Erin Staves

Types of camera shot

EWS (extreme wide shot)

A shot where the subject may not even be visible – the emphasis is on the subjects

surroundings

VWS (very wide shot)

Closer to the subject than the

EWS but still quite far away

This shot focuses in placing the subject

in their environment

Usually an establishing shot

WS (wide shot)

Subject takes up the full frame and

is the point of emphasis in the

shot

MS (mid shot)

Shows some part of the subject in higher definition

whilst showing enough for the

audience to feel as though they

are looking at the whole subject

MCU (medium close up)

Half way between a mid shot and a

close up

Shows the face more clearly,

without getting uncomfortably

close

CU (close up)

A certain feature, or part of the

subject takes up most of the shot

Emphasises emotional state,

the viewer shares the subjects

personal space and so therefore shares

their feelings

ECU ,XCU (extreme close

up)

Used only for specific reasons,

usually used in very dramatic

scenes

CI (cut in)

Refers specifically to a particular

part of the subject in detail

CA (cutaway)

Usually shows something other than the current

action.

It could be a different subject, a different part of a

subject or just about anything else

A buffer between shots

Two shot

A comfortable shot of two

people

Could also involve movement or

action

OSS (over the shoulder shot)

Framed from behind a shot who is looking at

the subjectThis shot helps to

establish the position of each person.

These shot are common during a

conversation, alternating the view

between the different speakers

Noddy shot

Common in interviews, a shot

of a person listening and

reacting to the subject

POV (point of view shot)

A shot done from the subjects perspective

Weather shot

The subject is the weather. The sky

takes up two thirds of the

frame.