Camera Shots and Framing

Mwe - 23/09/12

Camera Shots and Framing

Different camera shots:

1. Long Shot - Shows the full length of a person or object. It is normally used to establish the location (Also known as an establishing shot).
2. Close Up - Tightly frames a person or object. Close ups display the most detail but do not include the broader scene.
3. Two Shot - Where there are two people (the subjects) in the frame.
4. Shot Reverse Shot - Where one character is shown looking at another character and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. (Editing)
5. Over the Shoulder Shot - A shot of someone or something taken from the perspective from the shoulder of another person. The back of the shoulder and of the head is used to frame the image of whatever the camera is pointing to.
6. Medium Shot - A shot from a medium distance. Contains a figure from the knees/waist up.
7. Extreme Long Shot - Contains a large amount of landscape. Used to establish the general setting.
8. Overhead Shot - A shot looking down vertically on the action from above.
9. Point of View Shot - Shows what the character is looking at. Shows the view from the subject's perspective.
10. Extreme Close Up - This shot is used to show extreme detail.

Examples of Some Camera Shots:


Extreme Close up

Showing detail - can be used for dramatic effect.


Overhead Shot
Looking down on a subject.








Extreme Long Shot










Point of View Shot

 Filmmaking: Composition and Framing Tutorial 

 

 

 

Still Shots of Eastenders 

 

 



Over the shoulder shot





 

Only the back of the head and shoulder is needed in this frame to make it an over the shoulder shot. The male character is in the middle of the frame, so he is obviously the centre of attention in this scene.

Two Shot

A tight frame with two subjects and little background.

 

Extreme Close Up

 

A tight frame showing the phone. Does not include the broader scene and is used to attract everyone’s attention to the object.

Long Shot

 

A shot taken from far away, showing the entire subject on the swing. This shot could have been used to establish the location (Playground) and shows that the character is alone. 

 

Medium Shot

Showing the characters from the waist up and helps to establish the scene.

 

Overhead/Extreme Long Shot

 

 

A shot looking down on a large amount of landscape. This helps to establish the general setting.

 

 

This is a post on camera shots and framing. I have used ordinary picture examples and also pictures from an Eastenders episode to show how it is done in filming. I have also included a video about framing which I think is helpful and clear.