Static Shot (static camera)

A shot with no camera movement at all; the fixed camera remains motionless. In most cases, the camera is mounted on a tripod (or a similar support). Long static shots help the viewers to notice subtle changes of the mise en scène. Depending on the context, static shots can variously convey calmness and contemplation, or a feeling of being secure, fixed, or trapped. The frequent use of static shots can become part of a director’s signature style (i.e. directors Jim Jarmusch and Peter Greenaway).