Media guide to camera work In this booklet you will find the many types

of camera shots and their connotations.

By Chelsey Pitwell

Extreme Close up!

• Extreme close ups are used for specific uses that are significant to the narrative. For example a picture of an eye , this can show the emotion. Often used in horror films to show the fear or train of thought of the character. – this helps the audience to understand. It is also used for an object to show an action that is happening that ends up being a pinnacle point in the story for example someone pressing the big red button that lets of missiles that go to destroy a planet.

Close up!

• Close ups are used to show facial expression and to show emotions of a character giving the audience an understanding of the character which can be important to the story . It is also used to show dialogue and make it easier to see who is talking and when.

Mid shot / two shot!• Mid shots are used to show body language and

emotion. It captures the character emotions and gives you a better understanding of how the feel. It also shows relationships of characters and interactions. It also shows costume and relating to mise-en-scene shows the time period / social class ect.

Long shot!

• Long shots are used to capture an action shot. There is room to show relationship between characters and locations.

Over the shoulder

• Over the shoulder shots are used to show a conversation between people and have an understanding of who's talking and to understand who's talking and when. It also shows the emotion and the characters reactions to each other in great detail.

Birds eye view

• A birds eye view is to capture a photo / scene from a high angle , this shows the location and setting.

• Also from a high angle shot like this looking down on a person and it can make them look weak and minuscule . Demeaning the character.

Panoramic • Panoramic shots are there to set the scene and

location. They normally start at beginning of a scene when it buts to another location so the audience doesn’t look track of what's happening and have an understanding of location. When it is used at the beginning of a scene this is known as a MASTER SHOT or ESTABLISHING SHOT.

Low/ high angle shot

• A low angle shot is used to show the power / authority over someone making the character look like it is very important

• A high angle shot is used to show the character as demeaning and less important.

Panning movement • Panning movements are

normally when a camera is placed on a tripod and it is rotated left or right to follow action or a moving person/ object. You get a clean and straight shot because its resting on a tripod so it’s a clear picture without any jagged motion.

Tracking movement

• Tracking movements are used to go along side the action . Normally on a track going at the same pace as the character. You see these normally in big film studious and out on location. They are very easy to do and involve the audience in the action.

Tilt movement

• Tilt movements are vertically opposite to a panning shot , they stay in the same position but they tilt vertically instead of horizontally normally to capture a action scene or to show the enormity of a object etc.

Crane shot • Crane shots are to get movement into your

film and make it dynamic. Normally filmed on a cherry picker to Capture every bit of action going on.

Canted angle • When the horizon is at an angle, it connotes

all is not well and shows disaster to show that the worlds not right.If it’s a point of view shot its to show that someone is drunk/ infirm/ fallen over.