Glossary of TermsCamera shots, Composition, framing and angles – ISL week 1

Alaska-lily Morrison

Composition

The composition is where objects are placed in a shot.

The Golden Mean

Points of Interest

When a shot is composed, you should imagine a diagonal line over the top of it. This is because the points of interest will appear along that line.

Rule of Thirds

When a shot is composed imagine a grid over the top of it, this is because points of interest are where the lines cross.

Framing• Framing is what

you choose to include in the shot and what you leave out

• For example in a thriller, a shot might not include certain objects so this creates tension.

This is what is put in the shot.

This is what is chosen to be left out.

Extreme Long shot

• The Subject is not clearly in view• The point of long shots is to show the

surroundings that the subject is in.• Extreme long shots are used in scenes

where there is a lot of action. This is because it shows the extreme scale of the action

• They are often used as an “establishing shot” to show the audience where the action is going to take place.

• This is where the subject will take up most of the frame. (her head is almost at the top of the frame and her feet are almost at the bottom).

• Long shots are there to show the character/object but also to show them in their environment.

Mid Shot Medium Close up

• This shows the object in more detail, but still shows enough for the audience to think they are looking at the full object.

• If you were having a conversation with someone you do don’t pay attention to the lower body, so its more realistic to an audience.

• This shot is emotionally neutral, but still has enough room in it to show some movement of the object.

• Medium close up’s show the face more clearly, without it making the shot to uncomfortably close for the audience.

• This is a shot that is half way between a mid shot and a close up.

Close Up Extreme Close up

• A certain feature of the object will now take up most of the frame.

• Using a close up on a characters face shows their emotional state. This lets the audience share their feelings as they are now drawn to the characters personal space.

• This shot will show extreme detail of the object.

• A shot will only be this close for certain reasons, as this is too close to show emotions or reactions to an audience.

Over the shoulder shot• This shot helps to show the

position of people, and gives the audience the chance to feel as if they are looking at one person from another's point of view.

• This is commonly used when characters are having a conversation, it involves the audience more, shows the different speakers and the reactions/emotions given.

• This is usually framed so that the person speaking (facing the object) will take up 1/3 of the shot.

Low angle shot

• This is where the shot is taken from below the object, looking up at it.

• Gives the object some power and makes the audience (or character below) in an inferior position.

High angle shot

• This is where the shot is taken from above the object, looking down on it.

• Gives the object a look of helplessness and a lack of authority, giving the audience (or character above) a position of power over it.

Pan Tracking shot

• The camera is on a tripod following the object

• This gives the scene a sense of movement with speed

• The camera is on a dolly which follows the object

• This gives the scene a sense of movement with speed

Tilt Canted angle shot

• The camera pans up and down

• It is used to show the height and size of an object

• The position of the Camera isn’t straight towards the object

• This shot gives a sense of insanity or that the situation is out of the ordinary.

Ariel shot Crane shot

• This shot gives a scene a sense of location and size

• The camera is in a helicopter/plane to achieve such a high angled shot

• This shot gives the scene a sense of scale and how the object fits into the setting

• The camera is on a crane that can track, pan and tilt. The camera is taking a high angle shot looking down at the object.