What stays with us from a film isn’t always the plot – it’s the emotions it evokes, the moments of visual excellence, and the compelling character dynamics, all shaped by cinematography choices. Filmmaking is a visual medium, and camera shots and angles shape the audience’s emotional experience. These choices are foundational in influencing our perception and overall engagement, more than we often realize!

Think of the camera as the audience’s eye – it directs attention, shapes interpretation, and reinforces narrative. Every cinematography choice plays a role in defining the style and visual impact. Whether it’s a high-speed action sequence or a quiet, introspective moment, cinematography techniques give a film its rhythm, depth, and emotional weight.

Understanding shot angles and composition isn’t just about creative expression – it’s about precision. Mastering these elements allows filmmakers to craft strong stories while building a shared visual language with their production teams. Let’s dive into the various shots and angles you can spot in your favorite films and TV shows, and may even use in your next creative project!

Types of Camera Shots in Film

There are many different types of shots in film, but learning the basics is key to establishing a shared visual language with your camera crew. Using well-known, frequently used cinematography shot types allows you to communicate clearly with your production team by referencing common points of understanding.

Getting Started with Basic Camera Shots and Angles

To begin, let’s review some of the most popular cinematography shot types, exploring what they look like, when they’re used, and the emotional effect they have on an audience, especially when combined in sequence. 

1. Extreme Wide Shot (EWS)

The extreme wide shot (EWS) captures expansive landscapes and locations, often making characters appear small or insignificant – if they appear at all. Extreme wide shots are often used as establishing shots, providing context for the scene and giving the audience an overview of the setting.

2. Wide Shot (WS)

The wide shot (WS) frames the entire subject within their environment, helping the audience understand how a character fits into the space around them. A wide shot is particularly effective for establishing character relationships in the context of their location, providing balance between a character’s journey and the physical location. A wide shot is not quite as extreme as an EWS.‍

3. Medium Shot (MS)

A medium shot (MS) frames a character from the waist up, and is frequently used in dialogue heavy scenes or scenes where the audience is focused on the character’s journey while still maintaining a connection to the surrounding environment.

4. Close Up (CU)

A close-up (CU) captures the subject’s face, pulling the viewer deeper into the character’s emotional and internal world.

5. Extreme Close Up (ECU)

In an extreme close up (ECU), the camera is almost unnaturally zoomed in, giving a sense of heightened drama, suspense, unease, or intimacy. 

While this is not an all-inclusive list, these shots are the building blocks of visual storytelling. When you understand these shot sizes and types, you’re one step closer to establishing a visual language unique to your style and goals. 

Exploring Camera Angles and Their Impact

Now that you have a basic understanding of camera angles, let’s explore how these cinematography techniques affect an audience. We’ll consider how camera angles affect your experience of the film, and how these seemingly basic shots have the capacity to create a huge impact on film viewers – driving them to laughter, tears, or putting them on the edge of their seat!

Creative Uses of Shot Angles and Camera Movements

Let’s explore some of the most popular and frequently used shot angles that filmmakers incorporate into narrative storytelling to create a lasting impression.

Creating Power Dynamics with Low and High Angles

What happens when the camera tilts upward at your subject? This is referred to as a low-angle shot – these types of shots make the subject appear larger-than-life – an ideal choice for establishing power and dominance. Low angle shots frame your subject in a position of strength or authority, often emphasizing control, intimidation, or superiority. 

On the other hand, a high-angle shot looks down on a subject, creating the opposite effect. This technique can make a character appear small, vulnerable, or powerless.

High-angle and low-angle shots are frequently paired together in an edit – next time you edit shots of your videos, experiment with these shot angles to see how they influence character dynamics. Consider how these shifts in perspective impact a scene’s emotional tone and how they guide the audience’s experience.

Immersing your Audience with Over-the-Shoulder and Point-of-View Shots

Another essential technique is the point-of-view (POV) shot, which positions the audience inside the character’s perspective, dropping them into the action of the scene. This cinematography technique immerses the viewer in the action, creating an intense, first-hand experience.

A different but equally effective approach is the over-the-shoulder (OTS) shot – a widely used framing technique, especially in two-character scenes. In an OTS shot, one character’s back remains in the foreground while the other character remains in focus across from them. This setup establishes a natural rhythm in dialogue-driven scenes, seamlessly drawing the audience into the conversation and making interactions feel fluid and engaging.

Advanced Camera Movements and Techniques

Exploring shots and angles is just the beginning of your cinematography journey; learning how these visual elements interact is an important next step in taking your cinematic language to the next level.

Taking this one step further means understanding how camera movement enhances storytelling. While there are countless ways for a Director of Photography (DP) or videographer to control camera motion, let’s break down some of the most widely used advanced camera movements:

Pan and Tilt 

A pan moves the camera horizontally, while a tilt moves it vertically, creating high and low angles (as mentioned above). When used together, pans and tilts guide the viewer’s attention, revealing new characters, locations, and key narrative details.

Tracking Shots

Using a dolly, gimbal, or stabilizer, the camera physically follows the subject in a tracking shot, often moving alongside or behind them to reveal a scene’s environment.

Drone Shots 

Aerial perspectives captured via drones allow for amazing establishing shots, perfect for showcasing the scale of a location or the unique setting of the action.

Orbit Shots‍

With the help of gimbal technology, you can stage 360-degree shots that maintain stability while circling the subject smoothly. This kind of shot champions the hero’s journey by rotating around their body, elevating character transformation or the importance of the moment.

Utilizing LTX Studio's Shot Editor for Precision in Camera Angles and Shots

When you’re ready to refine and experiment with frame composition and camera motion, LTX Studio’s Shot Editor is a great tool to get started. LTX Studio is an AI-powered tool that has the capacity to use shared visual storytelling language to analyze and mimic iconic styles. Experimenting with camera angles and movements strengthens your storytelling – explore how LTX Studio’s tools can help you refine your shots and build the cinematic journey you’re imagining!