Camera Shots Flashcards
Establishing shot
Sets the scene, usually exterior shots / surroundings. Gives the audience an idea of where they are
Long shot/ wide shot
A framing in which the scale of the object shown is small. A standing human figure would appear nearly the height of the screen.
Stable shot that can accommodate movement without reframing.
Allows the audience to see a large proportion of the background.
Help to establish the entirety of the scene.
Medium long shot
Knees and above or knees/ waist and below. Focuses on the main part of the character.
Can be used to show two figures walking and talking
Medium shot/ mid shot
This shows a character’s upper body, arms and head.
Audience placed at a middle distance from the subject
Often follows a long shot
Close up
A shot which shows a small part of the scene, such as a character’s face, in great detail so that it fills the screen.
A framing in which the scale of the object shown is relatively large.
In a close up a person’s head or some other similarly sized object will fill the frame.
Medium close up
Halfway between a mid shot and close up.
Framing the shoulder, chest to head. It would fill most of the screen
Conventions: frequently used for the tight presentation of two or three actors
Commonly used in indoor sequences allowing for a visual signification of relationships between characters
Extreme close up
A framing in which the scale of the object shown is very large. Most commonly, this will be a small object or a part of the body usually shot with a ZOOM LENS
Faces are the most common recurrent features in extreme close ups.
If used to often can be cheesy, used for impact.
Bird’s eye view shot
A camera shot that is filmed from a height- not necessarily a moving shot.
Often used as an establishing shot or at the opening of a film
Point of view shot
Shows what the character sees. Often used in horror films eg. When the killer is stalking the victim
The editor may change the audience’s point of view to create certain effects
Over the shoulder shot
Shot filmed from behind character’s shoulder: a cinematographic shot taken from over the shoulder of a character whose back can be seen at the side of the frame
This type of shot is very common when two characters are having a discussion and will usually follow an establishing shot, which helps the audience place the character in their setting
Two shot
The frame encompasses two people (the subjects). The subjects do not have to be next to eachother, and there are many common two shots which have one subject in the foreground and the other subject in the background
High angle
Power position
Elevated above the action using a crane to give a general overview.
Make objects seem smaller and less significant.
Landscape or used to make a character seem vulnerable/ powerless, power dynamic
See more of surrounding
Low angle
Makes us as the audience feel vulnerable
Powerlessness and confusion
Lack of detail of surrounding adding disorientation of the viewer
Makes the character seem more powerful
The added height of the object may make it inspire fear and insecurity in the viewer, who is psychologically dominated by the figure on the screen
Tilt
Camera body swiveling
Canted Angle
Sometimes the camera is tilted (I.e is not placed horizontal to floor level
This Shot suggests imbalance, transition and instability (popular in horror films)
Pan
Often used for purpose of following action or of giving movement to a scene that otherwise would be static.
Moves from one side to another
Connects two places or characters thus making us aware of their proximity. The speed at which a pan occurs can be exploited for different dramatic purposes
Whip shot
A panning shot that is rapid, reserved for special occasions such as dramatic shifting of interest from one character or thing to another.
Tracking shot
Usually follows a character or object as it moves along the screen, normally quite fluid, can be fast or slow
Speed has different connotations
Eg
dream or trance = very slow
Frightening = fast
The way a person is framed in that shot has a specific meaning .
Stedicam
Camera operator wears a harness
More smooth tracking
More flexible than a dolly
Dolly
A specific piece of equipment designed to create smooth camera movements. The camera is mounted to the dolly and the camera operator and camera assistant usually ride on it to operate the camera. Dolly operated by a dolly grip who is a dedicated trained operator
Not always practical
Shot & composition rule of thirds
Compesition/ framing of shots and where your point of object sits
Screen broken up into three, object appears on the vertical lines
When broken its usually to create a sense of off balance
Handheld camera
The use of the camera operator’s body as a camera support.
Generally used in certain genres such as documentaries or to create a sense of reality.
Difficult to keep steady
