Read this article and master filmmaking basics with these twelve camera angles in film every newcomer should know. Understand their purpose, examples, and when to use each shot type.
Introduction:
Getting started with filmmaking projects can feel like drinking from a firehose, right? But here’s the secret behind early success: get better at camera shots and angles! For some, this might seem simple, but learning it like a high school lesson is important here, as different types of camera angles in filmmaking and various camera shots convey different information about characters and their place in the world.
Once you have a hang of the basic types of scenes, only then can you make your viewers truly connect with your video works. Below are the twelve fundamental camera angles and video shooting techniques that everyone should know and practice, practice, practice!
Essential Camera Shots for Filmmaking
1. Establishing Shot
As the name suggests, it establishes a mood and is typically placed at the beginning of a scene. This is why you will need such a shot to be at the opening chapter that sets the scene—city, mountains, cozy apartment—and it is usually done with a wide, big frame to give as much information as possible.
2. Wide Shot
Done to convey a message of scale, relationship, or to show the environment with the subject from head to toe, plus their immediate surroundings. You will see such shots in action movies when someone is running, chasing someone, or dancing.
3. Full Shot
It’s similar to a wide shot but is a little tighter. It is used to present the overall presence of a subject, with an emphasis on their posture or outfit. But don’t do too much cropping, otherwise you can end up with shots of the beheaded or chopped legs of the subject.
4. Medium Shot
Probably one of the most common filming techniques in the industry, which is captured from the waist up. This frame is designed for recording dialogue, allowing the audience to see the actors' faces along with their proper gestures and expressions, without losing any context.
5. Close-up shot
As the name suggests, this shot is done up close to a subject and uses a tight frame on the key object to capture detail or emotion. You will need a good camera and a high-quality lens to capture small details for such scenes.
6. Extreme Close-Up
This takes one step further than the close-up shot and is typically used when filmmakers aim to show a moment of intense focus or revelation. Again, you will need high-end camera gear for this, all set up on a tripod, as at this magnification, the smallest shake appears like an earthquake.
7. Eye-level Shots
This one is more related to camera angle and is considered a neutral shot in the industry, as the video camera is positioned at the same height as the subject's eyes. This is done to illustrate how we perceive others in real life.
8. Low Angle Shots
Use lighting from above and place your camera on a low mount or on the ground to capture this shot. It is used to make the subject look more powerful and dominant in the frame.
9. High-Angle Shots
Opposite to a low-angle shot, this one is commonly used when filmmakers want to convey vulnerability or overwhelming emotions of a subject. It is also one of the most commonly used camera angles in filmmaking, especially in superhero movies.
10. Point of View Shot
POV shots are increasingly common nowadays, particularly with the arrival of drone technology in the industry. For this, the camera angle is set to give the audience a view from the character’s perspective, which creates a more dramatic and engaging vibe in the frame.
11. Over-the-Shoulder Shot
It is the gold standard camera angle for common dialogues in a film, showing the shoulder of one character toward another. This angle creates clear spatial relationships between two people in a dialogue, maintaining a connection between them and the audience.
12. Dutch Angle Shot
It is used with caution and is commonly employed in thriller or horror scenes; the camera angle is tilted to create a horizontal perspective, which is used to induce psychological instability or disorientation in the scene.
Recommended Lens for Cinematic Shots
Learning these techniques is not enough; your camera hardware has to complement your skills, with the role of the camera lens at the center. The SIRUI Saturn 35/50/75mm Full-Frame Carbon Fiber Anamorphic Lens kit is designed for filmmakers who want to capture cinematic-grade shots and create film clips with cinematic quality without spending thousands.
Each lens introduces a cinematic-grade 1.6x widescreen squeeze, a feature typically found only in Hollywood production studios and their film productions. This is made possible by SIRUI Saturn’s next-generation anamorphic optics, which feature spherical elements that render professional-quality video with extreme sharpness, dynamic profiles, and natural flares within the frame.
The T2.9 aperture and advanced optics deliver extreme sharpness with minimal noise, even in extreme low-light conditions. The kit is crafted from carbon fiber, making it extremely lightweight, and it covers the most common focal lengths, making it suitable for all twelve of the camera angles and shooting techniques mentioned above. In essence, with this lens, you are not just taking shots—you're crafting cinema.
Wrapping Up:
The above-mentioned twelve shooting techniques and camera angles in filmmaking are crucial for establishing the scene’s pacing, tone, and emotional atmosphere. To complete your video projects with a cinematic vibe on a budget, the SIRUI Saturn lens is an easy recommendation.
