Camera distances and angles can influence the viewer's perspective and emphasis in a shot. Standard distances include extreme long shot, long shot, medium long shot, medium shot, medium close-up, close-up, and extreme close-up. Camera angles such as eye level, low-angle, and high-angle affect whether the viewer looks up or down at the subject. Framing and point of view are also important, as different framing implies different perspectives or viewpoints of the scene.

3. Camera DistancesCamera Distances
and Anglesand Angles

4. Subject-
Camera
Distance

5. The human body is the measure of subject-
camera distance.
What matters: The expressive results of
(apparent) camera distance on screen.

6. Extreme Long Shot (environment dominates)

7. Extreme Long Shot

8. Long Shot (figure can be seen in context)

9. Long shot

10. Medium Long Shot (knees to head)

11. Medium long shot / Three shot

12. Medium Shot (waist to head)

13. Medium shot / Two shot

14. Medium Shot (waist to head)

15. Medium shot / Single

16. Medium Close-up (shoulders and head)

17. Close-up (the face)

18. Close-up

19. Extreme Close-up (isolates a small detail)

20. 20
Camera
Angle
and Height

21. Viewers
identify with
the point of
view of the
camera.

22. Force of Evil, 1948

23. Eye Level

24. A camera
placed at a
low angle
forces us to
look up at
the subject.

25. Low-Angle

26. Low-Angle

28. A high
angle
forces us to
look down at
the subject.

29. High-Angle

30. A Dutch
tilt
or canted
angle
presents
the world
off-
balance.

32. Aerial View / Bird’s-Eye View

33. 33
FRAMING
AND
POINT
OF VIEW

34. Framing implies viewpoint from the stage

35. Kane in a box above the opera stage