The Filmmaker's Eye

tracking shot

In a tracking shot, the camera is moved to follow the movement of a subject along side it, in front of it (also called a reverse tracking shot, a Kubrick favorite), or behind it; because of this, the movement in tracking shots is said to be motivated. People often confuse tracking shots with dolly shots, but they are easy to tell apart, since in dolly shots the camera is moved independently of a subject (an unmotivated type of camera move), dollying towards or away from it, instead of tracking with a moving subject. Tracking shots can be accomplished by placing the camera on a dolly with wheels, or on tracks, with a Steadicam, inside a vehicle, or even handheld, depending on the amount and speed of the subject’s movement. Although ...