Camera movements like panning, tilting, tracking, and zooming are used in filmmaking to convey meaning. Panning involves horizontal camera movement, tilting involves vertical movement, tracking follows moving subjects forward or backward using a dolly or hand-held camera, and zooming creates the illusion of movement by enlarging or reducing the scene through lens adjustments rather than physical camera movement. These techniques are used to survey scenes, follow action, or alter mood by changing visual focus.

1. Camera Movement
The Semantics of Film-Making: Part IVThe Semantics of Film-Making: Part IV

2. Camera Moves
 Panning: Horizontal movement
 Tracking a moving subject, or surveying a scene (usually using a camera on a tripod).
 Tilting: Vertical Movement
 Looking the subject up and down (usually using a camera on a tripod).
 Tracking: Forward or Backward Movement
 Travelling toward, away from, or around the action/object; or Keeping up with the action
using a dolly (camera on a track) or a hand-held camera (allowing natural jolting to occur).
 Zooming: Enlarging or Reducing Movement
 Not really a camera movement because to zoom the camera is still, but an illusion of
movement is created through a lens effect. Changes what is foregrounded or backgrounded
in a shot, to alter the mood of a scene, or bring the audience’s attention to something in
particular.