
- Handheld: operator-held camera for an immediate feel.
- Oner: a scene filmed in a single continuous take.
Crew and Set Vocabulary
- DOP: director of photography
- 1st AC: focus puller
- 2nd AC: clapper loader
- Gaffer: head of lighting
- Key grip: head of rigging and support
- DIT: manages data and on-set colour
- Coverage: all angles needed for a scene
- Martini shot: the last shot of the day
Terms like these appear throughout the movie making process and in studio work described in our guide to video studio production.
Hearing These Terms on a Real Set
Glossaries help, but terms stick when you hear them in use. Spending time with a cinema crew house in India is the quickest way to learn. A film-literate creative agency in India may let trainees shadow shoots. Working with any camera-department-led studio also reveals how terms translate into decisions. In Karnataka, a Bengaluru cinematography crew can offer similar exposure, and serious learners may aim for sets run by one of the leading cinema-grade studios in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are basic cinematography terms?
Shot sizes, camera angles, focal length, depth of field, key and fill light, and movements like pan, tilt, and dolly are the basics.
What is the difference between a pan and a dolly?
A pan rotates the camera on a fixed point, while a dolly moves the whole camera through space.
What does DOP mean?
Director of photography, the head of the camera and lighting departments.
What is a T-stop?
A measurement of how much light a lens actually transmits, used mainly on cinema lenses.
What is coverage in filmmaking?
All the shots and angles filmed for a scene so the editor has enough material.
Speak the Language of the Set
Learning cinematography terms makes you faster, clearer, and more confident on set. Keep this glossary handy, and use the words on your next shoot. If your brand needs an experienced camera team, enquire about our cinematography crew.
Ready to plan your next video?
Tell us about your project, timeline, and goals, and the Editatease team will suggest the right approach.
Contact Editatease