1. Glossary of Terms
Camera shots, Composition, framing and angles – ISL week 1
Alaska-lily Morrison

2. Composition
The composition is where objects are placed in a shot.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.