Shot Scale Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock (1960)

Definition: How close or how far the subject of the shot is from the

camera

Extreme Close Up (ECU): A framing that is comparatively tighter than a close-up, singling out a specific detail of a person or object

Close up (CU): Framing that shows details of a person or object, such as a character’s face

Medium Shot (MS): A middle-ground framing in which we see the body of a person from approximately the waist up

Medium Long Shot (MLS): A framing that increases the distance between the camera and the subject compared to a medium shot; it

shows most of an individual’s body

Long Shot (LS): A framing that places considerable distance between the camera and the scene or person so that the object or person is recognizable but defined by the large space and background

Extreme long shot (ELS): A framing from a comparatively greater distance than a long shot, in which the surrounding space

dominates human figures, such as in distant vistas of cities or landscapes.

Camera AngleCitizen Kane, Orson Welles (1941)

The Shawshank Redemption, Frank Darabont (1994)

High Angle: A shot directed at a downward angle on individuals or a scene

Low Angle: A shot from a position lower than its subject

Overhead Shot: A shot that depicts the action from above, generally looking down on the subject; the camera may be mounted on a crane

Canted Angle: Framing that is not level, creating an unbalanced appearance