2. 3 Main Shots
• There are 3 main camera shots that can be
used to determine how far the camera is from
the subject, these are:
• Long Shot
• Medium shot
• Close-up shot
• Any of these shots can show more than one
subject in each shot.
3. Long Shot
The long shot shows the whole subject, the man
riding the horse along the beach.
4. • A long shot is used to show the whole person
and usually provides a full view of their
surroundings or setting in which we find the
character/characters.
5. • An extreme longshot is used to show landscapes or
provide the whole view of something such as a city
or a world, the subjects in the frame are small for
example houses/buildings in a long shot of a city.
6. Full Shot
• A full shot is a variation
on the longshot, it
shows the subject in full
human figure, their feet
at the bottom of the
frame, head at the top,
nothing missing. Full
shots tend to include
the subject and nothing
else.
7. Medium Shot
• A medium shot often shows the subject from thigh/shin
upwards and in most cases is used to show interaction
between two or more characters/persons.
8. • It can show half of the subject such as the front end of a car
or part of a tree.
• It shows the subject in relation to its immediate surroudings.
9. Close Up
• A close up only shows
one part of the subject,
usually in great detail.
• A close up or an extreme
close up would be things
such as part of a persons
face or the paws of an
animal walking along the
street. Or of someone
sipping a drink or a close
up of someone's hand
and remote as they
change the television
channel.
10. • You can really get
into the head of a
character and
relate to how that
character feels.
They can help to
clarify action or
what exactly is
going on in that
scene IE (getting
into the head of a
character).
11. How may these Shots be used in
television shows or films?
• An establishing shot in television or film is the first shot
of a new scene, its designed to show the audience
where the action is happening. It is usually a very wide
shot or an extreme wide shot saying this that isn’t
necessarily so. The establishing shot is unique and not
distinguished by size (i.e. medium long shot, close up).
• One way an establishing shot has been described: “A
shot, usually at the beginning of a scene that situates
where and when the action that is to follow takes place
before it is broken up by editing. Establishing shots also
make clear the spatial relations among characters and
the space in which they inhabit.
12. Reaction Shot
• A reaction shot is used to show the
effect of one or more persons
words or actions on another person
in a scene. A reaction shot is often
silent as it shows a character
reacting with facial expressions
such as a sigh a gasp or a frown,
sometimes a shot like this starts
with a silent reaction before a
character vocalises his emotions.
They are most commonly close up
shots. The main assumption behind
the logic of the reaction shot is that
the emotional reaction of the
character being depicted will
advance the story or perhaps reveal
the traits of a certain character.
13. Camera Angles
• Camera angles are just as important and valuable
as camera shots. The angle in which a shot is
taken from is another way to give variety along
with information
• High angle
• Eye-level
• Low Angle
• Reverse Angle
• Oblique Angle
14. High Angle
• Not quite a birds eye angle,
the camera is elevated
above the action by using a
crane to give a general
overview. The subject is
often “swallowed up” by
their setting/surroundings.
High angle shots can make
the scene seem more
dramatic or in some cases
gripping, if there is a person
at high elevation who is
talking to someone below
them then this is often
used.
15. Eye Level Shot
• An eye level shot is one in which the camera is placed at
the subjects height so if the subject is looking straight at
the lens he/she wouldn’t have to look up or down. Eye
level shots are neutral and therefore incredibly common.
They often draw no dramatic power whatsoever
therefore are ideal for comedies or perhaps sit down
interviews.
16. Low Angle Shot
• Low angle shots increase height (very useful shot for short actors such as
Tom Cruise or James McAvoy) and they give an sense of speeded motion.
The background of a low angle shot will usually be the sky or a ceiling. This
angle shot adds a sense of psychological dominance to the subject, it
makes the subject seem powerful and dominant.
• Note: The subject doesn’t always have to be a person.
17. Reverse Angle Shot
• Usually the camera is looking at the subject but
with a reverse angle the camera shows what the
subject is seeing. Its a shot from the opposite side
of the subject, in a dialogue scene a shot of the
second participant in the conversation.
18. Oblique Angle
• The oblique angle shot also
known as the Dutch tilt,
canted angle, Dutch angle
or German Angle is a type
of shot where the camera is
deliberately tilted to one
side. Often used to portray
unease, disorientation,
intoxication or things of
that nature.
• An Oblique angle can be a
static shot or used with
simultaneous
panning/tilting or zooming.
19. Camera Movements
• Even though camera
movements are often
used to add excitement
to certain shots their
best use is when new
information is revealed.
When filming you have
to remember that
camera movements can
become annoying if
overused or used
without a reason, never
use a camera movement
just to show that you
can. Use it when it is
needed.
20. Pan
• During a pan the camera is aimed sideways along a straight line, the
camera itself is not moving. Its often fixed onto a tripod with the
operator turning it left or right. Panning is commonly used to
capture moving objects such as cars speeding or people walking
down the street. A pan can be often used with an establishing shot
at the start of a scene. A smooth pan will be slow enough to allow
the audience to observe the scenery comfortably where as a fast
pan wont and can create blur if its too fast it will be called a swish
pan. - The best pans are used to reveal information.
21. Dolly
When the entire camera moves backwards or forwards this is known as a dolly. If
the camera is on a tripod the tripod will also be moved with it. Dollies are often
used when the subject is moving away or towards the camera, in this case the aim
of using a dolly would be to keep the subject at the same distance from the camera.
For an optimal dolly the camera will be mounted onto a platform that can be
wheeled such as an actual dolly or if using a lower budget something like a
shopping trolley. Most dollies have a lever to allow vertical movement this is known
as a pedestal move. In some cases a crane is added to the dolly for additional height
and flexibility. Moving the camera forward is known as dolly in, moving the camera
backward is known as dolly out.
22. Tracking Shot
• Tracking/Trucking is similar
to dollying, difference
being is that dollying moves
the camera towards/away
from the subject where as
in a trackshot the camera is
moved sideways parallel to
the subject. To track means
to move the camera
physically left or right while
maintaining its
perpendicular relationship.
This can often be confused
with a pan but is not the
same as a pan. You might
track left to stay with a
pedestrian as he/she walks
down the street.
23. Tilting
• Tilting is moving the camera lens up or down
whilst keeping its horizontal axis constant. If
you were to tilt your head up and down
without moving it side to side, that is tilting.
Tilts are often used to reveal vertical objects
such as a person or a tall building.
24. Pedestal
• A pedestal is moving the camera up or down
without changing either its vertical or
horizontal axis. There are two types of
pedestals, up and down. You are not tilting the
lens up, you are moving the entire camera up.
Imagine your camera is on a tripod and you
are raising or lowering the tripod head.
25. Zoom
• Despite common misconception the terms the terms dolly
and zoom are not interchangeable. With a dolly the camera
is actually being moved into a physical space where as with
zooms the camera remains in a constant position but the
lens magnify or minimize the size of the subject.
• Zooms happen at the push of a button, zoom in refers to
approaching the subject seemingly making it look bigger,
and zoom out refers to distancing the subject, making it
look smaller.
• Zooms are not really a move, for the camera doesn’t
change position, but in filmmaking and film studies courses
they have been combined with real camera moves.
