Explanation Of Different Shot Types

There are many different shot types when it comes to photography and videography. In a group of 3 we went out and took example pictures of each shot type.

The first one is known as a high angle shot. The high shot is used to make the subject look weak and have no power what so ever. This technique is used in films and tends to make a moment more dramatic. Even so if there is a character who is really tall he is the one that tends to have the power so when a smaller person is talking a high angle shot is used to make the character seem as if he is looking up, to something more powerful. The picture to the right is an example of an high angle shot which where on the people in my group had his picture taking in the. The shot really makes the character inferiors and show him as scared or looking at something which has much more great more then him.

The picture on the left shows an example of this shot being used in a film. The film is the 'Big Buck Bunny' and really does shot the shot in full effect. This shot does make the bunny look inferior and shows as if he is being 'swallowed up' by the setting. If he is looking up at something which undermines him part of the effect is that we see the ground leading to that we (the audience) are being put in the shoes of what he may be looking up to.

There is also an opposite of high shot and this tends to be called a low shot. The point of a high show is to make the subject look more powerful depending on the situation of the scene. The picture represents the low shot in a perfect example. The subject in this picture is looking straight as if he staring at someone and the shot makes him look in control. This technique of shot is used a lot in films to make the subject looked bigger, in control and generally showing he has power. The low shot is more under the eye line and the subject tends to look ahead, and this gives a sense of power.

The worms eye view angle is know to be the opposite of a birds eye view and still gives that sense of feel that the subject is big and powerful just like in a low shot. The point of a worms eye view angle is in the name, it as if the observer was a worm and that is how the angle is represented. Angle with the worms eye view shot can be on the right, left or middle side pointing up towards the subject, the picture on the left represents this perfectly. If the subject was a holding a gun and pointing down towards subject this style of angle would give a perfect effect and really show the power to the audience.

An over the shoulder shot is tend to be used when there are 2 people engaging in conversation. This type of shot really does give perspective and usually puts the subject in frame while still indicating that the conversation is still carrying on. Many a times the over the shoulder shot is used in suspense and give some meaning to the convoersatiom. If it is an emotional talk and the conversation is short then the over the shoulder shot can be used to show emotion and meaning of the situation/conversation. This shot really is effective and is positioned like this to give you a different view of what is going on and most of the time what the other person would see from there side

The two-shot is when there are two people in one frame of the shot. The sense of meaning behind the two-shot is to give the sense of motion behind the two characters and there relationship. Depending also on the posture and body language of the subjects you get a sense off what they are doing. More so the two-shot should be done in such a way that it is natural and no tension is between both subjects, showing there true relationship. The picture to the left show the subjects as being quite relaxed and we get the idea of what they are wearing is that they are in a formal environment most likely. But two-shot can also be used in videography where in a film two subjects could be walking and the camera would be focused on them, keeping note of there surroundings, interaction and there relationship. Similarly if there were three people in one shot then it would be called a three-shot.


An extreme long shot is used a lot mainly at the start of a film or show. It tends to set the scene and another word for it would be called an establishing shot. It helps to let the audience know more of the surrounding and where the picture or video is taking place. The best way to capture an extreme long shot is with a wide angle lens so more of the surrounding is captured. The picture to the right does not show this in the best way but it does give perspective. With an extreme long shot the audience now more of what the picture/video is about as they are aware of the surrounding and that is the type of affect that it should have on them.

An extreme close shot is a very interesting kind of shot type. The lens is well zoomed intro the subject to show the emotion in them. Whether it be series, upsetting or casual emotion is well captured in a extreme close up. The extreme close up is commonly known to be zoomed into the eyes of the subject but can take place anywhere you see emotion (i.e a bead of sweat falling off the characters face). The picture to the left is zoomed intro the subjects eyes and it is noticeable that he is looking down at something. If this was a video then the common artistic would be too zoom out and show the audience what he is looking down at.

This type of shot is called point of view. The objective of this shot is to place you in the shoes of the photographer/videographer, putting you in that certain situation. This is a powerful meaning shot as it really gives perspective and makes the audience a part of what is going on. The picture on the right is an example of what being first person looks like. Again it shows as if you where looking down at your own shoes.

A canted angle (otherwise know as Tilted shot / Dutch angle) is a type of shot where the camera is tilted to either to the left or right. A picture in this style of angle would make it look more creative. Even so it con make something look more dramatic of if there is a point of view shot then it could represent the 1st person character as being in a drunken state.

The picture to the right represent an angle know as Birds-eye view. This style of angle tends to be elevated so it gives the audience the perspective of a bird on the subject. This is a very famous angle. The effect of the birds-eye is very strong it makes the subject look very insignificant and puts the audience in a position where they are looking over the subject and feel powerful and it control. This shot can also appear at the start of a film as on a wider scale it will give the audience the location of where the shot is taken place. The picture to the right is not the best angle as it has not been taken high up but it does give perspective.

A medium shot tends to be shot from the waist up. There is usually less interaction with the background in this shot as the main focus should be the subject. A medium shot can be used in conversation too but that then would be on videography. In photography the point of a medium shot is to get close to the subject in a way that we can see them in more detail without zooming in any more. As with this we can then see the facial expression of the subject and his posture, just like in the given example image on the left. This shot feels more natural as it is close enough as if you would be having a conversation with someone in real life, thus giving realistic perspective.