Shot Sizes

Shot Sizes

A camera shot is composed of the series of frames that are shot uninterrupted from the moment the camera starts rolling until it stops. By combining different shots, angles and camera movements, the film makers are able to emphasise, ideas and movement for each scene. Shot types are important as it creates a visual story for the audience, letting them easily follow a narrative through compelling camera work; the shots I have demonstrated below are some of the most commonly used shots in film.

Establishing Shot 

This is one of the most common shots to open film with, it is wide enough to show geography of setting, time off day, scale of environment and character(s). This shot gives the first impression of a setting/person as well as can mark a transition to new location. This is used to open a film/show to establish the setting and demonstrate the mood following the rest of the film.

Master Shot

A wide shot follows after an establishing shot, it demonstrates the geography of location the character is in as well as captures the scene in its entirety. Its purpose is to amplify and emphasise the mood, tone and atmosphere of the film, as it is normally one of the first or second things you see beginning a film. 

Wide Shot

A wide shot, also called a long shot or a full shot, is a shot that shows the subject within their surrounding environment. A wide shot tells the audience who is in the scene, where the scene is set, and when the scene takes place. The characters are normally far from the camera to show the scale of the subject. This can be commonly used when characters are lost/scared within the narrative of the film, this is needed to establish distance and depth between characters.

Full Shot

A Full Shot may cover a conversation until an important point (or high moment) is being reached, and then either the Zoom or Close-Up will come into play or a Pull Back to a Long Shot, to reveal a bigger picture. After the climactic moment, a return to the Full Shot might be utilised. The shot demonstrates a head to foot angle of the character, including their posture and wardrobe, thus making a statement on a characters physicality.

Medium Full Shot/Cowboy shot

Medium shots are favoured in sequences where dialogues or a small group of people are acting, as they give the viewer a partial view of the background, such as when the shot is 'cutting the person in half' and also show the subjects' facial expressions in the context of their body language. The top of the subjects head to waist is shown on camera, not fully letting the audience see the one character on screen; this can sometimes be used when a character in said film is being confident or confrontational.

Medium Shot

A medium shot (MS), or waist shot is captured at a medium distance from the subject. It is used for dialogue scenes, but also depict body language and more of the setting. Oftentimes it will frame multiple subjects as well as a portion of the background and space in general. This is one of the most popular shots used in film, this is because it is also a neutral shot within film. This shot is similar to how we interact with people, making it easy to read on screen for the audience. Moreover, this shot demonstrates the character being above the waist but ends just below the head.

Medium Close up

The idea of a medium close-up shot is that you can still easily register the actor's emotions and facial expressions while also retaining some of the background. A medium close-up is often used when a scene needs to be covered with standard coverage that doesn't shock the viewer. The shot shows the character from mid chest to just below the head, the shot reduces action and gets intimate with the subject.

Close Up

Close-up shots signal to the audience that something is important, and this can be a prop or reaction, but often it is best when the subject or object has a significant influence on the story and the viewers understanding of your story. This shot demonstrates a characters emotion to the audience, showing thoughts and feelings; this type of shot is normally on eye level. 

Extreme Close Up

The extreme close-up shot is traditionally used in film to allow the viewer to enter the character's intimate space, revealing certain characteristics and emotions that would otherwise go unnoticed from afar. It demonstrates an isolated specific area such as the eyes, nose, ears, mouth; this insert shot highlights something crucial to the audience and narrative thus being one of the greatest tools for emphasise.