We use different camera angles in media for many reasons. It makes the visuals of the media much more interesting, rather than one range of shot the whole time. It can create impact, enhance actions, informs and can also change the way we perceive things.

Ferris Buelers Day off

Extreme Close Up (ECU) Extreme close ups are taken from a very close range and usually are used to create a sense of emotion. It creates a connection to the viewer because of how close we are to the character or object which can make us feel different things. Close up’s are generally used at points when we feel suspense or important events or emotions are displayed.

This type of shot gives us the opportunity to see what is going on in the shot directly and clearly. They allow us to see a certain body shot at a closer range, they are used in-between shots to add a personal level and also emphasis to the feature.

For example this shot is taken from Ferris Bueler’s Day off when Cameron Frye is horrified when Ferris Bueler crashes his fathers car though a glass wall. A close up shot was used to show the shock, worry and fear is his eyes.

Harry PotterBig Close up (CU)

Big Close up shots are usually of a face and hold most for the image in the shot. They are used alike extreme close ups to capture emotion or an element of expression but are different because don’t have as much of an impact so don’t go down to that scale in which we focus on a feature eg. Eyes or mouth.

They can be used to exaggerate emotion because we are in the subjects personal space so we share emotion through the shot. It shows more emotion than a normal close up shot so we use this sort of shot at more relevant times.

This shot was taken from Harry Potter: Half Blood Prince when Herminie Granger see’s Ron, her secret crush kissing Lavender Brown. This shot was taken because we want to feel sympathy for her and share her emotion. We would have used the extreme close up on Ron and Lavender kissing because this would have been more of a shock/ twist.

Close up (CU)

Easy A

Close up shots are used at scenes a lot like big close up’s but preferably at less emotional points. We use them to also capture detail and emotion but if we don’t want a necessary impact of the emotion we may chose to keep the viewer further away

For example, in Easy A when Olive is labelled as a “slut” and a public victim of bullying in school, she reacts to it differently than the stereotypical way. She tries to embrace it and blows a kiss to her bully, we want to be close up in the shot to experience the way she reacts but not too close to feel as though it is directed to us.

Pulp Fiction

Medium Close Up (MCU)

Medium Close Up shots are used to get a level of detail and understanding of the shot without us getting too close to the subject in which we may get a connection to the action/object/character.They allow us to see a relatively large amount of detail while fitting a lot into the shot. It falls in-between the medium shots and close ups.

This example is taken from the Pulp Fiction opening scene where the two characters are talking in a booth. We don’t want to be too far from the characters in which we are viewing because we wouldn’t engage with them but we want to be close enough so we can still see detail and relate.

Medium Shot (MS)The Hunger Games

Medium Shot’s are a very common shot because they allow us to view a relatively large amount of the scene. They are shot from a medium distance away and usually shoot from the waist to head ratio of a person. This allows us to see facial expression and some body language. They are not very personal so we would not use them in times of emotion, more to convey conversation in-between people, interviews/ getting information.

They make the viewer feel as though they are viewing everything in the shot even though they may not be. It is a comfortable range, it is a distance that is typical for a real life conversation so it feels very comfortable and realistic.

For example in this shot from The Hunger Games, when the two characters are watching their rivals train, it is a neutral situation so we use a casual shot to reflect this.

Medium Long Shot (MLS) Mamma Mia

Medium Long Shot’s are shot from beyond a medium distance from the subject. We use this shot when we want to have a relatively far distance from the subject because we do not want to interfere or intrude. This shot allows us quite clearly to see everything in the scene, it is quite common because it allows us to experience everything while not being disconnected from the action.

This is a good shot because we are able to see the subjects facial expression while observing their body language which alters the effect. It is often used when we want more than one person in the shot but still want a level of detail.

For example, this scene from Mamma Mia when the three characters sing and dance about the memories of when they were young, and about letting their children grow up. We have a relative distance in-between us because we want to view everything that is going on in the scene, not being too close so we do not miss action, but close enough to see expressions and to feel like we are part of the scene.

Point of View Shot (POV)Paranormal Activity

POV shots are used so the viewers perceive what the character is doing (in their perspective). This is used for a number of reasons, it can add emotion because it adds empathy because we experience things as them, can add suspense- horror movies for example; instead of seeing someone's perspective, we experience what they are so it feels as though we are in the events.This shot allows the audience to feel more involved.

For example in Paranormal Activity the majority of the film is shot in POV because it makes the audience feel as though they are in the film because they perceive everything as though they were there. This shot makes it personal because we see a hand (us) holding a photo and we look down onto the photo as if it were us holding and looking at it.

Cut-In’s and Cutaways

Cut in’s are short shots that are relatively close to break up the big shots. They usually focus in on the subjects face or certain body part to gain more information or bulk up scenes. They usually are not very important shots, they are edited in for extra exaggeration of emotion/ emphasis.

For example, this shot may be added into a shot to show the movement in the persons gestures which may be because of enthusiasm or anger ect.

Cut-away’s are the opposite, they focus on something besides the subject to once again bulk up the scenes but it adds interest while giving a break from something the scene (refreshes the eyes- something else to look at so the scene does not get boring for viewer).

Noddy Shot (NS)

Noddy Shot’s are very basic shots in which the camera sticks to the subject, usually when still. They focus on the subject usually to gather information. It is a “listen and react” shot where we film the experience of the person without cutting into other shots so we watch their actions on one roll.

They are common in interviews because we are watching a straight-forward scene where we do not need to view much else and it is direct and precise.

Over the shoulder shot (OSS)

Over The Shoulder Shot’s are filmed; obviously over the shoulder of the person looking at the subject/thing that is being filmed. The focus thought be on the subject, not the person we are looking past- and they should not take up too much of the shot either.

When using this type of shot we usually switch between all the characters shoulders to reinact a conversation through the camera work, this makes it seem as though we are overlooking what is going on in the scene.

It helps us establish the whereabouts of all the characters, and it makes the viewer feel comfortable because we are not in the centre of the action, we are behind.

Long Shot (LS)

My Sisters Keeper

Long Shot’s are the smaller version of the ELS which exaggerates this shot even more. Long shots allow enough room for everything necessary to take place without exaggerating it too much (distance). They are taken from a long distance away in which we can fit everything in, we cannot make out detail or facial expressions, we can see body language and actions.

In this shot from My Sisters Keeper we can see all three characters easily, it allows us to believe we are seeing everything relative in this shot, we can see the background and foreground of the scene, nothing is cut off or separate.

Extreme Long Shot (ELS)

Hunger Games

Extreme Long Shots are taken from a far distance to fit the subject in the frame fully without cutting off the head and feet to make it look comfortable and realistic. There is usually a lot of extra space in the long shot, they are used to fit in more into the scene or to show distance/space. We cannot see detail or facial expressions in the long shot because of how far the range is.

For example, in this shot from The Hunger Games we see the character running forwards and the shot captures everything in the background which exaggerates how much she (presumably) ran and lets us see the surrounding we are in.

Establishing Shot (ES)

The Devil Wears Prada

Establishing shots are usually of the setting of a scene in which the audience is able to overview everything to see all the action within it. They are usually used in the opening of a scene to give an overview before we enter the actual filming. They are not close shots, usually extreme long shots so we can see everything needed.

Like in this example of an establishing shot from The Devil Wears Prada, where we can see the view of New York City, it is an extreme long shot so we can see all aspects of the city, bridges, sea, buildings, civilisation. We use this shot to exaggerate the size of the city and show us the setting of our story.

Handheld shot

Paranormal Activity 1

Handheld shots are simply a shot that is held in the hands opposed to being steady on a tripod. We do this to create a jerky, unbalanced, “real-life” sort of feeling. It gives a much more personal, realistic feel to the filming.

For example, this shot from Paranormal Activity 1 we can see in the reflection in the mirror that the subject is holding the camera. Throughout the movie there are handheld shots, giving the audience the perception that the subject is recording there experiences and we see what is on the camera in which they are holding. This gives us a realistic feel in which we can experience the same thing as the subject.

Pan ShotHerbie Fully Loaded/Formula 1

Pan Shots/Panning is when the camera moves continuously left to right (or opposite). We use them to capture all the action of the subject unlike when we stop filming and use a different angle/shot and we miss something. They are used to give the impression that we are always watching the subject(s) closely, so we do not miss out on viewing.

We use panning in things like Formula 1 and Herbie: Fully Loaded, the camera moves side to side capturing all the action. We do not change cameras because it will confuse the viewers and potentially miss something.

180 degree rule

The three cameras on the left of the image