Camera shots and angles

CINEMA
THEORETICAL
PROJECT
THEORETICAL WORK_2ND TERM
2ND ESO_ARTS AND VISUAL EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION: ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS WITH YOUR
OWN WORDS
· What is cinema?
· What is a movie / film?
· What is a frame?
· What is the meaning of fps?
· What are the 3 most important movies in the history of
cinema? Find their most relevant scene and print them. Write
the year of the movie.

CONCEPTS WE’LL WORK ON
 CAMERA SHOT
 CAMERA ANGLE
 Why do directors use different camera shots/angles
while they film a movie?

CAMERA SHOT
A CAMERA SHOT is a series of frames shot
with no stop from the moment when the
camera starts shooting until it stops.

CAMERA ANGLE
The CAMERA ANGLE means where the camera
is placed respect to the characters/objects in a
scene.

WHY DO THE DIRECTORS CHANGE SHOTS AND ANGLES?
They are used to:
• Explain different moments of the story with
more/less details
• Make more dramatic scenes
• Give an emphasis to a specific object or
character.

TYPES OF CAMERA SHOT
Extreme Long/Wide Shot
(XLS/EWS)
Long/Wide Shot
(LS/WS)
Full Shot
(FS)
Medium Long/Wide Shot
(MLS/MWS)
Medium Shot
(MS)
Medium Close Up
(MCU)
Close Up
(CU)
Extreme Close Up
(ECU)

TYPES OF CAMERA SHOTS
TYPE OF SHOT LANDSCAPE/
BACKGROUND
CHARACTERS WHAT IS IT
USED FOR?
XLS extreme long shot
LS long shot
FS full shot
MLS medium long
MS medium shot
MCU medium close up
CU close up
ECU extreme close up

EXTREME LONG/WIDE SHOT (XLS)
LANDSCAPE/BACKGROUND CHARACTERS WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

EXTREME LONG/WIDE SHOT (XLS)
The landscape ocuppies almost all
the shot, but we perceive not many
details. It shows weather, moment
of the day, season…
The characters are very small, we
just see their outlines, not details.
We see their full bodies. We can’t
hear their conversation.
It’s used to place characters in an
environment and to make the
character distant or unfamiliar to
the viewer. It can be a transitional
shot. It can show movement.

LONG/WIDE SHOT (LS/WS)

LONG/WIDE SHOT (LS/WS)
The landscape ocuppies a big
part of the shot, but we
perceive more details: house,
trees…
The characters are small
compared to the environment
around. We perceive their
complete outline and general
details.
It’s used to bring the viewer
closer to the characters’ daily
life or action.

FULL SHOT (FS)

FULL SHOT (FS)
The landscape occupies more
than half part of the shot. We
see more details (doors,
materials…) and those details
are important for the scene
The characters occupy the
frame from the feet to the
head. We see
clothes/hair/tools details
It is used to start a scene, to
show how many characters
participate in it and their
body postures

MEDIUM LONG/WIDE SHOT (MLS/MWS)

MEDIUM LONG/WIDE SHOT (MLS/MWS)
The landscape occupies more
than half part of the shot. We
see more details (doors,
materials…)
frame from the knees to the
head. We can start to connect
to their feelings
It’s used to make the viewer
pay more attention to the
character’s face/hands

MEDIUM SHOT (MS)

MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
The landscape occupies half
part of the shot. It becomes
blurred.
frame from the hips/waist to
the head
It’s used to make the viewer
pay more attention to the
character’s face/hands and
their interaction or emotions

MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU)

MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU)
The background occupies half
part of the shot. It is blurred.
frame from the chest to the
head
The scene is focused on the
face expression more than in
action. It’s often used to show
the conversation between
two characters

CLOSE UP (CU)

CLOSE UP (CU)
The background occupies less
than half part of the shot. It is
blurred.
We just see the head of the
characters and it’s usually cut.
The scene is totally focused
on the face expresion
It’s used to make a
conversation more dramatic

EXTREME CLOSE UP (ECU)

EXTREME CLOSE UP (ECU)
The background occupies just
a little part of the shot. It is
blurred or totally disappear
We just see a small part of
the character/object: a foot,
an eye…
It shows details of objects or
emotions of the characters
that are very important to the
story

TYPES OF CAMERA ANGLE
Eye Level Shot Low Level Shot High Level Shot
Ground Level Shot Dutch Angle
Bird’s Eye Shot

TYPES OF CAMERA ANGLES
TYPE OF ANGLE CAMERA POSITION WHAT IS IT USED
FOR?
EYE LEVEL
LOW LEVEL
HIGH LEVEL
GROUND LEVEL
BIRD’S EYE
DUTCH ANGLE

EYE LEVEL SHOT
CAMERA POSITION WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

EYE LEVEL SHOT
The camera is at the same level of the
character’s EYES, so the scene looks natural
It’s used to connect the viewer with the
character and their facial expressions. It’s not
used with a dramatic purpose. It makes the
spectator take a part in the scene.

LOW LEVEL SHOT

LOW LEVEL SHOT
The camera is LOWER than the characters. It
seems to be recorded by a child or an object.
This angle shows the bodies and backgrounds
It’s used to show how powerful or
intimidating the characters are at a moment

HIGH LEVEL SHOT

HIGH LEVEL SHOT
The camera is HIGHER than the characters so
we can see their face better than their body.
The background takes some importance
It’s used to show how weak/fragile the
characters are at a moment. There is a threat
or intimidation and a facial reaction to that.

GROUND LEVEL SHOT

GROUND LEVEL SHOT
The camera is on the GROUND It’s usually used to show a character walking,
specially if we haven’t seen his/her face yet. It
can be used as a short transitional scene
where we get to know some details about
their routines, outfit… It’s an enthrilling shot.

BIRD’S EYE SHOT

BIRD’S EYE SHOT
The camera is ABOVE the characters,
perpendicular to he ground. Not a natural
point of view. It doesn’t allow for much detail
about the characters
It’s used to show how small characters are or
to give an idea of the environment where
they are placed. It also can show crowds. It
can mark the end of a sequence.

DUTCH ANGLE SHOT

DUTCH ANGLE SHOT
The camera is inclined respect to the
horizontal line (around 25-45 degrees)
It’s used to give more tension to a scene. The
character doesn’t look at the camera, but to
an object or person that shocks them
somehow

QUIZ
SAY THE CAMERA SHOT AND CAMERA ANGLE USED IN THESES SCENES
ELS/EWS LS FS MLS/MWS MS MCU CU ECU
CAMERA SHOT
EYE LEVEL LOW HIGH BIRD’S EYE GROUND DUTCH
CAMERA ANGLE

NOW DRAW YOUR OWN EXAMPLES
 Make a easy drawing that can represent the kind of
shot/angles we propose
 Make easy drawings, they don’t need to be detailed

DRAWING MY OWN SCENES
Long Shot
Eye Level
Medium Long Shot
Low Level
Close Up
Dutch Angle
Full Shot
Bird’s Eye

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