Shot Composition and Standard Shots

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Shot Composition and Standard Shots
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Types of Shots

• Described by Size

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Shots Described by Size

• Extreme wide shot (EWS) shows a broad view of
  the surroundings around the character and coveys
  scale, distance, and geographic location.
• Wide shot (WS) shows an entire character from
  head to toe.
• Medium wide shot (MWS) shows a character
  usually cut off across the legs above or below
  the knees. It is wide enough to show the physical
  setting in which the action is taking place, yet
  it is close enough to shot facial expression.
• Medium shot (MS) shows a characters
  upper-body, arms, and head.
• Close-up shot (CU) shows a characters face
  and shoulders. It is close enough to show subtle
  facial expressions clearly.
• Extreme close-up shot (ECU) shows only a part
  of a characters face. It fills the screen with
  the details of a subject.

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Types of Shots

• Described by Angle

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Shots Described by Angle

• Vertical camera angles. Moving the camera around
  the subject vertically while aiming at the
  subject creates different camera angles below
• High angle. The camera is placed above eye
  level, looking downward. A high angle shot can
  make a character look smaller, younger, weak,
  confused, or more childlike.
• Eye level. Most commonly used.
• Low angle. The camera is placed below eye
  level, looking upward. A low angle shot can make
  a character look bigger, stronger, or more noble.
  It also gives the impression of height.

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Shots Described by Angle

• Horizontal camera angles - Moving the camera
  around the subject horizontally while aiming at
  the subject creates different camera angles
  below
• Frontal. The frontal angle tends to flatten the
  three dimensionality of facial features and
  environments.
• Three-quarter front. The three-quarter front
  angle is more often used than the frontal angle
  or profile because it shows more depth and
  volumes.
• Profile. A view from the side.
• Three-quarter rear.
• Rear.

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Horizontal Framing Concerns

• Leading Room or Looking Room. When a person
  is looking toward the edge of the frame rather
  than straight into the camera, image composition
  is more pleasing if room is allowed in the
  direction they are facing. For example, a person
  shown in frontal view might be centered in a shot
  but a person shown in three-quarter front should
  be framed off center to allow looking room.

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Vertical Framing Concerns

• Headroom. The distance between the top of a
  persons head and the top of the frame is called
  headroom. When a director calls for more or less
  headroom it is a handy way to direct the camera
  operator to tilt up or tilt down.

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The Rule of Thirds
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The Rule of Thirds
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The Rule of Thirds
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The Rule of Thirds
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The Rule of Thirds
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The Rule of Thirds
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The Rule of Thirds
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The Rule of Thirds

• Imagine your picture area divided into thirds
  both horizontally and vertically. The
  intersections of these imaginary lines suggest
  four options for placing the center of interest
  for good composition. The option you select
  depends upon the subject and how you would like
  that subject to be presented.

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The Rule of Thirds
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The Rule of Thirds
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Point of View Shots

• In a point of view (POV) shot, the camera is
  placed at the eye position of a character.

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Class Exercise

• Have two group members sit or stand looking at
  each other having a conversation.
• 1. Shoot a Two Shot
• 2. Shoot a Medium Close-Up of each of the two.
• 3. Shoot an Over the Shoulder Shot from each
  side.
• 4. Repeat until all group members have had a
  turn operating the camera and have recorded all 5
  shots.

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Two Shot
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Two Shot
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Medium Close-Up
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Medium Close-Up
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Over the Shoulder Shot
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Over the Shoulder Shot
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Class Exercise

• Have two group members sit or stand looking at
  each other having a conversation.
• 1. Shoot a Two Shot
• 2. Shoot a Medium Close-Up of each of the two.
• 3. Shoot an Over the Shoulder Shot from each
  side.
• 4. Repeat until all group members have had a
  turn operating the camera and have recorded all 5
  shots.