Exploring Perspectives in Visual Art 1.11

Shots and Framing

Shot:  a single piece of film uninterrupted by cuts.

Establishing Shot:  often a long shot or a series of shots that sets the scene.  It establishes setting an shows transitions between locations.

Long Shot (LS):  a shot from some distance.  If filming a person, the full body is shown.  It may show the isolation or vulnerability of the character (also call a Full Shot).

Medium Shot (MS):  the most common shot.  The camera seems to be a medium distance from the object being filmed.  A medium shot shows the person from the waist up.  The effect is to ground the story.

Close Up (CU):  the image takes up a least 80 percent of the frame.

Extreme Close Up:  The image is a part of a whole, such as an eye.

Two Shot:  a scene between two people shot exclusively from an angle that includes both characters more or less equally.  It is used in love scenes where interaction between the two characters is important.

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Camera Angles

Eye Level:  a shot taken from a normal height; that is the character's eye level.  Ninety to ninety-five percent of the shots seen are eye level, because it is the most natural angle.

High Angle:  a shot taken from above the subject.  This angle usually has the effect of making the subject look smaller than normal giving him or her the appearance of being weak, powerless, and trapped.

Low Angle:  a shot taken from below the subject.  Can make the subject look larger than normal and thus strong, powerful, and threatening.

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Lighting

High Key:  the scene is flooded with light, creating a bright and open-looking scene.

Low Key:  the scene is flooded with shadows and darkness, creating suspense or suspicion.

Bottom or Side Lighting:  direct lighting from below or the side, which often makes the subject appear dangerous or evil.

Front or Back Lighting:  soft lighting on the actor's face or from behind gives the appearance of innocence or goodness, or a halo effect.