Camera AnglesTilly Cooper

High Angle Shot

The high angle shot is used to show that a character is often perceived as vulnerable or powerless or if the character is being looked at by another character who is higher up. This shot is just a shot where the camera is above the character who is looking towards it or at something else.

This angle is used in films like the Avengers to highlight the fact that they are realising the extent of their situation and the helplessness as the city is infested with some more crazy monster alien things that are smashing things up.

Low Angle ShotA shot where the camera is positioned below the character. This shot is used to highlight a character as being taller or more powerful than another or showing the shot of someone looking up to another person who is positioned higher up. For example in films like Spiderman the low angle shot is used to show his growing power and feel of establishing his place as he takes his role as Spiderman.

Establishing ShotThe establishing shot is used to

establish the place the film is going to be set or a place the characters are visiting and gives the viewer an idea of the sort of place, time or setting of the scenes to come. For example in films like The Devil Wears Prada the establishing shot is used to show the viewer that the film will be set in the city and in modern times. Its very common in films like Star Wars where the characters change settings a lot and an establishing shot can help the viewer keep track of their surroundings.

Extreme Long Shot

The extreme long shot is a shot from far away and showing a larger variety of space around a scene or a character. It normally shows an exterior of a setting and is often used to show scenes of thrilling action or adventure depending on the length the shot is shown for. An example of this shot is from the film avengers when this shot is used to show the viewer the enormity of the ship as it emerges from the fog ready to cause havoc.

Long Shot LS

A long shot is a shot in which a person can be seen from head to toe and is used to show “life size” so the viewer can understand the proportions better or have a full body view of a character. For example the long shot in the film Avengers is used at one point to show the full scale of the characters in their fighting positions as they battle monsters in an action scene. This shot is used to highlight the full scale of their fighting and give the viewer a better understanding.

Medium Long Shot MLSA medium long shot is a shot in

which a person can be seen from head to knee. It is a slightly smaller version of the Long Shot showing just less than the latter. This shot is most common in dialogue scenes for its ability to show just enough of the body language as well as house two or more characters on screen at once. An example of the medium long shot is in the film Jane Eyre when we see the protagonist and the love interest confessing their love and this is done with a medium long shot to just show them and the top half of their bodies.

Medium Shot MS

The medium shot is a shot in which a person can be seen from head to waist and is used to show more intimate conversations. This shot doesn’t really have the space to be showing many people and is therefore used for more intimate scenes. This type of shot has less background and focuses more on the characters and their dialogue than their surroundings. An example of a use of this shot is in the film Twilight when the couple are having a conversation and this shot is used to just show them in the shot.

Medium Close Up MCUThe medium close up is a shot in which a persona can be seen from head to shoulders/upper body. This shot is used mostly to highlight the face of a character and shows the viewer the persons emotions more than the longer shots. This shot is positioned closer to the person but not as close as a Close Up but still gives the viewer a detailed idea of the characters emotions. This shot is used for conversations too, when a conversation between two people occur this shot may be used on both people and the scene may happen with switching Medium Close Up’s of both the characters faces. An example of this is in the film Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone where the protagonist and his friends are having a conversation and the MCU is used.

Close Up CUThe close up is a shot in which a person’s head is captured. This type of shot is used to show a characters emotions and shows very little background. It is the sort of shot that makes the viewer focus solely on the character in question. An example of this is in the film the Clockwork Orange where there is a close up shot of the protagonist highlighting the insanity and unique look in the characters face.

Extreme Close Up XCU

An example of this is the shot used in the film Titanic where the protagonist is drawing the main character Rose. This shot is significant because we can see all the detail he is going into and almost feel what he is looking at as he draws her. This close up helps the viewer to understand his emotions in this scene and we are also made to feel a lot more intimate and sensual with the lighting and proximity highlighted.

The extreme close up shot is a shot which captures a specific feature of reaction on a persons face. This shot is most popularly used to show a characters emotions and helps the viewer to understand what the character is feeling, helping the viewer to feel more empathetic towards them.

Point Of View ShotA shot captured from a person’s point of view. This shot is usually used to highlight what the character sees and keeps the audience up to date on what's happening in that characters point of view. It can also make sure the audience knows who the main character is throughout the film as its usually their point of you we see. This makes the audience feel closer to the protagonist and melds the film to help the audience enjoy.

Two ShotThe two shot is any shot captured with two people in it. These sorts of shots are used as establishing shots during conversations to establish the amount of people in the conversation as well as to highlight the relationship between the two. The two shot is used very commonly during scenes with more than two people in to make it easier for the audience to comprehend if conversations range over that amount of people.

Over the Shoulder Shot

The over the shoulder shot is a shot in which we see a character over another character’s shoulder. These shots are often used to highlight height differences between characters as well as during conversations or confrontations. This shot is used during discussions and helps the audience place the characters in their settings.