Camera Angles

ESTABLISHING SHOT: A shot, usually from a distance, that shows us where we are. A shot that suggests location. Often used at the beginning of a film to suggest where the story takes place

VERTICAL LINES



LONG SHOT: Includes an amount of picture within the frame which roughly corresponds to the audience's view of the area within the proscenium arch of the legitimate theater.

RULES OF THIRDS, MOVEMENT, HORIZON LINES



MEDUIM SHOT: A relatively close shot, revealing a moderate amount of detail. A medium shot of a figure generally includes the body from the knees or waist up.




EYE LEVEL SHOT: The placement of the camera approximately 5 to 6 feet from the ground corresponding to the height of an observer on the scene.

FORMAL BALANCE AND LEADING LINES




CLOSE UP SHOT: A detailed view of a person or object, usually without much context provided.




BIRDS EYE VIEW SHOT:A shot in which the camera photographs a scene from directly overhead.






WORMS EYE VIEW SHOT: This view is from underneath, and allows the reader to feel small and overpowered. This view is effective for showing the impact of a structure or scene and it’s imposing nature.




EXTREME CLOSE UP VIEW SHOT: When what is being viewed is very large, usually this is a part of someone’s face. 




REACTION SHOT: A cut to a shot of a character's reaction to the contents of the preceding shot.




POINT OF VIEW SHOT: Any shot which is taken from the vantage point of a character in the film. Also known as the first person camera.





OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT: A shot of one actor taken from over the shoulder of another actor. An over-the-shoulder shot is used when two characters are interacting face-to-face. Filming over an actor's shoulder focuses the audience's attention on one actor at a time in a conversation, rather than on both.