This document describes various cinematography shot types and camera movements. It defines shots based on distance from the subject like extreme long shots, long shots, medium shots, close-ups, and extreme close-ups. It also discusses subjective point of view shots, two shots, shot/reverse shots, dolly shots, hand-held shots, and camera angles and movements like pans, tilts, high angles, and low angles. The purpose is to explain how different shots and camera techniques are used to convey meaning, perspective, scale, drama, and the flow of a scene.

1. Cinematography
Shot Types/Movement
When describing different cinematic shots, different terms are used to indicate the amount
of subject matter contained within a frame, how far away the camera is from the subject,
and the perspective of the viewer. Each different shot has a different purpose and effect.
Extreme long shot or Establishing shot: This can be
taken from as much as a quarter of a mile away, and is
generally used as a scene-setting, establishing shot. It
normally shows an exterior.
Wide-shot: This is a broader shot, showing parts of the
set or externals to emphasise size, scale, the dramatic or epic.
Crane Shots: When a moves a camera - it can move up, down, left, right, swooping in on
action or moving diagonally out of it.
Aerial Shot / Birds eye view: Usually taken from
helicopters as they can go anywhere, keep up with
anything, move in and out of a scene, and convey real
drama and exhilaration.
Long Shot: When the camera is placed far away to
capture a large area of view. Usually the opening
establishing shot of the movie is a long shot. If of a person, we see all of them, head to toe.
Medium Shot: This is the most common shot used in movies.
The medium shot should generally contain all the action of the
scene and it should be well matched with the flow of the long
shot.
Close-Up: This shot magnifies the object and shows the
importance of things, be it words written on paper, or the
expression on someone's face. A film-maker may use this to make us feel extra comfortable
or extremely uncomfortable about a character.
Extreme Close-Up: Magnifying beyond what the human eye would experience in reality. An
extreme close-up of a face, focusing on just one thing. E.g., the eyes.
Point of view: When we see what the actor sees
through their own eyes.
Subjective Point of view or Over the Shoulder
shot: Were we see what the actor sees but not

2. through their own eyes. It puts the viewer in the scene, but as an accomplice to the action.
Two Shot: This shows a conversation between characters.
Shot/Reverse Shot: One character is shown looking at another character, and the other
character is shown looking back. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite
directions, the viewer unconsciously assumes that they are looking at each other (the 180
degree rule).
Dolly Shots: The camera is placed on a moving vehicle
and moves alongside the action, generally following a
moving figure or object. A dolly shot may be a good way
of portraying movement, the journey of a character for
instance.
Hand-held shots: Where the camera is held in the
camera operator's hands as opposed to being mounted on a tripod or other base.
Angles/Movement
Pans : A movement which scans a scene horizontally. The camera is placed on a tripod,
which operates as a stationary axis point as the camera is turned, often to follow a moving
object which is kept in the middle of the frame.
Tilts: A movement which scans a scene vertically.
High angle: This shot looks down on the action from a superior position. The observer
dominates, power, higher status.
Low angle: This shot looks up at the action from below, an inferior position. The observer is
vulnerable, weak and lower in status.
Zoom/ reverse zoom: This is when the camera gets closer to or moves away from the action
in a very quick movement. The zoom lens means that the camera need not be moved, like
with a dolly/tracking shot.