Camera Shots

Last week in class we looked at different type of camera shots, ranging from extreme close ups usually when a character is showing emotion, to establishing shots, which tend show the landscape and location of the film and are usually at the opening of a film to show the audience where it is taking place.

Other types of camera shots include;

Big Close Up (BCU) - Usually used in dramatic scenes, to show emotion. 

Here's an example-

Medium Close Up (MCU)- This is a head and shoulder shot and tends to be used when an exchange between characters is happen, so usually dialogue shots

Medium Shot (MS)- Again it's used when characters are having a conversation as it keeps the audience in contact with the scene.

Medium Long Shot (MLS) - This usually places characters in the location.

Long Shot (LS)- Used in epic dramatic scenes so the audience can see more of the scene and location.

Establishing Shot (ES) - This tends to happen at the beginning of a scene and is usually of a landscape so the audience knows where it is taking place.

Here's another example-

Angle shots usually reveal certain this about the characters and their situation. For example High Angle shots often show vulnerability of the characters as we're staring down at them, whereas Low Angle shots, is where we are looking up at a character. This can show power and authority as we're are looking up at them.

For example in the picture below taken from Superman Returns (2006)  the camera is set up as a low angle shot, emphasising Superman's power as he looks on in the distance. In this shot we definitely as, an audience, get a sense of his dominance as a character.

Dutch angle shots is where the camera is tilted to offset the lines on a screen. This often gives us a sense that something is not right, making it unsettling, as does a reverse angle shot which brings the eyes in signifying the next thing you see will be important.

Here's a picture representation of some camera shots-

Thanks for reading :)