Isabella's Media Studies Blog : Research: Camera Terminology

Camera Shot Terminology

Master Shot: single uninterrupted shot that contains the entire scene with a long/full shot range.

Extreme Long Shot: shows the audience an action packed scene where the general setting is.

Medium Shot: shows the audience a character(s) from either the waist or knees up with minimal background.

Close Up Shot: shows character's emotions and importance/insights to character's thoughts and allows for empathy.

Establishing Shot: long shot that focuses more on the background and sets tone for the film.

Extreme Close Up Shot: provides tense mood and interaction between audience and whats on the screen.

Over the Shoulder Shot: someone or something is in the scene from the perspective of another person's shoulder.

Two Shot: shows two characters at the same time, establishes a relationship or action without background.

Long (Full/Wide) Shot: shows the entirety of an object/person in relation to their background.

Aerial Shot: exterior shot high in the air, establishes the grand landscape and sense of geography. Renders a subject small/inferior.

Bird's Eye View Shot: taken above the scene, establishes relationship between characters and setting.

Confusions

The only confusion that I have had with the camera angles was how to not mix up extreme long shot and long shot since not only their names are very similar but the way they are conveyed are as well.

Research

After learning about various camera techniques, I was able to observe how they are put into action within films such as Spider man 3. I figured out that many different angles are used within action films to portray different types of emotions or actions of characters. For example a close up of Peter Parker with his mask ripped apart shows the emotion of worry on his face towards whatever he is looking at, whereas a long shot of Harry Osborne shows tension and portrays the action within the scene. Each shot represents a different emotion and/or action going on and allows for the movie to progress and for audience interaction.

Close Up Shot

Long Shot

I also observed how camera angles are portrayed in comic strips as well, such as in "Sherman's Lagoon." Where artists also use camera angles to display relationships, emotions and actions of the characters in a scene. For example the two shot of the shark and the crab displays a friendly relationship.

Applying The Skill

When I begin to create my film for the end of the year assessment, I will be able to use these camera techniques to further portray my genre and show real emotion and action in a way that allows the audience to actually enjoy watching it. So far, I haven't chosen a solid genre yet but I've been leaning towards maybe a horror/thriller type film. I would be able to use camera angles such as extreme/close up to build tension in my movie and extreme long/ establishing shots to show off my setting and maybe start the movie with an ominous tone.

Horror movies that show inspiring camera angles for my possible horror film: