camera techniques

Camera techniques research:

Extreme Long Shot (ELS) or Extreme Wide Shot (EWS)

An extreme long shot (or extreme wide shot) makes

 An extreme long shot makes your subject appear small against their location. You can use an extreme long shot to make your subject feel distant or unfamiliar. An extreme long shot can be used to show the subject from a distance, or the area in which the scene is taking place. An ELS/EWS can be used to give information about the location and time of the scene.

Long Shot (LS) or Wide Shot (WS)

The long shot (also known as a wide shot, abbreviated “WS”) is the same idea, but a bit closer. If your subject is a person then his or her whole body will be in view — but not filling the shot. A long shot/wide shot is used as an establishing shot in a film, as it normally sets the scene and the place the character is in. A wide shot tells the audience who is in the scene, where the scene is set, and when the scene takes place.

Eye level shot

The eye level shot is one of a handful of basic camera angles used repeatedly in films. An eye level shot is exactly what it sounds like,  a shot where the camera is positioned directly at a character or characters' eye level. An eye level shot is used to give the audience a very familiar perspective of the scene.

Low angle shot

In cinematography, a low-angle shot is a shot from a camera angle positioned low, anywhere below the eye line, looking up. Sometimes, it is even directly below the subject's feet. Psychologically, the effect of the low-angle shot is that it makes the subject look strong and powerful. Psychologically, the effect of the low-angle shot is that it makes the subject look strong and powerful.

High angle shot

A high-angle shot is a cinematography technique where the camera points down on the subject from above.  High-angle shots are used to make the subject or object seem vulnerable, powerless, or weak. A high angle shot looks down at the subject from a higher perspective and can convey information or elicit an emotional response from the audience.

Hip level shot

The hip level shot or cowboy shot is created when the camera is placed nearly waist-high. It is used mostly in cowboy movies to intensify the moment of pulling out the gun in a duel scene. It is also useful when characters are not at the same level. It is used mostly in cowboy movies to intensify the moment of pulling out the gun in a duel scene. 

Knee angle shot

This is when your camera height is about as low as your subject's knees. They can emphasize a character's superiority if paired with a low angle. It's not as extreme as a ground level shot but it gets the same feeling across.  It's mostly used when showing a character while walking, especially when the focus is on the destination or on the subject that the character is following. 

Ground level shot

A ground level shot is the lowest position a camera can be put in. It has the same intentions as the knee level shot but it's more extreme and has more focus on the character and the walking movement. This camera angle is used a lot to feature a character walking without revealing their face, but it can help to make the viewer more active and use the actor's performance to build an idea.

Shoulder level shot

A shoulder level is when the camera is placed at the character's shoulders. It is one of the most used camera angles to follow a character. Shoulder level shot reduces the headroom and shows more of a character's body

Dutch angle shot

Also known as the Dutch Tilt, German Angle, canted angle, canted camera, or oblique angle, the technique consists of an angled camera shot where the horizon line isn't parallel with the bottom of the frame, and vertical lines are at an angle to the side of the frame. A Dutch angle gives viewers an uneasy feeling, like something isn't quite right, or something ominous is looming just ahead. This type of camera shot can create a feeling of disorientation, madness, or imbalance. Dutch angles enhance tension, generate fear, and exacerbate unsteadiness.

Extreme wide shot

Extreme wide shot: Filmed from so far away that the audience can no longer see the actor. The context of an extreme wide shot may indicate that the character(s) are somewhere in the scene, however. Extreme wide shots are often used as establishing shots. This type of camera shot, shows the full length of the subject while also including a large amount of the surrounding area of the film setting.

Full shot

Full shot. The full shot is just as the name implies and shows the entire body of the subject from head to toe. This shot tends to focus more on the character's movement and gestures, rather than their state of mind.

Medium shot

A medium shot, also called a mid-shot or waist shot, is a type of camera shot in film and television that shows an actor approximately from the waist up. A medium shot is used to emphasize both the actor and their surroundings by giving them an equal presence on screen.

Medium long shot

Medium long Shot. A medium long shot, or waist shot, indicates that it was captured at a medium distance from the subject. It is often used for back and forth dialogue within a scene as it allows the viewer to have a solid view of each character within a film.