Camera TerminologyCamera Terminology

By Holly Sheldon

Medium Close Up, Close Up, Medium Close Up, Close Up, Big Close Up & Extreme Close Big Close Up & Extreme Close UpUp

Close ups are taken quite close to the camera and are used to draw the viewer closer and involve them in what is happening. It also allows the viewer to get a better of sense of what emotions the subject is feeling such as happiness or tension. They are often used in films to

privilege the protagonist over other characters.

Extreme Close Ups tend to be used for DVD covers representing the genre of ‘Horror’ as there is little space around the subject it tends to make the viewers feel uncomfortable. I have included an original image I took to feature on the Horror film DVD cover that I produced in media last year.

Medium Long Shot, Medium Medium Long Shot, Medium Shot and Medium Close UpShot and Medium Close Up

Medium shots tend to be taken of a person from the knees upwards and are frequently used during dialogue scenes as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable and ensures that they can focus on the dialogue used and the character interaction.

Very Long Shot & Long ShotVery Long Shot & Long Shot

Long Shots are taken from a long distance and can be effective as an establishing shot that sets the scene for the actions and roles to the viewer. Very Long Shots tend to be used to show a subject as being alone, isolated or unimportant. It gives the viewers an idea of the characters’ lifestyle at the start of the film.

High Angle ShotHigh Angle Shot

A High Angle Shot provides a view from above the subject focusing down on them. It can sometimes be combined with a crane shot which moves closer towards the subject and gives viewers a more detailed view but still remaining the height of a high angle shot. A high angle shot can help viewers to perceive a character as vulnerable, powerless or isolated.

Low Angle ShotLow Angle Shot

A Low Angle Shot is where the camera approaches a subject from below eye level. It also can emphasise the size of the object being filmed and portray the subject/s we are looking up at as big and powerful and hold dominance over us and it makes the character we are seeing through seem weak.

Eye – Level ShotEye – Level Shot

An Eye-Level Shot is where the camera is positioned as if the viewers are looking through a character towards the opposite subject. This gives the viewers a sense of involvement and makes them feel part of the action. This helps them to experience the same emotions as the character we are seeing through.

Canted Angle ShotCanted Angle Shot

Canted Angle Shot - where the camera is tilted to one side. This is often used to create a feeling of disorientation, viewers will experience these frequently when watching horror films.

Rule of ThirdsRule of Thirds Rule of Thirds

A powerful compositional technique to make images appear interesting and dynamic. Rather than placing a person or object in the middle of the frame they are placed at the sides, or where the line cross on this imaginary grid. It often creates a sense of balance and a sense of complexity.

LightingLightingHigh Key Lighting – is a brightly lit scene which has very few shadows. This is often used in a TV Drama or film to make the viewers perceive the character as happy, friendly and safe. High key lighting reduces the lighting ratio presented in the scene. A variety of flashes are used to make a pure and white background. The character is usually shot in front of the background, due to the simple and spacious background it encourages viewers to focus solely on that character.

Low Key Lighting – is a dimly lit scene involving the use of shadows. This lighting can often make viewers perceive a specific location or character as shady, untrustworthy, dangerous or unsafe. It is used to show a high contrast between dark and light areas of the TV Drama or film. The light is typically surrounded by the subject illuminating on the contour of the shape.

Chiaroscuro Lighting – A scene that has been lit with extreme lighting and may involve the use of brightly lit sections or shadows. Its used to help viewers perceive a character as dramatic and unusual as well as shady, untrustworthy, dangerous or unsafe. Extreme lighting creates a dramatic effect that is good to express certain moods in films.

Mise-en-sceneMise-en-sceneBody Shape and Language – this is the posture and body language of the character which helps viewers to see what kind of person they are and how they feel towards other characters. For example if a character is slumping down they can be perceived as a un interested towards another character or situation. However a character that is cowering shows the viewers they may be afraid of another character or situation. However if a character was standing up tall with a straight posture they may be perceived to be up tight.

Facial features and Expressions – this is the way the character’s faces show emotion through their facial expressions or if they have any obvious facial features. For example a character could show a facial expression of surprise, sadness, love and this helps viewers to see how characters feel towards a certain character or situation and helps them to predict what may happen next. If a character has a particularly interesting facial feature such as crooked teeth characters may perceive them as an evil character that other characters need to stay away from or a character that suffers daily abuse due to the crooked teeth.

Mise-en-sceneMise-en-sceneProps – are items that are conveyed with a character, their possessions or pick ups can help viewers identify what person they are. For example if a character picks up a bunch of flowers they may be perceived as romantic.

Costumes – What the character is wearing can tell viewers a lot about the character, what type of person they are, how they are feeling that particular day and their social status and wealth. For example if we see a female wearing a floaty floral dress she would be perceived as a traditionally girly character. However if we saw a male in a suit and carrying a briefcase we would perceive him as a wealthy business man of high status.

Mise-en-sceneMise-en-sceneHair and make-up – can help viewers to identify how confident a person is and what their values and morals are, they can even predict what that character’s career might be. For example if someone was wearing a lot of vibrant and colourful stage make-up viewers could predict they have a career in acting. If a female was shot not wearing little make-up and not a lot of effort made with her hair, viewers could identify her as a naïve and innocent character, and perceive her as a character that doesn’t care much about what people think of her or her appearance.