Unit 22 – Shot Type and Camera Angles

Extreme Close Up

Focuses on one aspect of someone's face. This could be used in a film to show an intense moment, or to show one aspect of an item. These shots aren’t used very often in filming, but when they are they cause a big effect. Many emotions can be displayed using this shot.

Close UpA shot of a person that goes from the shoulders to the top of the head. This shot is used to show the emotions in close detail. It emphasises a character’s emotional state because you can clearly see the reaction of the character and their facial expression. This is more effective than an extreme close up because it shows more of a character’s emotional state.

Medium Close UpA shot from a person’s chest to the top of their head. This shot is used to show a character’s emotional state without getting too close to the person. It is a slightly more comfortable and less intense shot than a close up because there is more space around the character’s face, so you can see what’s going on around them more.

Mid ShotA shot that shows a character from the waist upwards. This type of shot allows us to see a character’s body language as well as their emotions. For example, you can see hand gestures with this shot, whereas you wouldn’t with a medium close up. It just cats a meaningful impression because you can see the situation as well as just the character. This is used a lot when two characters are conversing.

Wide ShotThis is also known as a long shot. This shot contains the whole character, and there can also be space above and blow the character. This is known as the ‘Comfort Zone’. The character is free to take up as much space as looks comfortable. This shot wouldn’t look comfortable if the top of her head was just touching the top of the frame.

Over the Shoulder ShotThis shot is where you look over one character’s shoulder so that you can see another character. This shot is usually used in a shot-reverse-shot sequence. This would be for two characters having a conversation. However this would require the use of rule of thirds, which this image is not using.

Two ShotThis shot is usually two characters at a size similar to mid shot. It is commonly a close up too, but this image is a mixture of both. One character is a close up and the other is a medium close up. This shot is usually used to cast a dramatic view on a duo of characters. For example, two gangsters walk into a strip club, and a shot like this would be used to emphasise their entry.

Point of View Shot

Shows a shot from a character’s perspective. This helps the audience see the world through their eyes and empathise with them, and understand any emotions that they wouldn’t usually pick up. It just helps the audience see the world though a character’s eyes.

Extreme Long ShotA shot that contains a character or situation, but is still really far away. You’d probably still be able to hear their voices, but you don’t get a good look at what emotions are being displayed because the camera is too far away to pick it up. These shots can be used just after an establishing shot to set up a tense situation.

Establishing Shot

Doesn’t show any characters or situations, just sets up the location for the events that are abut to unfold. These are used at the beginning of pretty much every film/TV program to set up the scene.

Worms Eye View

This is an angle that is from the floor, looking up at a character or thing. The camera is as low to the ground as possible, and angled almost straight up, so that you get the impression that you’re a worm sticking your head up out of the ground. You see it from a worms perspective.

Low AngleA low angle shot is at about 4 o’clock. It is looking up at the character or thing. This is used to often give the effect that the character is dominant, you are looking up at the character, and they are more intimidating because they have the high ground and are looking down on you.

Ground Shot This is a shot that is taken from the floor. You just put the camera on the floor and take a shot. This is commonly used in western films, when cowboys turn up and there are ground shots of their boots as they enter a tavern or dismount their horses. It is usually a shot that is used to capture feet.

Eye Level A natural level for your eyes to look at. This is the angle that we generally look at people with. So it is more natural to see it in films and programs. This is generally used as a shot for character interaction, but only characters that would be on good terms, because you would use more dramatic shots like close ups and high and low angles to show unsettled tension in characters that didn’t get along.

High AngleThis angle is used to make people look small. The camera is held at about 2 o’clock, and gives the impression that a person or thing is insignificant due to its size. This is used to cast an intimidated feel in certain situations, you could also paint the persona as scared if you use this angle.

Birds Eye View

This is a view that looks directly down from a high up place. This is used to create a feeling of height, and to sometimes follow cars around cities in films. Using this angle makes everything below it seem very small. So it could be used as an establishing shot.