Camera Angles

Here is a list of all of the camera angles we have learnt so far, and what they are used for:

EST - Establishing Shot.
This is used to set the scene, and lets the viewer know where the action will be taking place.

WS - Wide Shot
Shows the subject's surroundings

LS - Long Shot
Shows the subject from head to toe and usually shows a lot of their surroundings

MLS - Medium Long Shot
Shows the subject from their knees up to the top of their head. There is usually some background too.

MS - Medium Shot
Shows the subject from waist to head so that the viewer can see their face more clearly. There is still usually some background seen too.

MCU - Medium Close Up
Shows the character's shoulders and head without much, if any, background. This is used to show the character's emotions more close-up.

CU - Close Up
Shows all of the character's face and maybe the top half of their shoulders. Allows the viewer to see the character's emotions clearly without any background distraction.

ECU - Extreme Close Up
Shows part of a character's body or an object of significance very close up. This unusual angle can be used to create tension or to highlight the object's significance to the storyline.

OTS - Over the Shoulder
Allows you to see a conversation or action of importance from a spectators point of view, over the shoulder of a person in the scene.

OH - Overhead Shot
Used directly above the subject(s) so you can see them from above. Usually used if the subject(s) is lying down.

HA - High Angle Shot
The camera is looking down, from a high angle, at the subject, this makes them seem weak or powerless to the viewer.

LA - Low Angle Shot
The camera is looking up, from a low angle, at the subject, this makes them seem powerful or strong to the viewer.

DS - Deep Shot
Used to give depth to the shot by showing characters or objects of significance in both the foreground and the background of the shot.

TS - Two Shot
Shows two people in the shot

MS - Master Shot
Shows the viewer all of the characters from a specific scene, episode of series so that they know who to expect to see.

PoV - Point of View Shot
Shows the viewer a scene from a character's point of view.