06 Shot Sizes

Extreme Close Up (ECU)
- A shot that focuses on a very close detail of the subject, often emphasizing facial features such as eyes or lips.
Medium Close Up (MCU)
- This frame type captures the subject from the chest or solar plexus upward, often used to convey intimate emotions while still showing some background context.
Close Up (CU)
- By resting on the clavicle, this shot highlights the subject’s face, capturing intricate details and expressions, allowing viewers to connect more deeply with the character.
Medium Shot (MS)
- Lower frame is positioned below the elbows, this shot provides a view of the subject from the waist up, useful for showcasing body language alongside the subject's facial expressions.
Cowboy Shot
- A framing technique where the lower frame sits below the gun holster, typically used in Westerns to capture characters' weapons while still focusing on their face or upper body.
3/4 Shot (Medium Wide Shot)
- This shot frames the subject between the waist and knees, giving a broader context while still focusing on the character, often utilized for dialogues or interactions between characters.
Full Shot
- A shot that includes the entire body of the subject from head to toe, often capturing the full environment and emphasizing movement or action within a scene.

Each frame size plays a significant role in storytelling.
The choice of shot can influence the viewer's emotional engagement and understanding of the character's situation, intention, or emotional state.
Frame sizes can symbolize power dynamics, with larger frames giving more prominence to the subject and smaller frames conveying vulnerability.

Effective use of different frame sizes is paramount for visual storytelling.
Directors and cinematographers must consider how each type of shot interacts with the narrative to elicit the desired response from the audience.