Task 4 - camera shots

Task 4  camera shots.

There are several different shots used in video production, here are some examples of the camera shots and what they mean / do:

 

 

 

 

 

XLS/ELS – Extreme long shot.

In video production an extreme long shot can be taken as far away as ¼ of a mile. This shot is generally used as a scene setting shot, also called an establishing shot. As this image is used to give a general impression there will be very little detail in this shot, it often shows landscapes, outside of buildings, normally an exterior. This shot is often used in war or disaster movies in scenes of thrilling action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LS – Long shot.

In video production a long shot (sometimes called full shot or wide shot) shows the entire object or head to toe human figure, this is intended to place the person / object in some relation to its surroundings. A long shot is also referred to as a wide shot as a wide angled lens is often required for this. When a long shot is used to set the location and its participants in a video it is called an establishing shot.

 

 

 

 

 

MS – mid / medium shot

In video production a mid /medium shot, is used to show the subjects facial expressions in context to their body language. A mid shot typically shows a person from the waist up to their head, unlike a long shot which shows the full human figure this gives the viewer a much better impression of the character.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CU – close up

Close ups show the character in more detail, often they show the characters face to enhance the emotion, or an intricate activity with their hands. Close ups show the viewer who the main characters are. By giving the character a close up when they are first introduced shows the importance of their role. Leading characters often have multiple close ups. Close ups are often used more in soap operas then in films to stop the audience becoming emotionally distant or detached from the story. As close up shots often show only the character in more detail such as head or hands if over used through out a production this can cause the audience to become uncertain about what they are seeing as it does not show the character in context to their surroundings.

 

 

 

 

 

XCU – extreme close up.

Extreme close up is normally a very tight shot of a character showing only a detail of the character, for example an extreme close up of the characters face shows only features, such as the characters eyes in far more detail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two shot

A two shot in video production is used when the director wants to show 2 people / characters in the frame, however this does not mean that the characters / subjects have to be facing each other during this shot. It may be that one character is in the background while the other in the foreground. Two shots is used when the film is about 2 people, but is also used to show emotional reactions between the two characters, examples of this being used can be seen throughout the movie stand by me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrRbJezTOR4