Camera Shots in Filmmaking

Study Notes

Extreme Long Shot (ELS): Captures the subject from a distance, showing the environment.
Long Shot (LS): Frames the subject from head to toe, providing context.
Medium Long Shot (MLS): Combines elements of long and medium shots.
Medium Shot (MS): Frames the subject from the waist up, emphasizing gestures.
Close-Up (CU): Focuses on the subject's face or an object, conveying emotions.
Extreme Close-Up (ECU): Highlights details, such as eyes or objects.

High Angle: Camera looks down, conveying vulnerability or weakness.
Low Angle: Camera looks up, implying power or dominance.
Eye-Level Angle: Camera is at the subject's eye level, creating a sense of equality.
Dutch Angle (or Canted Shot): Camera is tilted, conveying unease or disorientation.

Pan: Camera moves left or right, following the subject or revealing the environment.
Tilt: Camera moves up or down, emphasizing vertical elements.
Dolly: Camera moves forward or backward, creating a sense of intimacy or distance.
Tracking Shot: Camera follows the subject as it moves, creating a sense of dynamism.
Handheld Shot: Camera is held by the operator, creating a sense of realism or urgency.

Over-the-Shoulder (OTS): Frames one character from behind the shoulder of another.
Point-of-View (POV) Shot: Shows what a character is seeing.
Reaction Shot: Captures a character's reaction to a situation.
Cutaway: Interrupts the main scene to show something else, often for context.

Extreme Long Shot (ELS): Captures the subject from a distance, showing the environment and establishing context.
Long Shot (LS): Frames the subject from head to toe, providing context and showing the subject's interaction with the environment.
Medium Long Shot (MLS): Combines elements of long and medium shots, providing a balanced view of the subject and their environment.
Medium Shot (MS): Frames the subject from the waist up, emphasizing gestures and body language.
Close-Up (CU): Focuses on the subject's face or an object, conveying emotions and intimacy.
Extreme Close-Up (ECU): Highlights details, such as eyes or objects, drawing attention to specific elements.

High Angle: Camera looks down, conveying vulnerability or weakness, and making the subject appear powerless.
Low Angle: Camera looks up, implying power or dominance, and making the subject appear strong.
Eye-Level Angle: Camera is at the subject's eye level, creating a sense of equality and neutrality.
Dutch Angle (or Canted Shot): Camera is tilted, conveying unease or disorientation, and creating a sense of tension.

Pan: Camera moves left or right, following the subject or revealing the environment, and creating a sense of continuity.
Tilt: Camera moves up or down, emphasizing vertical elements, and guiding the viewer's attention.
Dolly: Camera moves forward or backward, creating a sense of intimacy or distance, and manipulating the viewer's emotional response.
Tracking Shot: Camera follows the subject as it moves, creating a sense of dynamism and energy.
Handheld Shot: Camera is held by the operator, creating a sense of realism or urgency, and conveying a documentary feel.

Over-the-Shoulder (OTS): Frames one character from behind the shoulder of another, creating a sense of intimacy and relationships.
Point-of-View (POV) Shot: Shows what a character is seeing, creating a sense of immersion, and increasing empathy.
Reaction Shot: Captures a character's reaction to a situation, conveying emotion, and creating dramatic tension.
Cutaway: Interrupts the main scene to show something else, often for context, and adding depth to the narrative.