Close Up (CU)
A shot focusing on a small subject, often characters face, to highlight emotion or significance.
Medium Close Up (MCU)
A short framing, a subject from the chest/shoulders up balancing detail in context.
Extreme Close Up (ECU)
A tight short, focusing on a small detail, for example, an eye or hand to emphasis importance.
Medium Shot (MS)
A short framing of character from the waist up, showing both the character and some background.
Medium Long Shot (MLS)
A wide short, showing a subject from a distance. But they are still the main point of focus.
Long Shot (LS)
A wide shot showing a subject from a distance often means to establish the setting.
Establishing Shot
A wide short that starts the same location and context often at the start of a new scene.
Bird’s Eye View
A shot from directly above looking straight down on the scene. Often used to show scale or make characters look small.
Worm’s Eye View
A shot from directly below the subject looking up it makes the subject to be a large powerful or intimidating.
Aerial shot
A high shot taken from a drone helicopter or crane often used to show landscapes or established a scene’s setting.
Point of View shot (POV)
A short that shows exactly what character is seeing, putting the audience in their shoes.
Over the Shoulder (OSS)
A short thing from behind a character, usually in a dialogue, showing their perspective.
Two Shot
A short that includes two characters in the same frame, often used in conversations or to show relationships.
Reaction shot
A shot, focusing on a character’s reaction to an event, typically showing emotion or response.
High Angle
A shot taken from above making the subject appear smaller, weaker or more vulnerable.
Low Angle
She taken from below, making the subject appear larger, more dominant, or intimidating.
Canted/Tilted Angle (dutch)
A tilted camera angle creating disorientation tension, often used, and moments of instability.
Pan
A horizontal camera movement left or right follow action or revealed some of a scene.
Tilt
A vertical camera movement, up or down, to reveal more above or below the subject.
Track
A smooth camera movement that follows the action usually on rails or a dolly.
Crane shot
A camera mounted on a crane moving up down or around to create dramatic perspectives.
Zoom (in and out)
Adjusting the lens to bring the subject closer or further away without moving the camera.
Focus (depth of field)
The clarity of the image changes in focus in order to draw attention to different elements.
Framing
The arrangement of visual elements within the borders of the screen to guide the audience’s focus.
