A tracking shot is a blanket term used to refer to any camera shot with movement, with "trucking shot" and "dolly shot" being tracking shot variations. Generally, a "dolly shot" refers to a specific variation of tracking shot in which the camera moves forwards or backwards with respect to the subject. 6 The term "trucking shot" is less common but usually specifically refers to a shot in which the camera moves left or right in respect to the subject. 7
A variant of the tracking shot is the onride video, also known as a phantom ride, where the camera films during a ride on a train, an amusement ride (especially a roller coaster) or another vehicle. Such videos may be used to document the route, and the camera may be fixed to the vehicle or held by a person in the vehicle.8
The "rail cam" made a public debut in the NHL on November 20, 2006 in the Colorado Avalanche/Dallas Stars hockey game. The Versus cable television network used the camera during the game to test it out for a live use on a nationally broadcast program. The camera was fastened to a rail system that ran on the top of the glass on one side of the ice rink. As the play shifted from end to end, the motorized mount allowed the camera to follow the action, sliding rapidly down the side of the ice. The system was developed by Fletcher Chicago.9 The experiment was short-lived, and the "rail-cam" is no longer used in NHL hockey games.10
For live TV broadcast of sporting events, a remote stabilized camera head is often mounted on a cable suspended system or a vehicle to track the athletes.
"The Dolly Shot: Creative Uses of Camera Movements, Shots, Angles - By Jason Hellerman". www.cinemagics.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11. https://www.cinemagics.com/amp/the-dolly-shot-creative-uses-of-camera-movements-shots-angles-by-jason-hellerman ↩
Trotter, David (2010-04-28). "Hitchcock's Modernism". Modernist Cultures. 5: 122–123. doi:10.3366/mod.2010.0008. ISSN 2041-1022. https://euppublishing.com/doi/pdf/10.3366/mod.2010.0008?download=true ↩
Blain Brown. Cinematography: Theory and Practice : I:) magemaking for Cinematographers, Directors & Videographers. Focal Press, 2002; pg. 66; ISBN 0240805003. /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩
Mercado, Gustavo. The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition. Focal Press, 2010; pg. 155; ISBN 0240812174. /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩
Dirks, Tim. Film Terms Glossary. "Film Terms Glossary: pan (or panning shot, or panoramic shot)". filmsite.org. https://www.filmsite.org/filmterms15.html ↩
"Dolly Shot". www.mediacollege.com. Retrieved 20 Sep 2023. https://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/dolly.html ↩
"Trucking Shot". www.mediacollege.com. Retrieved 20 Sep 2023. https://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/trucking.html ↩
"BFI Screenonline: Phantom Rides". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-05. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1193042/ ↩
"VERSUS To Debut Rail Cam For Avalanche-Stars Game Monday". NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved 9 July 2015. http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=426645 ↩
Fischer, John (5 November 2010). "Enhancing the Viewer's Hockey Experience with Isolated Cameras on Players". inlouwetrust.com. Vox Media, Inc. Retrieved 9 July 2015. http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2010/11/5/1792294/enhancing-the-viewers-hockey-experience-with-isolated-cameras-on ↩