What is the technique of moving the camera in an arc around the main subject called?

The technique of moving the camera in an arc around the main subject is known as an arc shot. This technique involves positioning the camera on a curved path that allows it to capture dynamic angles of the subject, offering a more immersive and engaging perspective. The arc motion can enhance the emotional impact of a scene and emphasizes the action or the subject being filmed by providing a sense of movement and spatial awareness within the environment.

While panning refers to moving the camera horizontally along a fixed vertical axis, which does not involve a curved path, and dollying typically involves moving the camera closer to or further away from the subject along a straight line, an arc specifically entails the circular or semi-circular movement that captures multiple aspects of a subject in relation to its surroundings. Tracking, on the other hand, focuses on following a subject moving through space without the curved trajectory that defines an arc shot.