Shot sizes
Extreme wide shot
Shows the whole location. Gives orientation, usually at the start of a scene.
Wide shot
Person head to toe with surroundings. Shows action and movement.
Cowboy shot
From the head to about mid-thigh. Comes from westerns: the holster is still in frame.
Medium shot
From the head to the waist. Conversational distance, ideal for dialogue.
Medium close-up
Head and shoulders. The standard size for interviews.
Close-up
The face fills the frame. Emotion and intensity.
Extreme close-up
Eyes, hands, an object. Directs attention and works as a cutaway.
Rules for calm, clear images
- Rule of thirds: eyes on the upper third line, key elements on the intersections.
- Lead room: leave more space in front of the face than behind it.
- Headroom: little space above the head; in close-ups the forehead may be cropped.
- 180-degree rule: in dialogue, the camera always stays on one side of the imaginary line between the people, otherwise eyelines jump.
- Angle: eye level feels neutral, a low angle makes people big, a high angle makes them small.
- Depth: foreground, midground and background give the image space.