This document discusses camera shots and movement in media production. It begins by stating that textual analysis has both micro and macro levels, with micro analyzing specific technical elements like camera shots and movements. It then defines and provides examples of several common camera shots including establishing shots, master shots, close-ups, mid shots, long shots, and two shots. The document also discusses various camera movements such as panning, tilting, tracking, crane shots, steadicam, handheld, and zooming. It emphasizes that both camera shots and movements are important for drawing audience attention and conveying meaning.

1. Camera Shots and
Movement
Rajiv Ariaraj
AS Media Studies

2. The two elements of
Representation

Conducting a good textual analysis
(analysing a media product) takes part
in two areas.
1.
2.
Macro
Micro

3. Micro

Micro can be seen as analysing the
“little bits” of a media text. This could
be:
The Mise-en-Scene (CLAMPS)
 The Camera Shots and Movements
 The Editing
 The Sound


4. Macro

Macro analyses the bigger themes
and areas that arise from a textual
analysis. For example:
The representation of social groups.
 Whether the text supports ideology or
not.
 The general meaning behind the text.


6. Aim

To define and understand how
different camera angles are used in
media products.

By the end of this session you
should...
Be able to list at least 7 camera shots.
 Be able to identify camera shots from
a media text.


7. Establishing Shot

This is a shot of an
exterior location, that
precedes a scene
that takes place
inside of the it. It
usually does not last
any longer than a
few seconds.

Establishing shots
are well used
conventions in soap
operas and TV
dramas.

8. Master Shot

A master shot is generally
a long shot that covers all
of the actors in a scene at
once.

Master shots are useful for
group scenes. They
include everyone.

All of the action is seen
through this one camera,
the editor can always fall
back on the master shot if
there is no other angle to
take.

9. Close Ups

Close ups connote
that the audience is
next to the character.

It suggest intimacy
and emotional
closeness.

Close ups are
normally used in
dramatic scenes.

10. Close Ups

There are three main types of close up.
Medium Close Up
(MCU)
Close Up (CU)
Extreme Close Up
(ECU)

11. Mid Shot

A mid shot is an
approximation to how
you would normally
see someone while
talking to them. You
are not too close, or
too far.

You can see the
character in some
detail, it is useful for
when a character is
giving information, but
not for expressing an
emotion.

12. Long Shot

Characters are now
further back from the
camera. This connotes
that environment they
are in is as important as
the characters
themselves.

Just like close ups, there
are extreme versions of
long shots i.e. The
extreme long shot.

This can also be called a
wide shot.
http://collegefilmandmed
iastudies.com/cinematog
raphy/


13. Two Shot

A two shot simply
has two characters
that are present on
screen. The
characters could
be facing each
other or be side by
side. The camera
cannot be too far
away otherwise it
will become a long
shot.

14. Aerial Shot
Aerial shots are taken using cranes,
helicopters or planes. They provide a good
long shot of the surroundings of the area.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF4DWljYc
ac (0.50s)


15. POV Shot
POV stands for point of view shot. This
is where the audience sees events from
the characters’ perspective. This could
also be called the first person
perspective.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXmIO
ub22qI&feature=related


16. Over the shoulder Shot

This is self explanatory. The camera takes
place over the shoulder of a character,
usually talking to another character. This
allows you to see things from the subjects
point of view without going into a POV shot.
This could also be called a third person
perspective.

17. High Angle/ Low Angle

A high angle shot makes
the audience feel as if
they are towering above
a character.
This can connote the
character is vulnerable,
isolated or powerless.

A low angle shot makes
the audience look up at
someone.


This can connote a sense
of intimidation or
symbolise the power of a
character.

18. Test

Close Up

19. 
Mid Shot

20. 
Long Shot

21. 
Establishing Shot

22. `

High Angle

23. 
Low Angle

24. 
Master Shot

25. 
Two Shot

26. 
Aerial Shot

27. 
Long Shot

28. 
Close Up

29. 
Two Shot

30. 
Extreme Long Shot

31. 
Long Shot

32. 
Medium Close Up

33. 
Close Up

34. 
Mid Shot

35. 
Extreme Close Up

36. 
Over the Shoulder Shot

37. 
High Angle Shot

38. 
Aerial Shot (Crane Shot)

39. 
Two Shot

40. 
Long Shot

41. 
Close Up

42. 
Extreme Close up

43. 
Point of View Shot

44. TASK

1.
2.
Watch the following clip answer the
two questions:
List the camera shots being used
through the clip.
Why do you some of the camera
shots have been used? How does
this work with the Mise-En-Scene
(CLAMPS)? What meaning do they
create?

45. Camera Movement

Just as important as the camera shots, is the
way that the camera moves in a media text.

By moving the camera draws the audiences’
attention to whatever the producers want the
audience to look at.

Camera movement can draw attention to,
reveal and lead the audience. So
understanding what each movement is called
is vital to conducting a good textual analysis.

46. Panning

A camera pan is a
horizontal movement left
or right.

It can follow a character
walking in a particular
direction, or move away
from a character standing
still.
It can reveal parts of the
scenery not seen
previously.
 http://collegefilmandmedia
studies.com/cinematograp
hy/


47. Tilting
A camera tilt moves
the camera from
vertically up or down.
 It could create a high
or low angle shot.
 Tilt shots can heighten
an audiences’
suspense as they are
not sure what the shot
will reveal.


48. Tracking Shot

Tracking is when a camera shot is placed
on a track and is moved to keep up with
the movement of a character.

The camera is mounted on a “Dolly”, a cart
on a track, which is then pushed or pulled.

A camera can track a subject moving
towards, away from, moving left or moving
right.

Tracking shots can curve and change
direction, the camera is just always moving
in a smooth motion.
Make sure you can understand the
difference between a track shot and a pan
or a tilt. (If the camera was a person, it
would be walking in a direction not just
moving it’s head).
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzNQTJ
gRioM&feature=player_embedded#! (4.49)


49. Crane Shot

A crane shot is when a
camera is mounted on a
crane that can move
raise the camera
smoothly higher or lower.

The crane can reveal
wide spaces, and reveal
a wider setting.

http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Yg8MqjoFvy4

50. SteadiCam

A SteadiCam is harness
that attaches onto a
camera man.

It allows the camera man
to walk freely around,
without the use of a track,
dolly or crane but can less
smooth.

http://collegefilmandmedia
studies.com/cinematograp
hy/

51. Hand Held Cameras
While films and
television series are
mostly filmed on fixed
cameras, occasionally
they will use a hand
held camera to capture
a scene.
 http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=O2zG4Cln
L9c
 Handheld camera’s
can connote a sense of
danger, energy and
realism. They can
make a fictional film
seem a like a real
documentary.


52. Zoom/ Reverse Zoom

A zoom is when the camera stays fixed in
position but zooms in on a object, location or
character.

Zooming from a mid shot to a close up could
connote that the meaning of the scene is
changing to a more emotional tone or to reveal a
character’s reaction.

A reverse zoom moves the shot from a close up
to a mid or long shot. Connoting that the
surroundings are becoming more a focus in the
story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB9cLr7ORA&feature=related

53. TASK

Write down all of the camera shots,
and movements you see in this scene
from “Lost In Translation”.

What sense is the filmmaker trying to
get across?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xfb
5vYxYk4

54. HOMEWORK
Watch this clip:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiQ
nH450hPM

Identify the Mise-En-Scene using
CLAMPS.
 Identify the Camera shots and
movements used.
