Camera Shots

This post is to show various camera angles used in the film industry, their effects, and when they are commonly used. Camera shots are the angles, zoom level and the placement of the camera in relation to the subjects of the shot.

Establishing shot
An establishing shot is a very zoomed out shot, generally showing a large area or landscape, and sets the location of the scene. They are usually used at the beginning of the scene.








Long Shot
A long shot genereally shows all of a character or characters and also show the surrounding setting they're in. Long shots are often used to show a group of people and their surroundings, or to give a profile of a character.









Medium Shot
A medium shot is at a zoom level which shows a character or characters from about the chest or waist up. They draw the attention into certain points more than a long shot. They also allow the audience to see some of the setting.








Close Up
A close up draws attention onto very specific details, usually a hand gesture or a facial expression. They are often used in reaction shots, to show a characters emotion in detail between exchanges of dialogue.







Extreme Close Up
Extreme close ups are zoomed in to the extent that something small, such as someones eye, fills the screen. This allows the whole screen to be filled with the emotion of the character.











Over the Shoulder
An over the shoulder shot gives a perspective of the point of view of a character. Usually they are also a 2 shot, as they are often used during dialogue, as they show the talker and the reaction of the other character.









High Angle Shot
High angle shots are used to make the subject of the shot look inferior, or powerless. They do this by looking down on the character, giving the audience the feeling they are above them.


















Low Angle Shot
Low angle shots are used to make the subject look powerful. This effect is created by placing the camera beneath the subject and looking up at them, making the audience feel they are beneath the subjects.