English film techniques

Close-up

Close-up implies that a camera is close to the subject

Extreme Long Shot

background information

environment

large-scale action

Long Shot:

“who, what, and where” shot

specific subject information

general location and background information.

Full Shot:

human subject  from head to toe.

physical action and figure movement

fights, embraces, and physical comedy.

Medium Long Shot/American Shot:

This shot frames the subject from the knees up.

Medium Shot:

This shot frames the subject from somewhere around the waist up.

Medium Close-up:

frames the subject from the chest up

Close-up:

A close-up is pure subject; background information is virtually eliminated

Extreme Close-up:

 fills the frame with a fragment of the face or often an object revealed in great physical detail.

Low Angle:

he camera is lowered to shoot up at the subject.

High Angle:

The camera looks down on the subject from a position of power

Extreme High Angle:

This angle is also known as a bird’s eye view or God’s eye view

Dutch/Oblique Angle:

This angle slants the camera’s level

Key Light:

 illuminates one part of the subject and casts shadows on another part.

Fill Light:

The fill light is used to fill in shadows.

Low-Key Lighting

 High Contrast =  High Ratio

High-Key Lighting

Low Contrast = Low Ratio

Hard Light:

Light is coming directly from the source

Soft Light:

 Soft light is diffused and broken up so that it hits the subject from a variety of angles

Back Lighting:

The lighting is behind the subject facing the camera.

Frontal Lighting-

The light faces the subject from the same angle as the camera.

Under Lighting:

Also known as “Halloween lighting.”

Side lighting:

Light shines from the side of the subject