An Introduction to Shot Types

and Camera Movement

Creative Media Production
Close Ups
(Extreme to Medium)

 Close ups connote

that the audience is
next to the character.

 Itsuggest intimacy
and emotional
closeness.

 Closeups are
normally used in
dramatic scenes.
 Close Ups
There are three main types of close
up. Close Up (CU) Medium Close Up
Extreme Close Up
(ECU) (MCU)
Mid Shot
 A mid shot is an
approximation to how
you would normally
see someone while
talking to them. You
are not too close, or
too far.

 You can see the

character in some
detail, it is useful for
when a character is
giving information, but
not for expressing an
emotion.

 Medium Shot
 Medium Long Shot
Long Shot
(Extra to Wide)
 Characters are now
further back from the
camera. This
connotes that
environment they are
in is as important as
the characters
themselves.

 Just like close

ups, there
are
extreme versions of
long shots i.e. The
extreme long shot.

 This can also be

called a wide shot.
Two Shot
 A two shot simply
has two characters
that are present
on screen. The
characters could
be facing each
other or be side by
side. The camera
cannot be too far
away otherwise it
will become a long
shot.
Over the shoulder Shot
 Thisis self explanatory. The camera takes
place over the shoulder of a
character, usually talking to another
character. This allows you to see things from
the subjects point of view without going into a
POV shot. This could also be called a third
person perspective.
 High Angle/ Low
Angle

A high angle shot A low angle shot

makes the audience makes the audience
feel as if they are look up at someone.
towering above a
character.  This can connote a sense
 This can connote the of intimidation or
character is vulnerable, symbolise the power of a
isolated or powerless. character.
 Eye Level
The camera is positioned
as though it is a human
actually observing a
scene

Actors' heads are on a

level with the focus
POV Shot
POV stands for point of view shot.
This is where the audience sees
events from the characters’
perspective. This could also be called
the first person perspective.
Establishing Shot
 This is a shot of an
exterior location, that
precedes a scene
that takes place
inside of the it. It
usually does not last
any longer than a
few seconds.

 Establishingshots
are well used
conventions in soap
operas and TV
dramas.
Master Shot
A master shot is generally
a long shot that covers
all of the actors in a
scene at once.

 Master shots are useful for

group scenes. They
include everyone.

 Allof the action is seen

through this one
camera, the editor can
always fall back on the
master shot if there is no
other angle to take.
Aerial Shot
Aerial shots are taken using cranes,
helicopters or planes. They provide a
good long shot of the surroundings
of the area.
Tes
tClose
Up
Mid
Shot
Long
Shot
Establishing
Shot
`
High
Angle
Low
Angle
Master
Shot
Extreme Close
Up
Two
Shot
Aerial
Shot
Long
Shot
Two
Shot
Extreme Long
Shot
Long
Shot
Medium Close
Up
Close
Up
Mid
Shot
Close
Up
Over the Shoulder
Shot
High Angle
Shot
Aerial Shot (Crane
Shot)
Two
Shot
Long
Shot
Close
Up
Extreme Close
up
Point of View
Shot
Camera Movement
Justas important as the camera shots, is
the way that the camera moves in a
media text.

By moving the camera draws the

audiences’ attention to whatever the
producers want the audience to look at.

Camera movement can draw attention

to, reveal and lead the audience. So
understanding what each movement is
called is vital to conducting a good
textual analysis.
Tiltin
gA camera tilt moves
the camera from
vertically up or down.
It could create a
high or low angle
shot.
Tilt shots can
heighten an
audiences’
suspense as they
are not sure what
the shot will reveal.
Panning
 A camera pan is a
horizontal movement
left or right.

 Itcan follow a
character walking in
a particular direction,
or move away from
a character standing
still.

 Itcan reveal parts of

the scenery not
seen previously.
Zoom/ Reverse Zoom
A zoom is when the camera stays
fixed in position but zooms in on a
object, location or character.

Zooming from a mid shot to a close up

could mean that the scene is changing to
a more emotional tone or to reveal a
character’s reaction.

A reverse zoom (zoom out) moves the

shot from a close up to a mid or long
shot. Showing that the surroundings are
becoming more a focus in the story.
 Tracking Shot
 Tracking is when a camera shot is placed on a
track and is moved to keep up with the
movement of a character.

 The camera is mounted on a “Dolly”, a cart on a

track, which is then pushed or pulled.

 A camera can track a subject moving

towards, away from, moving left or moving right.

 Tracking shots can curve and change

direction, the camera is just always moving in a
smooth motion.

 Make sure you can understand the difference

between a track shot and a pan or a tilt. (If the
camera was a person, it would be walking in
a direction not just moving it’s head).