What's it called · Film & video 14

Dolly zoom

Also called: Vertigo effect, Trombone shot

Camera travel and an opposing zoom keep the subject the same size while changing the background scale to emphasize unease or shock.

Compare with the static shot: the person keeps their size while the doorway and mountains grow.

Often confused with

• Dolly: The camera only moves, so the subject’s size changes too
• Zoom: Only the lens magnifies, so subject and background grow together