Capturing Clouds: A Lexicon for Drone Filmmaking Enthusiasts
Embarking on a cinematic journey entails more than just a good story; it's about harnessing the right tools to tell that story in a compelling way. Drones have emerged as a quintessential tool for modern filmmakers, offering a unique perspective from the skies. We, based in Atlanta but with wings flying across the globe, are thrilled to share this rough glossary of drone videography terms. Whether you're a seasoned filmmaker or a budding drone enthusiast, this glossary might help you with the lingo needed to navigate the aerial realm of cinematography.
Aerial Shot: A shot taken from an airborne drone, providing a bird’s-eye view or high-angle perspective of the subject matter.
Airspace (Controlled/Uncontrolled): Controlled airspace has defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided, whereas uncontrolled airspace is where air traffic control service is not deemed necessary or cannot be provided.
Aspect Ratio: The proportional relationship between the width and height of the video image.
Bokeh: A Japanese term referring to the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image.
Cinematic Drone: Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and advanced stabilization systems, capable of capturing professional-quality video and still images for cinematic purposes.
Crane Shot: A crane shot moves vertically up or down, often used to reveal a setting or a scene.
Depth of Field (DoF): The distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that are in acceptably sharp focus in an image.
DJI Phantom 4 RTK: A drone model known for its compact size and high-precision mapping capabilities, with a 20MP CMOS sensor and RTK module.
Dolly Shot: Moving the drone forward or backward while keeping the camera focused on the subject.
Drone Reel: A compilation of aerial footage showcasing a drone pilot’s or drone team’s skills and previous work.
Drone Spotting: The act of finding and choosing locations suitable for drone filming.
Drone Team: The group of individuals involved in the drone operations on set, typically consisting of the drone pilot, camera operator, and sometimes a visual observer to ensure safe operations.
FPV (First Person View): A method used to control a UAV from the pilot's viewpoint, as if they were on board the UAV.
Follow Focus: A technique where the focus is shifted during a shot, usually to follow action or shift attention from one subject to another.
Geo-fencing: A feature in drones that uses the GPS or GNSS to create a virtual boundary, preventing the drone from flying into restricted areas.
Gimbal: A pivoted support that allows the rotation of an object (in this case, the camera) about a single axis, used to stabilize cameras.
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System): A system that encompasses all global satellite positioning systems including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and others.
Headroom: The space between the top of the subject’s head and the top of the frame.
Hot Swap: A feature that allows for changing the drone’s battery without powering down the system.
Inspire 2 (DJI): A drone model favored for professional aerial cinematography and photography, capable of shooting in 6K CinemaDNG and 5.2K Apple ProRes.
Jib Shot: A type of camera shot where the camera moves up or down along a vertical axis.
Landing Pad: A designated surface where the drone takes off and lands.
Lead Room: The space in front of a moving subject, within the frame.
LOS (Line Of Sight): The requirement that the drone remain visible to the pilot or observer at all times during flight.
Low-Flying Shot: Drone flies at a low altitude to capture a subject or scenery, offering a unique angle similar to traditional ground-based cameras.
LUT (Look-Up Table): A mathematical formula that modifies the color of an image.
Mavic 2 Pro (DJI): A portable drone model with a Hasselblad L1D-20c camera, capable of capturing 20-megapixel aerial shots with color accuracy.
Moiré Effect: An unwanted pattern that occurs when a scene or object being photographed contains repetitive details.
NFZ (No-Fly Zone): Areas where drone operations are prohibited or restricted due to security or privacy concerns.
Orbit Shot: The drone circles around a subject while keeping the camera focused on it.
P.I.C. (Pilot In Command): The individual responsible for the operation and safety of the UAS during flight.
Pan Shot: The camera moves horizontally left or right while the drone remains in the same position.
Part 107 Certification: A certification issued by the FAA to drone pilots, allowing them to operate drones for commercial purposes.
Payload: The carrying capacity of a drone, including the weight of the camera and any other equipment.
Pulling Focus: The act of changing the focus during a shot to direct the audience’s attention.
Rack Focus: A dramatic change in focus from one object to another in the same shot.
Reveal Shot: The camera moves from a hidden position to reveal the landscape or subject.
RTK (Real-Time Kinematic): A GPS correction technology technique that provides real-time corrections to location data.
Rule of Thirds: A guideline for composing visual images, the frame is divided into nine equal parts, and elements of interest are placed along these lines or their intersections.
Shot List: A document that maps out what will be filmed during a given shoot.
Storyboards: Graphic organizers such as a series of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for pre-visualizing a video or interactive media sequence.
Takeoff Weight: The total weight of the drone and its payload at takeoff.
Tilt Shot: A shot where the drone remains stationary while the camera tilts up or down.
Top-Down Shot: The camera points directly downwards from the sky capturing a bird’s eye view of the scene below.
Tracking Shot: A shot where the drone follows a subject, moving along with it to keep it in frame.
UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System): The official term used by the FAA to refer to drones and their control systems.
UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle): This term refers solely to the drone itself, excluding the control systems and communications links.
Vignetting: A reduction of an image’s brightness or saturation at the periphery compared to the image center.
Waypoint Navigation: A type of navigation where the drone follows a pre-programmed path marked by waypoints.
Wrap (Slang): In film and drone videography, "wrap" is a term used to signify the end of shooting, either for the day or for the entire project.
Here’s a glossary of just a few words of note. Let us know if we should add some!
Based in Atlanta and we travel globally, we are excited about what drones bring to the table.
Let’s bring your vision to the sky! Contact us for a free consultation, and let’s explore how our drone services can elevate your next project.