Camera shots can be categorized by distance from the subject: long shots show the full figure and environment, medium shots show from mid-thigh up, and close-ups show a body part or facial expression. Shots are used to establish scenes, show reactions, and manipulate the audience's perspective of characters through camera angles like high angles, low angles, and eye level. Reverse angles cut between a subject's point of view and what they are seeing.

1. Research
Camera Angles
& Shots
Kiran Raza

2. There Are 3 Main Shots That
Describe How Near Or How Far The
Camera Is From The Subject:
Long Shot
Medium Shot
Close Up Shot

3. Long Shot
• This shows the whole
subject → See
surroundings → Used
to show the full
human figure and
often provide a clear
view of the
environment or setting
where we find the
character.

4. Medium Shot
• This shows the human
body from mid shin or
mid- thigh up and often
used to show
interaction between two
or more characters →
Shows half of the
subject. It May feature
some background to
relate the
character/characters to
their surroundings.

5. Close Up Shot
• This shows one part
of the subject, usually
in great detail →It is
usually used to show
the emotion on a
persons face → This
shot may leave
viewers uncertain as
to what they are
seeing.

6. Other Camera Shots
Include:
Extreme Close Up
Extreme Long Shot
Full Shot

7. Extreme Close Up
• This shows only a detail of
the subject, such as
someone's eyes, or the paws
of a dog walking down a
path, of a hand on a
doorbell or a tree branch→
We can understand how a
character feels; even get into
the head of that character →
It is used a lot in thrillers →
It helps to clarify action.

8. Extreme Long Shot
• This is used to show
landscapes or provide a
view of a whole world
(city, town, galaxy),
where the film is set →
There is very little detail
visible in the shot, as it
is meant to give a
general impression
rather than specific
information.

9. Full Shot
• This is a variation on
the long shot showing
the full subject → It is
usually used to place a
character in some
relation to its
surroundings →e.g.
full human figure with
feet at bottom of the
frame and head at the
top of the frame.

10. How might these
shots be used in a
movie?
Establishing shot
Reaction Shot

11. Establishing Shot
• This is used at the
beginning of a scene
to let the viewers
know where the
characters are →It can
also be used to show
the relations between
the main figures in
the film and objects.
→ e.g. A long shot of
a car driving up to a
hotel, or a close up of
a restaurant sign.

12. Reaction Shot
• This is used to show the
effect of one persons
words or actions on the
other people in the scene
→A close up shot is
usually used in this to
show the emotion on the
characters face → It
usually cuts away from
the main scene in order to
show the reaction of a
character to it.

13. Camera Angles
The angle from
which a shot is
taken is another
way to give variety
to a film as well as
information.

14. High Angle
• This positions the
camera above eye
level looking down
on the subject, which
consequently
appears insignificant,
weak, helpless or
small according to
how extreme the
angle is.

15. Low Angle
• This has the camera
looking up at the
subject, the subject
appears important,
powerful, or
domineering, again
depending on how
exaggerated the angle is
→ It is shot anywhere
below the eye line,
looking up.

16. Eye Level
• This is a fairly
neutral shot; the
camera is positioned
as though it is a
human actually
observing a scene,
almost a point of
view shot but
reversed →e.g.
actors' heads are on a
level with the focus.

17. Reverse Angle
• In a normal shot or
angle the camera
usually looks at the
subject but with this
angle the camera
shows what the subject
is seeing also known as
a point of view shot →
e.g. a shot of the gates
of a prison from within
followed by a reverse
angle shot showing the
gates from outside.

18. Oblique Angle
• This is used when the camera
is tilted, to suggest imbalance,
transition and instability →It
is very popular in horror and
thriller films → This
technique is used to suggest
point of view shots → When
the camera becomes the 'eyes'
of one particular character,
seeing what they see → A
hand held camera is often
used for this.