Camera Shots GCSE Media

1. Framing and Shot Types
Aims
• To develop an understanding of how and why
we frame camera shots in a particular way.
Outcomes
• To produce a range of promotional photographs
that work for a specific purpose.

2. FRAMING
• Frames can be empty or
full.
• Characters/products can
be in the foreground or
background
• They might be left or
right of the frame
• These all have meaning

3. EXTREME CLOSE UP
(ECU)
• Extreme Close Ups show only a section of
a face/object/product to focus attention.
• Good for detail
• Often used to discomfort
• Very dramatic

4. • Close ups frame the head,
hand or foot of a character or
part of an object.
• They draw your attention to a
facial expression or an object
which might be significant.
CLOSE-UP (CU)

5. MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU) or
MIDSHOT (MS)
• A medium shot is
used to show
characters
interacting.
• Helps the viewer to
see the body
language – eg.
intimacy

6. LONG SHOT/WIDE SHOT (LS)
• This shot often shows the
relationship between the
character/product and the
setting. It will show the
whole body of the product in
the setting in which it
stands.

7. EXTREME LONG SHOT(ELS)
• This shot is used to indicate
a sense of setting and scale.
• It is particularly useful to
indicate the overwhelming
nature of the environment.
• It is also used to establish
location and as in this image
create a sense of isolation.

8. EYE-LEVEL SHOTS
• This level of camera
creates a degree of
normality for the
viewer as it does not
suggest an angle that
is odd or unexpected.

9. LOW ANGLE
• This presents the
character/product as in
a position of power
• It often makes the
audience see things as
bigger than they are.
• What is seen therefore
seems awe-inspiring,
powerful or odd.

10. HIGH ANGLE
• This is an unexpected
camera position.
• It often suggests the
object/character is
frightened or the viewer is
in a position of power.
The viewer is looking
down on the
product/character.
• It can also be used to
suggest size and/or scale,
as in this image.