Camera shots

A detailed inside of various type of shots used in cinematography and photography

1.  
By‐ Pradeep Kumar Gupta, 
 Deptt of Animation, CCSIT, TMU 
It’s easy to mix up the different types of camera shots and types of angles. To make a shot list, a
filmmaker or video creative must know the classic types of shots based on attributes like shot
size, shot framing, camera movement, camera mechanisms, and depth of field.
We’ll break down all the camera shots and angles you need to know for your next film. We also
include camera shot examples from famous movies to help solidify the discussed concepts.
What is a camera shot?
A camera shot is composed of the series of frames that are shot uninterrupted from the moment
the camera starts rolling untill it stops. Camera shots are an essential aspect of filmmaking and
video productions, because by combining different types of shots, angles and camera
movements, the filmmakers are able to emphasize specific emotions, ideas and movement for
each scene.
CAMERA SHOT SIZE OVERVIEW
Below you'll find a shot size cheatsheet to see exactly how each shot size will look on screen,
and how to differentiate the various shot sizes:
 

2. EXTREME LONG SHOT (ELS) OR EXTREME WIDE SHOT (EWS)
An extreme long shot (or extreme wide shot) make your subject appear small against their
location. You can use an extreme long shot to make your subject feel distant or unfamiliar.
Take a look at this extreme wide shot from Mad Max: Fury Road:
 
It can also make your subject feel overwhelmed by its location. Of all the various camera shots
out there, consider using the extreme long shot when you need to emphasize the location or
isolation.
LONG SHOT (LS) OR WIDE SHOT (WS)
The long shot (also known as a wide shot abbreviated “WS”) is the same idea, but a bit closer. If
your subject is a person then his or her whole body will be in view -- but not filling the shot.
 
In other words, there should be a good deal of space above and below your subject. Use a long
shot (or wide shot) to keep your subject in plain view amidst grander surroundings.

3. The wide shot also lets us see the beautiful background imagery, as well as the onlookers which
will make any big moment more cinematic.
Of the many camera shots, a long shot gives us a better idea of the scene setting, and gives us a
better idea of how the character fits into the area.
FULL SHOT (FS)
Now let's talk about camera shots that let your subject fill the frame while keeping emphasis on
scenery.
 
This full shot from Django Unchained is also a tracking shot — meaning there is camera
movement featured throughout the shot. In this particular case, the camera slowly moves
(or tracks) towards Django. So, technically, this shot begins in a wide shot, moves to full shot
(seen above), and eventually ends in a cowboy shot.
 
Of all the different types of camera shots in film, full shots can be used to feature multiple characters in a single 
shot, like this full shot size example from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy 

4. MEDIUM WIDE SHOT (MWS)
A medium long shot (aka medium long shot) frames the subject from roughly the knees up. It
splits the difference between a full shot and a medium shot. Here's an example of the medium
wide shot size:
 
(MWS) MEDIUM WIDE CAMERA SHOT EXAMPLE IN THE USUAL SUSPECTS
You can always frame camera shots from any angle as well, so don't be afraid to think about
medium long shots when behind a character:
COWBOY SHOT (CS)
A variation on this is the Cowboy Shot, which frames the subject from roughly mid-thighs up.
It’s called a “cowboy shot” because it is used in Westerns to frame a gunslinger’s gun or holster
on his hip.

Cowboy Camera Shot in Wonder Woman 
Here is an example of a cowboy shot that's used in a film that has nothing to do with cowboys,
and it's also a three shot:

5.  
(CS) COWBOY SHOT EXAMPLE IN THE KING’S SPEECH

MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
Let's move onto camera shots that reveal your subject in more detail.
The medium shot is one of the most common camera shots. It's similar to the cowboy shot above,
but frames from roughly the waist up and through the torso. So it emphasizes more of your
subject while keeping their surroundings visible. Here's an example of the medium shot size:
 
(MS) MEDIUM SHOT EXAMPLE IN X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST
Medium shots may seem like the most standard camera shot around, but every shot size you
choose will have an effect on the viewer. A medium shot can often be used as a buffer shot for
dialogue scenes that have an important moment later that will be shown in a close-up shot.

6. If you don't use all of the different types of camera shots in film, how can you signal anything to
your viewer without shot size contrast.
MEDIUM CLOSE UP SHOT (MCU)
The medium close-up frames your subject from roughly the chest up. So it typically favors the
face, but still keeps the subject somewhat distant.
Here's an example of the medium close-up shot size:
 
(MCU) MEDIUM CLOSE UP SHOT EXAMPLE IN NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
The medium close-up camera shot size keeps the characters eerily distant even during their face-
to-face conversation.
CLOSE UP (CU)
YOU KNOW IT ’S TIME FOR A  CLOSE-UP SHOT WHEN YOU WANT TO REVEAL A SUBJECT ’S EMOTIONS AND 
REACTIONS. THE CLOSE‐UP CAMERA SHOT FILLS YOUR FRAME WITH A PART OF YOUR SUBJECT . IF YOUR 
SUBJECT IS A PERSON , IT IS OFTEN THEIR FACE . HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE CLOSE ‐UP SHOT SIZE :
 

7. (CU) CLOSE-UP SHOT EXAMPLE IN THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Of all the different types of camera shot sizes in film, a close-up is perfect for moments that are
important. The close-up shot size is near enough to register tiny emotions, but not so close that
we lose visibility.
EXTREME CLOSE UP (ECU)
An extreme close-up is the most you can fill a frame with your subject. It often shows eyes,
mouth and gun triggers. In extreme close-up shots, smaller objects get great detail and are the
focal point.
Use an ECU to emphasize a specific feature of your subject:
 
(ECU) EXTREME CLOSE-UP CAMERA SHOT EXAMPLE IN X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Visionary filmmaker, Darren Aronofsky uses various degrees of close-ups in his work, like in his
film Black Swan. In this extreme close-up, we see that her transformation happens quite
literally. Aronofsky uses the extreme close up shot size to show feathers growing in Nina’s back.
 

8. (ECU) EXTREME CLOSE-UP EXAMPLE IN BLACK SWAN
Extreme close-ups can be used in many different film genres, which includes comedy as well.
Here's an ECU example:
 
TYPE OF CAMERA SHOTS EXAMPLE : (ECU) EXTREME CLOSE UP IN LITTLE MISS