Monday 5 October 2015

Basic Camerawork: Shot Types

Here is an image of the basic shot distances. As you can see from the images as they go along they get closer and closer to the subject, hence the name of the shot distances, they go up in extremes.


Now I am going to add a video as well as the picture to help you understand the basic shot distances more.


Those were the shot distances now here are the different basic shot types.

An establishing shot - This is usually the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the action is taking place. It is usually a very wide shot or an extreme wide shot.


A Montage shot - A montage is a technique in which a series of short shots are edited into a sequence to condense space, time and information.



A shot/reverse shot - A technique where one character is shown looking at another character and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character.



Two shot - A shot of two people together. The subjects do not have to be standing next to each other. They could be standing in front or behind each other as long as they are both in the shot.


Graphic match shot - A cut in a film between two different objects in two different spaces that match graphically (Look similar).



Aerial Shot - A shot taken from a plane, helicopter or drone. It doesn't always have to have camera movement but sometimes does.



Point of view shot (POV) - A shot which shows the scene from the specific point of view of one of the characters. For this video look from 0:50 seconds to 1:29 seconds for the point of view shot.


High angle shot - A technique where the camera looks down on the subject from a high angle. This makes them look they are being intimidated by something or someone and makes them look inferior.


Low angle shot - A technique where the camera looks up at the subject from a low angle. This makes them look superior and like they are in charge.


Eye-level shot - An eye level shot is where the camera is level with the subjects line of view. Therefore, making them look on equal terms with everyone else unlike the high and low level shots.


For my next post i will be talking about the different types of basic camera movements.