CHAPTER – 9 Camera Shots & Angles

Camera shots
Long Shot, Medium Shot, Medium Close-up, Close-up, Extreme Close Up, Over the Shoulder, Two-Shot, Three-shot,

Camera Angles
Straight Angle, Eye Level, Side Angle, Low Angle, High Angle,

1. CHAPTER – 9
Camera Shots &
Angles
Amir Ibrahim
Nov-2021

2. ●Camera Shot types
●Camera Angle types
●Other Useful concepts
Topics

3. Camera Shot
types

4. Long Shot
–It establishes the scene
–Shows subjects in their
surroundings
–Tells the viewer where
the action is taking place

5. Medium Shot
–Used to introduce a character
for the first time
–Framing is usually set so that
the top of the frame is just
above the head and the bottom
of the fame is just below the
waist

6. Medium Close-up
–Tighter than a medium shot
–The top of the frame is just
above the character’s head and
the bottom of the frame is just
below the chest

7. Close-up
–Used to reveal a character’s
feelings.
–Restrict how much of a scene
and/or action the audience
sees.
–The top of the frame is just
above the character’s head and
the bottom of the frame is just
below the chin.

8. Extreme Close Up
- Often used to reveal feelings
WITHOUT using dialogue or
to provide the audience with a
view of a specific detail
- Examples include a person’s
eyes, mouth, or hands, or an
inanimate object such as the
contents of a letter

9. Over the Shoulder
–Shooting over-the-shoulder of
one subject to reveal another
subject.
–The speaker’s full face is shown
while the camera is aimed over
the shoulder of the listener
–Used in interview situations.

10. Long Shot Medium Shot
Extreme Close-up
Medium Close-up
Close-Up Shot

11. Two-Shot
•Shows two persons in a shot

12. Three-shot
•Shows three persons in a shot

13. Camera Angle
types

14. Straight Angle
–The camera is placed directly in
front of the talent at eye-level
and is used to involve the
audience with the action
–Example would be the shot used
during the anchors delivery of
the news

15. Eye Level
Most commonly used angle
Whether the subject is
standing or seated and
regardless of how small or tall
your subject may be.

16. Eye Level

17. Side Angle
The camera is placed at eye level, but usually at a 45 degree angle
from the subject. The audience views the action but is not directly
involved in the action.

18. Low Angle
•The camera is placed below the subject and is aimed up (shoots
upward).
•This angle exaggerates height and can give the impression that the
subject is larger and more powerful.

19. Low Angle

20. High Angle
•The camera is above the
subject matter and is aimed
down (shoots downward).
This angle has the effect of
reducing the apparent height of
the subject & gives the
impression that the subject is
smaller and less powerful.
•

21. High Angle

22. Other Useful
concepts

23. Tricky Shots
•Match Cut - Changing camera angles without breaking the continuity of
motion from scene to scene
– Imagine a Long Shot, Side Angle scene of someone walking, then
dropping something; then, in the next scene you have a Close-Up
Shot, Straight Angle of the person’s face showing his/her reaction to
the dropping of the item.
-Although the scene may actually have been filmed using two cameras
or the action may have been stopped in order for the one and only
camera to change positions, the audience never notices any
disruption in the action.

24. Screen Direction

25. What is screen direction?
•Screen direction is the direction people and objects face when viewed
through the camera.
•When shooting a scene, place the center of interests on an imaginary line.
•This line should not be crossed by the cameraperson to avoid reversal of
screen direction.

26. Example of Screen Direction
Reversing the screen direction (crossing that imaginary line) confuses the audience and
makes them think the subject is going in the opposite direction from which they came
In this example, the
elephant did NOT
change directions;
instead, the
photographer is simply
on the other side of the
elephant in each
separate picture (thus,
making it appear that
the elephant is walking
in two different
directions.

27. Composition
•The arranging or placing of elements in a shot.

28. Rule of Thirds
•The viewfinder screen is
divided into thirds horizontally
and vertically (like a tic-tac-
toe board).
When framing a shot, the
cameraperson should consider
these imaginary lines by
preferably placing the center of
interest at one of the four
intersecting points or on one of
the lines.

29. Head Room
•A person’s head should be appropriately placed in the shot.Don’t cut off
the top of their head, but don’t leave so much space above their head that
it distracts from their face.
Good Example of Headroom Bad Example of Headroom

30. Leading Looks
•When shooting a person or object in profile, leave space in front of the
person or object.

31. Leading Lines
•Lines that are in the environment may be used to lead to the center of
interest.

32. Level Horizon
•Keep the horizon level.
•A sloping horizon
– or a floor that doesn’t
appear horizontal is
distracting to viewers.

33. Framing
•Elements in the environment, such as trees and arches, etc., may be used
to create a border or frame around the shot.

34. Background
•Elements in the environment may
distract the viewer from the center of
interest.
•Be aware of bright colors, moving
objects, and any objects that appear
to grow out of peoples’ heads or
blend with a person.

35. Objects that are closest to camera will appear larger than
those that are far away

36. Arrange Groups Naturally
•Avoid widely separated subjects positioned at either edge of the
frame.
•Avoid large height differences between two people in a scene
Bad examples of arranging groups

37. Good examples of how to arrange groups

39. Silhouette Shot
•Background will be bright causing the subject to appear as a dark image
A dark image outlined against a lighter background•

41. End of chapter - 9
Nov - 2021