Camera Shots and Angles

Extreme wide shot (EWS) – Shows the subject's surroundings. Most often used as an establishing shot.

Wide shot (WS) – A little closer than an EWS, but still shows a lot of the subject's surroundings.

Mid shot (MS) – Closer still, shows subject in more detail. Bottom half of subject is cut off.

Medium close up (MCU) – Between MS and CU distance-wise, shows more detail in the subject's face.

Close up (CU) – Whole frame is taken up by a certain feature or part of the subject.

Extreme close up (ECU) – The shot is very close, showing extreme detail. They are usually of the subject's face, and shows more reactions and general emotion. A variation of the ECU is a choker shot, which typically shows the subject from just above the eyebrows to just below the mouth.

Cut-In – Shows another part of the subject (i.e. not the face) in detail.

Over-the-shoulder – Looks from behind a person at the subject. These are usually used in scenes of conversation.

Point of view (POV) – Shows a view from the subject's perspective, or point of view.

Low angle – Opposite of a high angle shot, shows the subject from a low angle, looking up. Usually makes the subject look superior and dominating.

High angle – Looking down on the subject, they are shown from a higher angle. Usually makes the subject look inferior and dominated.

Canted/Dutch tilt – Angle is deliberately slanted to one side. This can used to dramatically portray unease, disorientation, frantic or desperate action, intoxication, madness, etc.

Weather shot – The subject is the weather - most commonly it is the sky, but can also be anything to show rainfall/flow or the blowing of wind etc.

Pan – Camera moves from one side to the other, usually following a subject. Can also be used to establish a scene.

Medium two shot – A mid shot of two people. Sometimes used to show a friendship/companionship or perhaps just a group of people.