Camera Shots

I have recently learnt about the different aspects of film language. In particular camera shots.

Hear are some examples of each camera shot and their purpose.

Extreme Close Up



This short helps intensify the dialogue at this point. Extreme close ups cut everything else out from the shot except the subject the director wants you to look at. T he audience focus' just on her face and in turn what she is saying.


Big Close Up

Again, this helps intensify the shot. Big Close ups often include all of the face and some shoulder. This still pulls your attention to the subject.

Close Up

Close ups are very effective in presenting a character. They can often incorporate props and slight background. In this example, this shot compliments the directors goal of drawing your eye to the spoon and her eyes.

Medium close up

Medium close ups show the face more clearly, without getting uncomfortably close. This shot often includes full head and shoulders and again is very effective in presenting a character for the first time.

Medium shot

It is mainly used for a scene when it is desirable to see the subjects' facial expressions in the context of their body language. As well as being a comfortable, emotionally neutral shot, the mid shot allows room for hand gestures and a bit of movement

Medium Long shot

This frames the whole subject from the knees up and shows the subject in relation to the surroundings. Also known as plan américain. This example is very effective as the background compliments the subject very well and creates a mystical atmosphere.


Long shot

Long shots typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surroundings. This shot may show the viewers the building where the action will take place.

Extreme Long Shot













An extreme long shot contains a large amount of landscape. It is often used at the beginning of a scene or a film to establish general location. This is also known as an establishing shot. The subject is small in the overall image

High Angle Shot












A high angle shot is when the camera angle is located above the eye line. With this type of angle, the camera looks down on the subject and the point of focus often get "swallowed up" by the setting. High angle shots also make the figure or object seem vulnerable or powerless.

Low angle shot













A low angle shot does the opposite. It makes the subject took powerful and in control. The camera is positioned anywhere below the eye line, looking up. This creates this effect.

Birds eye view












The scene is shown from directly above. This is a completely different and somewhat unnatural point of view which can be used for dramatic effect or for showing a different spatial perspective.
In drama it can be used to show the positions and motions of different characters and objects, enabling the viewer to see things the characters can't.

Dutch Angle













This camera shot where the camera is tilted off to one side so that the shot is composed with vertical lines at an angle to the side of the frame often used to portray the psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed. A Dutch angle differs from a high-angle shot and low-angle shot in that those refer to placement of the camera in height relative to the subject.

Eye level shot













A fairly neutral shot; the camera is positioned as though it is a human actually observing a scene, so that eg actors' heads are on a level with the focus. The camera will be placed approximately five to six feet from the ground.

Reverse angle shot





























This shot views the action from the opposite side of the previous shot, as during a conversation between two actors, giving the effect of looking from one actor to the other.