FRAMING
& TYPES OF SHOT Shots are classified by the amount of a person or
object appearing in the picture. There are various alternative terms detailed
below and you can view a visual representation of them on the next page.
* Extreme close-up (ECU). Used for isolating
detail. Normally using the camera's macro facility.
* Very close-up (VCU). From mid-forehead
to above the chin. Usually a face shot.
* Big close-up (BCU). Tight close-up;
Full head height nearly fills the screen.
* Close-up (CU). Framing from just above
the head, down to upper chest.
* Medium close-up (MCU). Cuts the body
at lower chest.
* Medium shot (MS) or 'Mid Shot'. Cuts
the body just below the waist.
* Three quarter shot (3/4). Cuts just
below the knee.
* Medium Long Shot (MLS) or Full length shot
(FLS). Entire body plus a short distance either above or below.
* Long shot (LS). Person occupies 3/4
to 1/3 screen height.
* Wide shot (WS). Or known as the Master Shot or Establishing Shot.
The more common and important ones
to remember are: the Wide shot (WS); the Long Shot (LS); the Mid shot
(MS); the Medium Close up (MCU) and the Close up (CU).
The Advantages of the WS
* Can get wide view when camera is in a confined space.
* Camera movement looks smoother because every slight shake isn't noticeable.
* Because there is a big depth of field (most of the view is in focus)
focusing is less critical.
* Can exaggerate the amount of space you have and create special effects.
Disadvantages of the WS
* The perspective is exaggerated so that everything looks further away.
* Can't show confined space in right proportions
* At widest angle everything becomes distorted.
Advantages of MS (normal)
* Perspective appears natural.
* Camera handling also feels natural and is relatively stable.
* Generally good depth of field.
Disadvantages of MS
* Not wide enough in confined space.
* Have to move camera close to the subject to get detail.
Advantages of CU
* Brings distant subjects closer without having to move camera (by zooming
to frame picture).
* Allows `closer'-shots of inaccessible subjects.
* Defocuses distracting background.
Disadvantages of CU
* Distance between foreground and background is compressed which can make
picture look very flat.
* Narrow depth of field makes focusing difficult.
* Any camera shake is immediately obvious.
Summary of shot types
* Wide shot (WS)
* Long Shot (LS)
* Medium Shot (MS)
* Medium Close Up (MCU)
* Close Up (CU)
Camera Movement
There are four basic movements.
* Panning - moving the camera around
from left to right and visa versa. Don't pan too fast. * Tilting - moving the camera up or
down. * Tracking - moving the camera backwards
or forwards (tripod and `dolly'). * Crabbing/Trucking - moving the camera
sideways (on tracks or with a tripod and `dolly', or any stable platform
with wheels e.g. car or trolley).
Build an Outline
The ‘Recce’ or
Reconnaissance
Types of Shot
Advantages and
disadvantages of the
WS, MS and CU
Camera Movement
