This document defines and describes various cinematography techniques including shot types (wide shot, medium shot, close-up, etc.), camera angles (high angle, low angle, etc.), and camera movement (static, pan, tilt, tracking, handheld). It provides examples of when each technique would be used and how it influences the audience's perspective.

1. Shot:
The distance between the camera and the subject.
Angle:
The level at which the camera is held relative to
the subject.
Movement:
Whether the camera is static or in motion during a
shot.

2. Gives an overview of the
scene and allows the
audience to see where
things are occurring.
Often used at the start
of a scene to ‘establish’
where characters are in
relation to each other,
setting and props.
Difficult to show details.

3. Usually shows the
upper-half of a
person’s body.
Good for
conversations.
It allows you to fit one
or two people into the
shot.
Can still see the
setting of the scene in
the background.

4. Focusses on a specific
thing, such as an
actor’s face or an
object.
It is very good for
drawing the
audience’s attention
to important things.

5. Focusses in a lot of
detail on a specific
detail of a person or
object, such as a
person’s eye or a word
written on a piece of
paper.
Provides even greater
emphasis.

6. The camera is at the
eye-level of the actor,
or is aimed straight at
the object.
This is a standard shot.
Most of your shots will
be this.

7. The camera is above
the eye-level of the
actor, or looks down at
the object.
This can make the
person etc. seem
smaller, weaker, less
intimidating, scared,
sadder or less
threatening.

8. The camera is below
the eye-level of the
actor, or looks up at
the object.
This can make the
person etc. seem
bigger, more powerful,
confident, threatening
or overwhelming.

9. The camera is held at
an obviously slanted
angle.
Conveys uncertainty,
chaos or madness.

10. The shot is taken as if
it is from the point of
view of a specific
character (i.e. as if we
are looking through
their eyes).
Need to establish
whose perspective
you are looking from,
usually through a
proceeding close-up
shot.

11. One actor’s face is
shown, while the back
of the other actor’s
head is visible in the
foreground in frame.
Often used for
dialogue scenes.

12. The camera is in a
fixed position and
does not move.
Usually the camera
will be attached to a
tripod in order to keep
it steady. This is a
standard shot.

13. Smooth camera
movements.
Panning is where you
turn the camera
horizontally.
Tilting is where you turn
the camera vertically.
Both can be used to
shift focus, bring new
things into a scene or to
reveal information.

14. A smooth shot where
the camera moves as
steadily as possible.
Slows down pacing,
allows for movement
and shifting the
audience’s focus.

15. The camera moves,
usually in order to
follow a character,
with small shuddering
movements.
Often used for point-
of-view movement
shots as it helps to put
the audience in the
position of a character.