Design Atlas
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◧ Film & photo

Tracking shot

트래킹 샷

The camera physically moves alongside the subject, so the subject stays steady in frame while the background streams past.

Also known as: Trucking shotTraveling shotDolly shot
···
html
<div class="road">
  <div class="layer far"></div>
  <div class="layer mid"></div>
  <div class="subject">
    <div class="leg l1"></div>
    <div class="leg l2"></div>
    <div class="body"></div>
  </div>
  <div class="near"></div>
  <div class="rail"><i class="camicon"></i></div>
</div>
css
.road{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden;background:linear-gradient(180deg,#bcd7ea,#e9e6d8 60%)}
.layer{position:absolute;left:0;bottom:22%;width:200%;height:30%;background-repeat:repeat-x}
.far{background-image:repeating-linear-gradient(110deg,#9fb5a3 0 40px,transparent 40px 90px);opacity:.6;
  animation:scrollX 6s linear infinite}
.mid{bottom:20%;height:20%;background-image:repeating-linear-gradient(100deg,#7a9484 0 26px,transparent 26px 60px);
  animation:scrollX 3.2s linear infinite}
@keyframes scrollX{from{transform:translateX(0)}to{transform:translateX(-50%)}}
.near{position:absolute;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;height:22%;background:#565049}
.near::before{content:'';position:absolute;inset:0;
  background:repeating-linear-gradient(90deg,#e8e2c8 0 22px,transparent 22px 60px);
  opacity:.5;animation:scrollX 1s linear infinite}
.subject{position:absolute;left:50%;bottom:22%;width:9%;height:38%;transform:translateX(-50%)}
.subject .body{position:absolute;left:20%;top:0;width:60%;height:70%;border-radius:40% 40% 20% 20%;background:#2b2f45}
.subject .leg{position:absolute;bottom:0;left:30%;width:16%;height:34%;background:#2b2f45;transform-origin:top center}
.subject .l2{left:54%}
.subject .l1{animation:swing .5s ease-in-out infinite alternate}
.subject .l2{animation:swing .5s ease-in-out infinite alternate-reverse}
@keyframes swing{from{transform:rotate(-18deg)}to{transform:rotate(18deg)}}
.rail{position:absolute;left:8%;right:8%;bottom:5%;height:2px;background:rgba(0,0,0,.35)}
.camicon{position:absolute;top:50%;width:5%;aspect-ratio:1.4;background:#111;border-radius:2px;
  transform:translate(-50%,-50%);animation:dolly 3s ease-in-out infinite alternate}
@keyframes dolly{from{left:0%}to{left:100%}}

Mount the camera on a dolly, Steadicam, or gimbal and move it alongside the subject — a walking person, a moving car — at matching speed. Unlike a pan, where the camera just rotates in place to follow, a tracking shot physically relocates the camera itself.

The result: the subject stays roughly fixed in the frame while the background streams sideways at the speed the camera is covering ground. That streaming background is what sells "we are in motion" — it gives walking, running, and driving scenes their rhythm and sense of accompanying the subject.

It's also called a "dolly shot" from the traditional rail-mounted rig, though these days it's just as often a Steadicam or gimbal operator walking alongside. Uneven ground introduces shake, so stabilization gear is essential to keep the frame smooth.

When to use

Use it for a character walking-and-talking, or a car chase where you want to feel like you're riding along. It costs more in gear and setup than a static shot.