Camera shots

CAMERA SHOTS

Full Shot (FS)A full shot contains a complete view of the characters, this allows the audience to take in the costumes and faces of the characters, this may also help to demonstrate the relation ships between the characters. A full shot will display a character from head to two with out much in the background, if it didn’t do this it would be considered a mid-shot. A full shot doesn’t carry out much emotion so therefore they are not used during emotive scenes.

These two pictures would be classed as a full shot.

Medium Shot (MS)

A medium shot shows a character or characters from the waist up, from this shot, viewers can see characters faces more clearly as well as there interactions with other characters. This also allows the viewers to see the characters emotions and facial expressions. Medium shots are the most common types of shots in the movies, Showing most of the subject’s body, medium shots are halfway between long shots and close-ups.

Close-Up (CU)A close up shot is a shot which is film within inches away from a characters face or an object allowing the subject to dominate most of the frame. Close up shots can be much more dramatic than long of medium shots, and they are much preferred when conveying emotion.

Extreme Close-Up (ECU)Extreme close-up shots show a small detail of relevance that would otherwise be missed in a longer shot. This is to confirm to the audience the minor detail that is happening in the film.

Close-up

Extreme Close-up

Long shotA long shot is used to show a landscape in which to give the viewer a more specific idea of the setting, like an establishing shot. A long shot may show the viewers the building where the action will take place.

Point of view shot (POV)A point of view shot is when the camera shows what the character (subject) is looking at. The shot is usually positioned between a shot of a character looking at something, and a shot showing the character's reaction.

Over the shoulder shot (OSS)An over the shoulder shot is a shot of the subject which has been taken behind someone's shoulder which is used as a frame, which implies its from a third person. 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 characters in their setting.