Films and Videos

• Close-up


  A very close shot where the camera lens focuses closely on a particular detail or on the actor's face
• Medium shot


  A shot captured at medium distance, showing the upper half of the actor(s), their faces, upper bodies, and some background details
• Wide shot (Long shot)


  A shot taken at a distance, where the camera has a full view of the actor as well as a large surrounding area of the setting
• Full shot


  A shot where the camera lens captures the full body of the actor from head to toes, emphasizing on the actor
• Low angle shot (Undershot)


  When the camera is positioned below the subject, looking up at them
• Long shot


  Frames the actor from head to toes, emphasis on actions and movements rather than emotional state, often used for dramatic moments of action
• Low angle shot (undershot)


  Camera positioned below the level of the eyeline, looking up at the subject
• High angle shot


  Camera points down on the subject from above
• Bird's eye view


  Camera looking directly down on the subject
• Worm's eye view

  View of an object from below, as though the observer were a worm
• Tilt shot


  Camera tilted at an angle, creates a similar effect to tilting one's head to look at something
• Point of view shot


  Depicts an angle showing what a character is looking at
• Point of view shot


  Depicts an angle that shows what a character is looking at
• Top lighting

  • Characterized by a harsh beam of light coming from directly above the subject
  • Has a dramatic effect, draws the viewer's attention to a specific detail or details in the image (focal point)
• Low angle lighting


  • Provides direct light at a shallow angle onto the subject
  • Can have a sinister, suspenseful, or surreal effect
• Low key lighting


  • A style of lighting for film and photography that has an emphasis on shadows
  • Often used in horror movies, creates a dramatic or emotional effect
• High key lighting

  • Reduces the lighting ratio in the scene, meaning there's less contrast between the darker tones and the brighter areas
  • Everything is brightly lit and there are hardly any shadows/dark spots in the image
  • Often used to convey joy, happiness, or life, frequently used in the comedy genre and in sitcoms like Friends and The Big Bang Theory
• Diegetic sound


  Sound that comes from the world of the film, which the characters in the film are aware of and can react to
• Non-diegetic sound


  Sound that comes from outside the world of the film, such as the soundtrack or scoring, which the characters cannot hear
• Focal point


  The point of focus or interest in a picture or work of art where the viewer's eye is immediately drawn to because of the camera position and the lighting
• Soft Focus


  • A technique used to photograph things so that the edges of the objects in the photograph are not as sharp or clear
  • Creates a dreamy glow and a gentler, more mellow effect on the viewer
• Sharp Focus


  Striving to take sharp photographs where the focal point is clear and sharp, with clarity and crispness in the lines and lighting of the photo