cinematography

 Cinematography

Establishing shot:

This shot is usually wide or long, which can often be used at the start of a programme or film, a new section of a programme or at the start of a new scene to establish the relationship between the set/location and the characters and to show the whole view of the set.

High angle:

Higher shots are where the camera is positioned higher than the person’s eyeline, seeming as though were looking down at them. This is often used to make a character in the shot seem weaker, younger or more vulnerable.

Low angle:

A shot where the camera is placed lower than the eyeline of the person in the shot, looking up at them.  It can make the character shown seem big and powerful and it can make us or the character we are seeing through, seem small and weak.

Eye Level angle:

You may want to use an eye-level shot to bring the audience into the story. This can help humanise the character at the centre of the story or be used as a reveal for an object within the frame.

Mid Shot/Medium Shot:

 

A shot showing around half of a person to their waist.  Normally used to show their emotions and some of their body language and setting in order to aid our understanding.

Over The Shoulder Shot:

A shot which is filmed just over the shoulder of one character, normally looking at another character.  This is used to make us feel like we are part of the scene and show us some of the character’s perspective. 

Point-of-View Shot (POV):

                                                      

a camera shot taken from the position of the subject, used to enhance a sense of realism and audience involvement in the action.

Two Shot: 

                                 

A shot that frames two people on screen at the same time.  It is used to show the audience the relationship between two characters.

Canted Angle

A shot which is tilted to one side.  This is often used to create a feeling of disorientation, anxiety or chaos.

A shot which is tilted to one side.  This is often used to create a feeling of disorientation, anxiety or chaos.

Close up (and variations):

close ups, including extreme, big and medium close ups, are used to draw the viewer closer and to involve them in what is happening; they also used to observe reactions and emotions, such is happiness, elation or tension.  These shots are often used to help the audience feel sympathy for that character or side with them.  Alternatively, a series of close ups / extreme close-ups often make the audience feel quite claustrophobic and uncomfortable.

Medium close-up:

top of the head to the shoulder 

Extreme close-up:

focused on one part of the face, such as mouth or an eye

Big close-up:

forehead to chinforehead to chin