Dolly Zoom

The Dolly Zoom is a filmmaking technique that creates a dramatic visual effect by adjusting the camera's distance from a subject while simultaneously changing the zoom lens to keep the subject's size constant. As the camera moves closer or farther away, the lens zooms in or out, causing the background to appear to stretch or compress. This creates a surreal, disorienting sense of depth and emotion, often used to convey surprise, realization, or tension. The effect is recognizable in films like "Vertigo" and is valued for its power to visually express psychological states.