Storyboarding

Camera Shot Types

The linked video is an older demo for camera shot types. The information is still relevant.

[Camera Shot Types]

Close up (CU)

• The camera is placed 'close' and zoomed in on the subject being shot
• Used to draw more attention to the main subject
• How tightly composed on the subject can determine the level of the viewer response

Medium Shot (MS)

• Labeled as a medium shot because of the distance from the subject
• Medium shots are the average distance between a Close Up shot and a Full shot
• Medium shots are usually used for dialogue between two subjects. Medium shots are considered to be how most people view others during conversation

Medium Long (MLS)

• Medium Long shots, sometimes called an American shot, refers to the distance of the camera from the subject
• Medium Long shots are the average distance between a medium and a Wide shot
• The subject encompasses the frame from the knees up

Wide Shot (WS)

• Wide shot refers to the amount of the field viewable through the camera
• The camera is positioned so that all of the subject is viewable
• Wide shots have a variety of meanings to varying people

Long Shot (LS)

• The camera is placed a 'long' distance from the subject
• Long shots are used to establish time, place and mood

Extreme Close Up (XCU)

• Closer than a Close Up shot
• The camera is positioned close to the subject and zoomed in
• Extreme Close Up shots are used so that the viewer is put uncomfortably close to the subject

Extreme Long Shot (XLS)

• Further away than a Long shot
• The camera is position far away from the subject
• Extreme Long shots are used to establish a large amount of the environment or establish the insignificance of the subject in scale

High Angle

• High Angle because of the height of the camera to the subject
• The camera is placed above the subject and angled down to face the subject
• High Angle shots implies the viewer is superior to the subject

Low Angle

• Low Angle because of the height from the subject
• Low Angle shots are positioned below the subject and rotated up to focus on the subject
• Low Angle shots are used to make the subject seem more imposing or heroic to the viewer

Aerial

• Sometimes referred to as a Birds Eye view
• The camera is placed extremely high over the subject being shot
• The Aerial shot is used to establish location, time, and can reinforce mood
• Aerial shots can make the subject seem insignificant

Profile

• The camera is position 90 degrees facing the subject
• Viewing the subject from the side, the viewer is put into a neutral emotional response to the subject

Frontal

• Called a Frontal shot because of the view of the subject
• The Frontal shot is composed so that the front of the subject is facing the camera
• A Frontal shot can cause the viewer to become uncomfortable with the subject being shot

Three Quarter

• Three Quarter refers to the amount of the subject viewable by the camera
• The camera is placed at a 45 degree angle to the subject
• Viewing so much of the subject helps the view identify with the subject

Two Shot

• Called a Two shot because of the amount of subjects in the shot
• The camera can be placed in a variety of positions as long as two subjects are in the shot
• Two subjects in the same shot lets the viewer observe the interactions objectively

Point of View (POV)

• The camera is positioned to view the environment from the subjects view
• The viewer is forced to experience the subject's environment in the point of view shot

Over the Shoulder (OTS)

• Over the Shoulder refers to the location of the camera
• The camera is positioned behind the subject just above the shoulder and to the side
• Over the Should shots lets the viewer into the perceptions of the hidden subject and how they see the visible subject

Over the Hip (OTH)

• Over the Hip refers tot he location of the camera
• The camera is positioned behind the subject just above the waist line and to the side
• Typically the fully visible subject is framed through the arms of the hidden subject
• Sometimes the visible subject is inferred to be inferior to the hidden subject

Cut Away (Insert)

• Sometimes called an Insert, it is usually used for editing purposes
• The Cut Away shot starts with the subject then moves away to another
• The Cut Away is used to give the viewer more information about the subject and scene