Camera shots, movement, angles and composition in Film 12 MsA

Low Angle Shot

Any shot below a subject's eye line, looking up, typically used to make a subject appear powerful.

High Angle Shot

A shot above a subject's eye line, looking down, typically used to diminish a character.

Overhead Shot

Also known as bird's-eye view, this shot is directly above the subject, showcasing movements or details.

Dutch Angle

A shot that skews the horizontal axis of the frame for an off-kilter image, creating unease or tension.

Eye-Level Shot

The camera is positioned at the subject's eye level for a natural perspective without imposing judgment.

Shoulder Level Shot

A shot taken at shoulder height, often used in conversations and can imply a power dynamic.

Hip Level Shot

The camera is positioned at hip height, commonly used in westerns, especially in conjunction with gun holsters.

Knee Level Shot

A shot taken at a subject's knee height, useful for tracking movement and showcasing character details.

Ground-Level Shot

The camera is placed on the ground, capturing movement or details from a low perspective.

Static Shot

A shot captured by locking the camera to a tripod in a fixed position, resulting in zero camera movement.

Pan

A camera movement that rotates the camera horizontally, left or right, while remaining in a fixed location.

Whip Pan

A quick pan that builds anticipation in a shot or heightens the energy.

Tilt

A camera movement that directs the camera upward or downward to capture verticality.

Push In

A camera movement that moves the camera towards a subject to emphasize a moment.

Pull Out

A camera movement that moves the camera away from the subject, deemphasising it.

Zoom

A technique that changes the focal length of the camera's lens to zoom in or out.

Crash Zoom

A fast zoom that can create dramatic or comedic effects.

Dolly Zoom

A combination of dolly movement and lens zoom, creating a vertigo effect.

Camera Roll

A rotation of the camera on its long axis, often used for disorientation.

Tracking Shot

A camera movement that follows a subject through a scene.

Trucking Shot

A lateral camera movement that moves left or right following a subject.

Arc Shot

A camera movement that orbits around a subject, typically in a horizontal arc.

Boom Shot

A camera movement that moves up or down using a crane, jib, or pedestal.

Random Movement

Camera shake or incidental zooms that create a spontaneous and intimate effect.

Establishing Shot

A shot used to introduce a scene, establishing geography, time of day, and the scale of subjects in relation to their environment.

Master Shot

A comprehensive shot that captures the scene in its entirety, confirming the location and geography while clarifying character relationships.

Wide Shot

A shot that positions subjects far from the camera to visually represent their relationship to the environment, often making them appear lost or overwhelmed.

Full Shot

A shot that includes a subject's entire body from head to toe, used to make statements about physicality and presentation.

Cowboy Shot

A shot that frames a subject from the top of the head to just below the waist, often used to present confidence or confrontation.

Medium Shot

A neutral shot capturing a subject in a size similar to how we interact with people, framed from above the waist to just above the head.

Medium Close Up

A shot that frames a subject from mid-chest to just above the head, focusing on story and character details.

Close Up

A powerful shot that highlights a character's emotions, arranged at eye level to capture intimate thoughts and feelings.

Extreme Close Up

A shot that isolates a specific area of a subject, often the eyes or significant detail, to emphasise intimacy or drama.

Insert Shot

A shot used to highlight and isolate crucial elements of the narrative, often in conjunction with extreme close-ups.

Single Shot

A framing that features one character alone in the frame, emphasizing their presence.

Clean Single

A single shot with no part of any other character visible, ideal for conveying isolation.

Dirty Single

A single shot that includes a limited presence of another character, adding complexity to the framing.

Two-Shot

A shot that includes two characters, clearly showing both faces, to create a visual relationship between them.

Crowd Shot

A shot featuring multiple characters in frame; often referred to as a general term for many subjects.

Over-the-Shoulder Shot

A hybrid shot focusing primarily on one character while showing the perspective of another, creating intimacy. Typically includes the back of one character's head and shoulder.

Point of View Shot

A shot that lets the audience experience the scene from a character's perspective.

Framing

The composition of subjects within the camera shot, guiding the visual narrative of a scene.

Dutch Angle

A camera shot that tilts the horizon line, creating a disorienting effect often used to convey unease or tension.

Deep Focus

A cinematographic technique that keeps both the foreground and background in sharp focus, allowing the audience to view the entire shot clearly

Shallow Focus

A technique where only a specific subject is in sharp focus. For example, while the background is blurred, directing the viewer's attention to the subject in the midground

Background

The part of the scene that is farthest from the camera, often serving as a context or setting in a shot.

Midground

The area in a shot situated between the foreground and background, often containing important elements that contribute to the overall composition of the scene.

Foreground

The part of the shot that is closest to the camera, usually containing the main subjects or elements that draw the viewer's focus in a shot.

Closed Framing

A composition that restricts the view to what is within the frame, often highlighting the subjects while excluding outside elements. This makes the character appear trapped and connotes a sense of vulnerability.

Open Framing

A composition style that allows elements outside the frame to be visible, creating a sense of openness and potential movement beyond the shot. This makes the character appear free and the audience anticipates they will move or act in response to their environment.

Hand held

A filming technique where the camera is not on a tripod, creating a slight shake. It is often used to bring the audiences attention to the presence of a camera, creating a sense of realism, but can also be used to enhance the energy of a scene.

Focal Point

The main subject or area of interest in a composition that draws the viewer's attention and helps guide their gaze within the frame.

Composition

The arrangement of visual elements within the frame to create a cohesive and engaging image. It involves balancing subjects, colors, and space to enhance storytelling.

Focus Pull

A camera technique that involves shifting the focus from one subject to another within a shot, guiding the viewer's attention.

Leading Lines

A composition technique used to direct the viewer's eye toward the main subject or point of interest.

Negative Space

Used to describe the space surrounding a subject. Also called white space, it is typically empty and lacks details as to simplify an image, usually making characters appear small or isolated.