Text & image: Photography Terminologies

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Extreme close-up (abbreviation: ECU) is often used in showing extreme details of a specific part of the image.

Close-up (abbreviation: CU) is often used in showing a certain feature or part of the subject.

Above the shoulder: This is known as Wide Close-Up (W-C-U) and Full Close-Up (F-C-U), in particular, the W-C-U image is displayed on the 16:9 screen and the F-C-U image is displayed on the 4:3 screen, showing some part of the subject above the shoulder in the case of a person.

Above the chest: This is known as the close shot (C-S) showing some part of the subject above the chest in the case of a person.

Above the waist / half body: This is known as the medium close shot (M-C-S) showing some part of the subject above the waist in the case of a person.

Above the knees: This is known as the medium full shot (M-F-S) showing some part of the subject above the knee in the case of a person.

Full shot: This is another name for wide shot or long shot. It shows the subject fully from head to toe (in the case of a person).

High-angle shotA cinematic technique where the camera looks down on the subject from a high angle, making the subject seem vulnerable or chicken.

Low-angle shotA shot from a camera angle positioned low on the vertical axis and the effect is that it makes the subject look strong and powerful.

Over the shoulder shot is a shot of someone or something taken from the perspective or camera angle from the shoulder of another person. The back of the shoulder and head of this person is used to frame the image. This type of shot is very common when two characters are having a discussion.