This document defines and describes various camera angles, camera movements, compositional techniques, and shot types used in filmmaking. High/low angles and bird's eye/worm's eye views are defined based on the camera's position relative to the subject. Camera movements like pans, tilts, tracks/dollies, cranes/steadicams, and zooms/reverse zooms are also outlined. Compositional techniques covered include deep/shallow focus, pull focus, rule of thirds, and eye line matching. Common shot types like long shots, close ups, medium shots, point of view shots, and two shots are also defined.

1. Angle Example What Is It?
High Angle
For a high angle shot, the
camera is normally above
the eye line of the person in
focus. They are mainly used
to show the conversation
between a tall and small
person, or to simply make
the scene more dramatic.
Low Angle
A low angle shot is the
opposite of a high angle shot,
instead of looking down
onto someone or something,
it looks up to something. It is
normally used to make the
characters in focus look
more powerful.
Birds Eye View
This is also referred to as an
‘aerial view’ and is an
elevated view of the featured
object or place from above,
so for example, a birds eye
view is featured on the
beginning of the TV soap
‘Eastenders’ and it is an
aerial view of London; near
where the show is filmed.
Worm’s Eye View
A worm’s eye view is taken
from a very low position; it
is used commonly for third
perspective or to look up to
something to make an object
look strong, mighty and tall.
It is the opposite of Bird’s
Eye View.
Canted/Dutch Angle
This can be used to portray
uneasiness or tension in the
subject being filmed. For
example, if there are two
characters (say one is higher
ranked than the other and is
in charge) there may be a
canted shot when the higher
ranked character is giving a
command to the lower
ranked character.

2. Movement Example What Is It?
Pan-Static Camera
Movement (From Left To
Right
For this movement, the
camera will focus on the
main character for example
and the background will be
out of focus in comparison,
this kind of shot will
normally be used when
people are travelling or
moving at quite a quick
pace.
Tilt
This kind of shot is used
normally to show the
significance of something,
so for example, the camera
may be at the bottom of a
building and then look up
to se the top of the
building. A tilt shot is like a
pan shot, the main
difference is a tilt shot
moves vertically, and a pan
shot moves horizontally.
Track/Dolly
When two characters are
walking along a sea front
for example, a Track/Dolly
will be used for this. The
camera is on a metal track
and can be easily moved
along to capture the scene.
Crane/Mechanical Shot
Crane Shots are normally
used to be able to view the
action from high above,
very similar to an aerial
shot, a Crane Shot gives the
audience a view of what is
going on from up above.
Steadicam
A Steadicam allows a
smooth shot even when the
cameraman is moving
quickly or going over
bumpy surfaces. This
allows a motion picture
camera to mechanically
isolate itself from the
movements of the
cameraman.

3. Zoom/Reverse Zoom
(Zoom In And Out)
The Zoom is used to focus
on the main point of the
scene, and then the
Reverse Zoom can be used
to zoom out on that main
focus and show the
surroundings, that couldn’t
be seen when focus was
completely on one point.
Hand Held
A Hand Held shot will be
used when the cameraman
really wants to get up close
to something.
Crash Zoom (Sense Of
Urgency)
A Crash Zoom will
suddenly zoom into
something that happens
that is quite important.
Maybe a vital piece of the
plot has been unveiled, or a
car has crashed and the
main character is in
danger.
Composition Example What Is It?
Deep Focus
A shot that uses a great
depth of feeling and
provides a very clear
shot and everything in
the certain shot is in
focus.
Shallow Focus
Is normally used to
emphasize one part of an
image over another, it
uses a small depth of
field and not everything
is in focus in the shot.

4. Pull Focus
A Pull Focus is where you
are focused on a certain
thing during the shot, but
you move that focus onto
something else. This
usually involves
adjusting the focus from
one object to another.
Rule of Thirds
This spacing technique
involves a subject been
aligned with a guideline
that consists of three
lines that makes a grid of
nine boxes.
Eye Line Match
This is often used to
show when a character is
talking to another
character. To achieve
this, more than one shot
is needed and
positioning of the actor’s
eye line has to be at the
same level for this to
work.
Camera Example What Is It?
Long Shot In a long shot, you
can see the
background, scenery
and the character.
Everything is in
similar focus.
Close Up Normally used to
show a character’s
expression, detail on
something or
something key to the
story.
Medium Shot Only the top half of
the character’s body
is in this shot, and the
background can be
seen, it is in focus just
like the character.

5. Medium Close Up A Medium close up is
where the camera
zooms in onto the top
half of the character’s
body; the background
is not as in focus.
Medium Long Shot These shots are used
to shot both the
characters and more
of the scenery of the
shot. Background
slightly
Extreme Close Up
These include all of
the finer details, but
do not include a
broader scene, sot eh
focus is on one thing.
Could be used to
show the fear in a
character’s face.
Aerial Shot
These shots are
normally done with a
large crane of even a
helicopter to get a full
view of an area from
above; similar to a
Bird’s Eye View
angle.
Establishing Shot
Used to establish the
area of where the
scene is taking place.
So basically, it shows
the surroundings of
the area and is
generally an extreme
long shot.
Point of View Shot
This is to show what
a person may be
looking at. A shot
reverse shot may be
used afterwards to
show the person’s
reaction after you see
what they do.

6. Over The Shoulder
Shot
A shot of something
taken on the angle
from behind a
person’s shoulder.
The person who is in
front of the camera,
their head and
shoulder act as the
frame.
Two Shot
This is where there is
more than one
person in a shot.
They do not
necessarily need to
be stood next to one
another. This
technique is good for
films that have two
main characters.