ABSTRACT
In a crane shot, the camera is mounted on a support that can be an actual crane, a jib arm, a cherry picker, a drone, or any other device that will allow the camera to be moved vertically, from just a few feet off the ground all the way up to over a hundred feet in height. One of the most common uses of a crane shot is to gradually reveal the full extent of a location, showing details as the camera’s vantage point is raised. In addition to underlining the narrative importance of key locations or characters when they are introduced, crane shots can enhance the emotional intensity of a moment within a scene. Choosing a focal length for a crane shot should take into consideration the angle of view needed at every point of the camera move, the axis of motion within the composition that needs to be enhanced, and the narrative point being made, among other factors.
