1. Camera Angles and Shots
Sarmad Shafique

2. Extreme Long Shot
This shot covers a large area. It shows a wide view of the location and
shows the audience where the scene is set in a film. It is used as an
establishing shot. It is taken from a distance so that the location is
properly captured.

3. Long Shot
The figures in long shots are shown entirely, from head to toe. This is
used to show details in a scene. There is head room and the
background details are shown. This usually follows an extreme long
shot. Extreme long shot establishes a scene and then a long shot
gives more details.

4. Middle Shot
The upper part of the human body is shown in this shot. Usually from
the hips and upward. This shot shows how the figure’s arms are
placed, the facial expressions and what the character is doing. The
background is not sometimes given much importance. There are
different variations of the middle shot. If there are two figures in the
shot that would be called a “Two Shot”, if three “Three Shot” if there
are more than three characters that tends to become a long shot.

5. The Cowboy or The American Shot
This is a variation of the middle shot. It is like a middle shot in almost
everyway but it does not end at the waist, it usually shows the
character down to knees or the thighs. This became popular because
of the western films as characters carried guns with them and this
shot showed their weapons too.

6. Close up Shot
The close up shots limits the frame to just the character’s face or the
object. The background is not focused on and is usually blurred.
Facial expressions are empathized in this shot.

7. Extreme Close up
ECU is a type of close up shot is a close up shot which the human eye
cannot see easily from an average distance. These shots show
extreme details and the background is not usually in the frame.
These might include just shots of eyes, mouth or a detailed close of
an object.

8. Italian Shot
This is a variation of the ECU shot. This focuses mainly on the
characters eyes. This captures the expression of the characters and
show how the character is feeling.

9. Bird’s-eye view
This shot is taken from directly above the object or the character
from some distance. The audience feels as if they are looking down
at the figures or the objects.

10. High Angle
High angle unlike the bird’s-eye view is not taken from directly above
the object but instead from a high angle. This is more natural like
looking down at someone from a higher place or looking down at a
child.

11. Eye Level
When taking a picture or shooting a scene from eye level the camera
is placed at the same height as of the person/actor or the object. This
is neutral, this isn’t high or low angle. This is a more natural angle as
a normal person would look at another person.

12. Low Angle shot
When taking a low angle shot the camera is placed below the object
or the actor. This angle makes a person look taller. The object or the
actor becomes over powering in by this as the audience is looking up
at the character.

13. Dutch Angle
This angle is also known as Dutch tilt, canted angle, oblique
angle or German angle. The camera is tilted in such a way that it is
not natural. This angle is often used in horror movies as it portrays
uneasiness or tension. This angle is also used in “found footage” films
as it is unsteady and seems unprofessional.