Do you like those shots in movies that appear to be taken from a drone or a helicopter? There's something instantly cinematic about a scene where the camera is panning through a wide landscape. You get to experience the world like a bird, as if you are flying, and that, in and of itself, is very magical. This type of shot is called an aerial shot, and as filmmaking evolved, it became a staple of the modern approach to telling stories on the screen.
You can see them in different types of content. But what makes an aerial shot different from a simple high-angle view? Let's begin our understanding of this technique by defining it.
The Definition of an Aerial Shot
Definition
An aerial shot is a specific type of wide shot that features low angles and high altitudes. The view is usually captured using drones, helicopters, high cranes, or by recording the scene from the top of some of the largest skyscrapers in the world.
Regardless of the method, you need to position the camera lens hundreds of feet up in the air to give viewers the lay of the land. It gives context to the story by showing the grand scale, and it is often used as an opening shot, a transition shot, or for dramatic reveals, evoking feelings of pure awe.
The Most Important Visual Traits of Aerial Shots
Epic Scale & Context
Aerial cinematography showcases massive landscapes, cityscapes, huge battlefields, outer space, fantastical lands, and so much more. It's the perfect way to reveal how small a subject is within their world or how vast the setting truly is, giving the audience a more immersive experience.
Dynamic Movement
Aerial shots can feature a camera orbiting around a castle or tracking a car across a canyon, or showing a character climbing a large mountain, or a boat stranded in the middle of the sea. Whatever the case, you will always see smooth, cinematic motion, setting the pace for the unfolding narrative.
Atmospheric Lighting
With aerial shots, you need to consider how natural light affects the scene. Golden hour light will add shadows and textures to the terrain, while the hot sun in the middle of the day can make landscapes look flat and washed out, and you might even capture the natural Fata Morgana (mirage) effect.
Aerial Shot vs. Establishing Shot
Although many aerial shots can serve as establishing shots, not all establishing shots are aerial. What this means is that traditional establishing shots might show a building or street at eye level or with a high-angle shot. Aerials go a step further, capturing high-altitude views to emphasize the geographical location where the sequence is happening.
Parameters
Aerial Shot
Traditional Establishing
Altitude
High (drone/helicopter)
Ground-level or moderate
Motion
Frequently moving
Static or slow pan
Use Case
Scale, geography, travel
Location introduction
5 Memorable Aerial Shots in Cinema
Some of the most memorable scenes from movies are captured using aerial shots. Let's see some film examples.
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) – Location Transition Shot
This is a neat example of how you can use aerial shots to show a transition from one location to another. In the movie, the scene begins with two characters entering a train-like vehicle, and then, the camera zooms out of the street view and starts flying through England.
2. The Shining (1980) – Intro Sequence
The entire intro sequence from the very beginning of the movie consists of several stunning aerial shots. Paired with very tense music, it sets the tone. In this particular example, we see how an aerial shot can be used to track a car moving through the world, small and isolated.
3. The Dark Knight (2008) – Batman Falling with Style
This thrilling action movie is considered one of the best superhero movies of all time. It features a prime example of how an aerial shot can be used in action sequences. Paired with pumping orchestral music, this scene builds tension and is packed with adrenaline.
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – Introducing Rivendell
The Lord of the Rings trilogy features all kinds of breathtaking, beautiful aerial shots that feature a mixture of real footage and CGI. These types of shots in epic movies usually serve as establishing shots, and here, we are introduced to the city of Rivendell for the first time.
5. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – The Sandstorm Pursuit
In this action-packed movie, the camera is usually grounded, following action happening on the ground, but when it goes up to show the scale of the barren wasteland and how small these vehicles are from that perspective, you get to understand the bigger picture.
When and Where to Use Aerial Shots
Aerial shots can be used effectively to establish location and context, show scale and grandeur, convey freedom or exploration, follow actions, create visual transitions, and more. Let's see some applications of Aerial Shots.
Genre-Based Uses
Adventure & Travel – Epic Landscapes
Can you even imagine a travel sequence, clip, or an adventure epic without an aerial shot? It's perfect for showing anything from tropical beaches to alpine peaks. With the advancement of drones, you can fly over the scene like a bird and control the camera motion with perfect precision. This leads to cinematic shots and immersed audiences.
War Films – Battlefield Geography
In war epics, strategy is very important, and aerial shots are essential to demonstrating tactical positions, troop movements, incoming threats, and showing how small a soldier is compared to the entire battlefield. These shots are multi-purpose here because they give the audience more clarity, but you can also add tension at the same time.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi – World-Building Vista
If the scene involves a castle in the clouds, a planet-wide metropolis, or an alien planet, or if you are working on a story that is not happening in the real world, you need an aerial shot to build that world and help the audience understand what it feels like to live there. The aerial shot gives them a wide perspective, just like in LOTR, Star Wars, or Blade Runner.
Combining Aerial Shots with Other Techniques
Orbit + Tilt-Down Reveal
Start the sequence by circling around the subject from above, then tilt the camera downward for a dramatic top-down look. This technique is excellent for revealing anything from ancient locations to party scenes.
Rocket-Up to Match Cut Drone-Drop
Shoot upward into the sky and match cut to a descending aerial drone shot. When you have a moment in the story when you need to jump from one location to another, you can do that with flair.
Hyperlapse Aerial
Shoot an aerial scene with a low frame rate and then speed it up to get a long aerial shot that goes across cityscapes. You will get an awesome time-lapse effect with motion. It's great for showing travel or the passage of time.
Artistic Considerations for Aerial Shots
Choose the Motion Type for Emotion
If you want serenity, use a slow, gliding shot. Are you looking to create a shot with more energy or chaos? If so, add quick whip-pans or orbiting moves to convey a sense of excitement or danger.
Golden Hour Textures
Avoid that harsh overhead light at noon. Instead, shoot aerials as the sun rises or sets to capture soft shadows and warm hues, and get that perfect atmosphere you think about when you imagine an aerial shot.
Narrative Purpose over Spectacle
You should not use an aerial shot simply because it looks cool. Always ask this question: Does this shot reveal something new? Is it good for this story beat? If not, it may weaken the pacing or focus of your story.
Common Aerial Shot Mistakes and Fixes
Excessive aerial shots cause visual fatigue
Strong winds blew while you were shooting with your drone, making the footage shaky and jittery.
How to avoid
Always consider the full weather forecast before shooting outside, but if the damage is done, you can use AI stabilization features or add motion blur to make it look better.
Drone footage is shaky due to strong winds
Your story has so many aerial shots that every single one from the fifth one onward is causing visual fatigue.
How to avoid
Reserve aerials for transitions, reveals, or major emotional beats to preserve their power. The shot should serve the story, and not the other way around.
Conclusion
We have learned a lot about a visually stunning filmmaking technique, and you are probably ready to tackle it yourself. If you are going to manage all the Aerial shots, try to use Wondershare Filmora to edit,stabilize, color grade, add effects, and convert raw aerial footage into stunning, cinematic sequences.
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