Media Studies- Camera

Shots
By Jess Richards
Extreme Close Up (ECU)

Pretty much an extreme version
of the close up shot. This shot
generally magnifies things to
what we could not normally see
in reality. There is no
background detail and it is a very
artificial shot.
Big Close Up (BCU)
A Big close up shot is can still
include minimal background
detail. However, the focus of the
character/object is more defined
and important. E.g if the shot
was on a character, the eyes and
mouth would be shown, but not
the whole head.
Close Up (CU)
There is very minimal
background detail in close up
shots, and it mainly focuses on
either a face or an object. The
shot magnifies things and shows
the importance of things. The
close up takes us into the mind
of the character, as the close up
is a very intimate shot.
Medium Close Up (MCU)
A medium close up shot is in
between a close up shot and
medium shot. It still gives a small
impression of the whole picture.
However, it zooms in on detail.
For example a character.
Medium Shot (MS)
The medium shot contains a
character from the hips/waist up
and normally is used in dialogue
scenes. The background detail is
minimal as the location normally
would have been set earlier in
the scene. However, it still gives
an impression of the whole
picture.
Medium Long Shot (MLS)
The medium long shot (also
known as the three quarter
shot) shows a character from the
knee up. It shows the object in
regards to its surroundings.
Long Shot (LS)
The long shot is used to portray
something or someone as life
size to the audience. For
example, on TV, a man appears 6
foot tall because of the long shot
making it realistic. Even though
the main focus is on the
characters, the background
detail is not drained out.
Establishing Shot (ES)
An establishing shot is normally
the first shot of a scene. It is
used to set the scene for the
audience, giving them
knowledge of the surroundings
and location. This shot is
normally a wide-shot or an
extreme wide-shot.
High Angle Shot (HA)
This shot helps the audience get
a general overview of the action.
This makes the object focused
on seem less significant and
smaller. The object or character
seems part of a wider picture as
they get swallowed by the
setting from a higher up angle.
Low Angle Shot (LA)
The low angle shot increases
height to the object or character.
It gives the audience a sense of
powerlessness or confusion. The
surroundings are normally bare,
adding to the sense of
disorientation.
Birds Eye View (BEV)
Birds eye view is a shot from
directly above. It is a very
unnatural shot, and sometimes
seems unrecognisable. This shot
makes the audience feel more
important looking down on the
action.
Dutch Angle (DA)
The Dutch angle is when the
camera is deliberately tilted to
one side. It can create a sense of
unease, disorientation,
intoxication, madness and so on.
Eye Level Shot (EL)
Eye level shot is a more neutral,
realistic shot. It seems as if the
picture is what a human is
seeing instead of a camera view.
Reverse Angle Shot (RA)
The reverse angle shot is
normally a shot from the
different side of the subject.
Normally used in dialogue, the
camera is facing the other
participate.