Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Levitation Photography

A composite technique creating the appearance of a subject floating, by combining a supported pose with a clean background frame.

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Light Painting

Illuminating a scene, or drawing in the air, with a moving light source during a long exposure.

seconds

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Light Trails

Continuous streaks recorded when a moving light source crosses the frame during a long exposure.

seconds

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Log Profile

A recording curve that stores tonal information logarithmically to preserve maximum dynamic range for grading.

stops

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Long Exposure

An exposure lasting long enough that moving elements record as blur or streaks while static ones stay sharp.

seconds

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Motion Blur

The smearing of a moving subject across the frame during exposure.

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Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Multiple Exposure

Combining two or more exposures onto a single frame, either in camera or during processing.

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Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Optical Image Stabilisation

Stabilisation achieved by moving a lens group to counteract camera shake.

stops

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Overcranking

Running a camera faster than the intended playback rate, the traditional term for capturing slow motion.

fps

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Panning

Following a moving subject with the camera during a relatively long exposure, so the subject stays sharp and the background streaks.

seconds

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Photogrammetry

Deriving three-dimensional measurements and models from a set of overlapping photographs.

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Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Photomicrography

Photography through a microscope, recording subjects at magnifications far beyond macro.

× magnification

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Prism Refraction

Holding a prism, glass or crystal in front of the lens to bend light and introduce reflections, flares and repeated fragments.

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Proxy Media

Low-resolution copies of footage used for editing, replaced by the originals for final rendering.

px

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Rack Focus

Shifting focus from one subject to another during a shot, moving the viewer's attention deliberately.

seconds

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Raw Video

Video recorded as minimally processed sensor data, with white balance, colour and tone left adjustable afterwards.

MB/s

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Reflection Photography

Using reflective surfaces — water, glass, metal, screens — as a compositional device rather than a nuisance.

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Shadow Play

Using cast shadows as the primary graphic element of a photograph.

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Shaped Bokeh

Rendering out-of-focus highlights as a chosen shape by placing a cut-out mask over the lens.

mm (aperture cut-out)

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Shutter Angle

A way of expressing shutter speed relative to frame rate, inherited from the rotating disc shutters of film cameras.

Shutter speed = 1 / (fps × 360/angle) degrees

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Silhouette

An image in which the subject is rendered as a dark shape against a much brighter background.

stops

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Slow Motion

Footage recorded at a higher frame rate than its playback rate, so action appears to unfold more slowly.

Slowdown = capture fps / playback fps ×

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Slow Sync Flash

Combining flash with a shutter speed long enough for ambient light to register, so a sharp subject sits within a blurred environment.

seconds

Motion, Video & Creative Techniques

Star Tracker

A motorised mount that rotates the camera to match the Earth's rotation, allowing long exposures without star trailing.

Sidereal rate = 15.04″/s arcsec/s