The document defines and provides examples of different types of camera shots including aerial shots, extreme wide shots, close-up shots, and point-of-view shots. It explains how each shot frames the subject and its purpose, such as establishing the environment or showing facial expressions. Examples are given from the film The Shinning to illustrate how different shots are used to convey meaning and further the narrative.

1. Camera shots

2. By the end of this lesson you:
 Must – be able to analyse an audio-visual media text, using media key concepts
and appropriate terminology.

3.  Media language refers to the way verbal and non-verbal
elements are used to construct meaning (communicate).
 This include images, graphic signs and symbols, as well as
text or spoken words, depending on whether we talk about
audio-visual or graphic media language.

4. Audio-visual language is made of both audio and still and motion images, as well as other elements that operate at a
semantic level (such as the mise-en-scene)
These elements are:
 CAMERA SHOTS: the framing of the subject that indicates the distance between the subject and the camera.
 CAMERA ANGLES: the position of the camera in relation to the subject of a shot.The camera might be at a high
angle, a low angle or at eye level with what is being filmed.
 CAMERA MOVEMENTS: the location of the camera with regards the subject that is filmed.
 PHOTOGRAPHY: the different ways of creating an image through the means of the use of lens and composition.
 EDITING: the juxtaposition of shots in order to create meaning.
 SOUND
 MISE-EN-SCENE: the different elements in the staging of a scene.

5. Camera Shots
the framing of the subject that indicates the distance
between the subject and the camera (audience).

6. Aerial shot
The aerial shot is a camera angle taken from above. It frames the subject or setting from up high and is useful for showing the
setting of a scene. It gives viewers a deeper understanding of the location and what is happening there overall.This shot is often
taken from a crane, a drone or a helicopter. There are other various names for it, such as bird’s eye shot or zenital shot.
In the film The Shinning, this aerial shot is used when the family are on their way to the hotel and it portrays the change in
environment from civilised to isolated, as well as how vulnerable they are by presenting them very small, and placing the audience
in a position of omniscience, looking down at them, as if we were God watching them from the sky.
It is also use to the same effect in the sequence when Danny and Wendy are in the maze, and Jack is observing them from the
model in the hotel’s lobby.

7. Extreme Wide Shot
(Also called General Shot)
The extreme wide shot is a camera shot that presents a general view of the subject within its
environment. This is useful when the action in a scene is very spread out or to introduce the character
in a specific environment that is relevant for the narrative.
In the film The Shinning, the extreme wide shot is used to represent the vastness of the location and the
hostile weather that Wendy is braving and willing to endure to find and protect her son.

8. Wide or Long Shot
The wide/long shot is a camera shot that shows the whole subject in a given location. The point of this shot is to show the entire subject
along with its surroundings. This is useful in showing the characters’ interaction with their environments.
In the film The Shinning, the wide/long shot is repeatedly used when the characters are walking around in the hotel and is used to show
the setting around them– the hotel, which is another silent protagonist in the film.

9. Mid Shot
The mid shot is a camera shot that shows
the subject from the hips/waist up. This is
often used to establish certain distance
between the audience and the subject, but
allow the audience to perceive facial or
body language and expressions, as this
shot also allows room for hand gestures
and a bit of movement.
In the film The Shinning, the mid shot is
used, for example, when Danny escapes
from the bathroom window and is useful in
showing his body language and facial
expressions as this is a climatic moment
in the film, in which a terrorised but still
reflective Danny is escaping from his
abusive Dad and trying to lure him away
form his Mum.

10. Close Up Shot
The close up shot is a camera angle in which a part of the subject takes up most of the frame. This is a good
shot to show greater detail to the audience, for example facial expressions and reactions.
In the film The Shinning, the close up shot is used several times when Jack is loosing his mind and therefore is
useful in showing his psychotic facial expressions or to show the terror in Danny’s face.

11. Extreme Close Up shot
The extreme close up is a camera shot where a part of the subject is shown in extreme detail by placing
the camera very close to it.
In the film The Shinning, the extreme close up is used when Jack is hacking down the bathroom door with
an axe to get to Wendy and Danny and is useful in showing his psychotic emotions in extreme detail. It is
also used to depict the terror in danny’s face when he has the visions produced by “the shining”.

12. Two Shot
The two shot is a camera angle where
two subjects are in a shot together and
is useful to establishing the relationship
between the subjects.
In the film The Shinning, the two shot is
used when Wendy and Danny are
hiding from Jack in their hotel room
and is useful in showing the
relationship between them as mother
and son and also the way in which she
is holding him shows that they are
frightened and scared.

13. Over The Shoulder Shot
The over the shoulder shot is a camera
shot from behind a person, facing the
subject. This place us on the side of the
character and gives us the same point of
view on the subject.
In the film The Shinning, the over the
shoulder shot is used when Jack is
returning to their hotel room and allows
the audience to see Jack from Wendy’s
point of view.

14. Overhead Shot
The overhead shot is a camera
shot that is positioned above the
character’s head.
In the film The Shinning, the
overhead shot is used when
Danny is cycling around the hotel
hallways to make the audience
feel as if we are following Danny
through the hotel, into our own
little journey and therefore
drawing us into the film,
positioning the audience on
Danny’s point of view.

15. Point-Of-View shot
The point-of-view shot, shows a view
from the character’s perspective. It
can be useful to allows the audience
to get in the mindset of the character.
In the film The Shinning, the point-of-
view shot is used to represent the POV
of Danny, looking down the hallway at
the ‘dead’ twins and is useful because
we get to see the situation through
Danny’s eyes and therefore empathise
with his emotions.

16. Make a Power Point presentation and add one slide for each of these camera shots, adding the
definition (written) and an example taken from a film, advert or music video.
1. Using as case of study a film or advert of your choice, find one example for each camera shot
listed in this lesson.
2. Create one slide for each camera shot (10 slides).Take a screenshot or image and paste it on the
slide.
3. Write the definition of the camera shot and a brief explanation of the narrative purpose of that
shot in the context of that film or advert’s narrative.

17.  Choose oneTV advert that you can find online and analyse five
camera shots, naming them and explaining their dramatic effect
(What is the meaning that they convey and how do they work in the
narrative of the advert? Or, in other words, why has the director
chosen that shot to represent that specific action?)