Media Studies- Camera ShotsBy 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.

Bird’s Eye View (BEV)

• Bird’s 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.