Key Vocabulary for “The Perfect Shot”

  1. Aspect ratio: the proportions of the frame. For starters you have 4:3 for a standard definition or full frame, and 16:9 for a high definition or wide screen frame.
  2. Field of view:the area in the eyepiece or view finder of a camera in which the image is visible
  3. Composition:means 'putting together,' and can apply to any work of art, from music to writing, that is arranged or put together using conscious thought. In the visual arts, composition is often used interchangeably with various terms such as design, form, visual ordering, or formal structure, depending on the context.
  4. Continuity:The seamlessness of detail from one shot to another within a scene. Continuity refers particularly to the physical elements, rather than to the choices in coverage that can result in a lack of seamlessness.
  5. Depth of field:while a lens focuses on a single plane of depth, there is usually an additional area in focus behind and in front of that plane. This is depth of field. Depth of field increases as the iris is closed. There is more depth of field the wider the lens and less the longer the lens. There is a deeper area in focus the further away a lens is focused than there is when a lens is focused close.
  6. Hand held:shooting without a tripod, but with the camera held by the cameraperson.
  7. Tripod: a piece of video equipment with 3 adjustable legs used to mount your camera to that can ensure you steady shot or a smooth pan.
  8. Dolly: a piece of equipment on wheels or a track that your camera mounts to which allows you to move while filming in a smooth and steady manner. Also, called a tracking shot.
  9. Rule of thirds: a general composition rule in visual arts. The rule states that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections.
  10. Balance: a general composition rule where you try to create a framed shot that is balanced equally amongst all parts. This would include leaving space to at text or symbols later in post production.
  11. Headroom:the space between the top of a subject’s head and the top of the frame.
  12. Noseroom: when a subject is in profile, nose room is the space between their face and the edge of the frame, similar to head room. In a profile shot, nose room is considered “good” when a little extra room in front of the person’s face, rather than behind their head
  13. Leadroom: subject placement where you leave room in front of your subject when you frame your shot. This is usually used when there is a moving subject like a car driving or a player in an athletic event.
  14. Zoom lens: a variable focal length lens. A zoom lens will have a third ring, besides ones controlling focus and iris, that will allow you to change the focal length within a range of wide to long