This document defines and describes various camera shots and techniques, including their definitions and common uses. It covers shots defined by framing (medium shot), camera angle (high angle, low angle, Dutch tilt), camera movement (pan, track, zoom), and camera distance (close-up, long shot, point-of-view shot). Reaction shots show a character's response, while establishing shots provide context. Together, these shots and techniques allow filmmakers to effectively tell visual stories and elicit emotions from audiences.

1. — The FRAMING or the LENGTH of shot
— The ANGLE of the shot
— If there is any MOVEMENT involved

2. THE CAMERA’S CLOSENESS TO
THE OBJECT.

3. Definition
MEDIUM
SHOT
How its used
Contains a figure from the knees/waist up
and is normally used for dialogue scenes,
or to show some detail of action.
Background detail is minimal because
location has been established earlier in
the scene - the audience already know
where they are.
This is a “Bread and Butter” shot.
It is used to move the story
forward, showing two characters
conversing and allowing the
narrative to move onward.

4. EXTREME
CLOSE
UP
Definition
How its used
This is a very
close shot
showing the
detail of an
object or the
physical
features of a
person.
This shot is used to show the emotions of a
character, usually through their eyes. It could be used to
show anger with a straight stare. It also makes the
character more personal to the audience as people tend not
to be that close to each other unless they are intimate.

5. Definition
CLOSE
UP
How its used
This shot shows very
little background and
just concentrates on
one specific thing
closely.
This shot is used to show the full range of emotions of a
character. It also allows the audience to identify certain
characters. For example a group of soldiers would only be
identified by their faces due to their similar gear.

6. Definition
LONG
SHOT
How its used
The camera is
placed far
away to
capture a large
area of view.
The long shot is used to show the action occurring from a distance.
This could be to emphasise the scale of the event or landscape
that the characters in. it could also be used to show that a
character is stranded, showing the empty landscape around them.

7. POINT
OF
VIEW
SHOT
Definition
A simple shot of what the
character (or object) sees.
We as the audience get a
glimpse of what the
character is looking at.
How its used
This shot is used to make
the audience feel like a
certain character. It could
be used to show that
characters journey or
adrenaline if they are in
trouble. In some cases it can
be used to hide a murderer
but still show the actions
that he/she commits.

8. OVER THE
SHOULDER
SHOT
Definition
A shot with an actor’s
shoulder in the foreground.
How its used
This shot is used to show one
character talking to another,
it can be rotated by 180
degrees to show the other
character talking. Without
one characters shoulder
being in shot, it would look
odd that one character is
talking to nothing.

9. Definition
REACTION
SHOT
A shot showing one or more
characters reacting to an
action or statement.
How its used
This shot is used to show the
emotional response from a
character after they have
witnessed an event. An
example of this is wide eyes
and open mouth for someone
being murdered.

10. THE CAMERA’S HEIGHT FROM THE
GROUND

11. To show
insignificance.
To give a more
detailed view.
Normal eye
level view,
what we see.
To give a more
detailed view of
less authority
To show powerful,
masculinity,
authority

12. BIRDS
EYE
VIEW
Definition
How its used
This shows a
scene from
directly
overhead, a
very unnatural
and strange
angle.
Birds eye views are used to show a whole situation from
above. It can be used to show how dense a suburban area is
or show how powerless someone is if they have been
deserted somewhere.

13. HIGH
ANGLE
Definition
Not so
extreme as a
bird's eye
view. The
camera is
elevated
above the
action using a
crane to give
a general
overview.
How its used
High angle is used to show vulnerability or powerlessness.
It can be used to show how insignificant a character is. It
can be used to show the rank of a character.

14. EYE
LEVEL
Definition
How its used
the camera is positioned
as though it is a human
actually observing a scene,
so that eg actors' heads
are on a level with the
focus. The camera will be
placed approximately five
to six feet from the
ground.
This shot is used to show a character on their
level. It is used to show how people usually see
the world. This moves the story onwards.

15. LOW
ANGLE
Definition
How its used
the camera is positioned
below the object or
people being shot.
Low angles are used to show a characters
dominance or high authority.

16. DUTCH
TILT
Definition
How its used
The camera is tilted so
that on screen, the
horizon appears to be
tilted.
This shot is used to show a character that is
disorientated or show a rush, usually in action
sequences.

19. TILT UP
Definition
How its used
the camera looks up at
the objector people being
shot.
This shot is used to reveal a character or
situation from a low angle that gets larger.

20. TILT
DOWN
Definition
How its used
the camera looks down on
the objector people being
shot.
This shot is used to reveal a character or
situation from a high angle that gets larger.

21. PAN
Definition
How its used
The camera moves across
the scene FROM SIDE TO
SIDE (move your head
from left to right – this is
panning)
This is used to show a character walking along
or to reveal a large scale scene that cant be
emphasized in one shot.

22. TRACKING
Definition
How its used
A tracking shot and a
dolly shot have the
same effect. A tracking
shot moves on tracks
and a dolly shot is
mounted on a trolley.
This shot is used to follow a camera.. The
camera is mounted on a track to make the
movements smooth.

23. ZOOM
Definition
How its used
Zooming means altering
the focal length of the
lens to give the illusion
of moving closer to or
further away from the
action.
The zoom is used to slowly reveal more detail
to an audience. It can be used to show the
facial expressions of a character that is
initially far away.

24. QUICK
ZOOM
Definition
How its used
Zooming means altering
the focal length of the
lens to give the illusion
of moving closer to or
further away from the
action.
A quick zoom is when
you move closer quickly.
A quick zoom is used to show a realization of a
character. The camera quickly zooms into a
character to show that they have realized that
something bad has happened.

25. ARC
SHOT
Definition
How its used
the camera moves in a
rough semi-circle
around the subject.
The arc shot can also show realization as it
captures all the emotions of a character as the
camera rotates around them. It can alkso be
used to show the full scene or scenario around
the character.