Basic camera shots and composition

basic camera shots and composition

common types of shots

EWS (Extreme Wide Shot)The view is so far from the subject that she isn't even visible. This is often used as an establishing shot.
VWS (Very Wide Shot)The subject is visible (barely), but the emphasis is still on placing her in her environment.
WS (Wide Shot)The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as possible. The same as a long shot.
MS (Mid Shot)Shows some part of the subject in more detail whilst still giving an impression of the whole subject.
MCU (Medium Close Up)Half way between a MS and a CU.
CU (Close Up)A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.
ECU (Extreme Close Up)The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail.
CA (Cutaway)A shot of something other than the current action.
Cut-InShows some part of the subject in detail.
Two-ShotA comfortable shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot.
(OSS) Over-the-Shoulder ShotLooking from behind a person at the subject.
Noddy ShotUsually refers to a shot of the interviewer listening and reacting to the subject, although noddies can be used in drama and other situations.
Point-of-View Shot (POV)Shows a view from the subject's perspective.
Weather ShotThe subject is the weather, usually the sky. Can be used for other purposes.


Composition:
Photography brings a visual language that is universal and generally most people can understand. It meaning consists of shapes, textures, patterns, lines, colours, shade of light to dark and sharp to blurry images. photographs are to convey their meaning clearly and vividly.
Composition means arrangement: the orderly putting together of parts to make a unified whole; composition through a personal, intuitive act. However, there are basic principles that govern the way visual elements behave and interact when you combine them inside the four borders of a photograph. Once we have sharpened our vision and grasped these basic ideas of principles, then we will have the potential for making our photographs more exciting and effective than ever before.