Shot sizes and angles...

                              Creating a Moving Image

There are several kinds (sizes and angles) of shots that creators use in their daily job. There are not so many of them, regardless of how surprisingly and ridiculously it sounds. Of course, some directors manage to invent very exquisite and sophisticated shots...

or camera position...

Sorry, couldn't find a picture... But as example it's possible to use a shot from "Trance" when we see the face of the main hero as we were inside of his pocket. If you find it you can feel free filling up the space. What I'm talking about is that the amount of different kinds of shots is rather small and virtually everybody can start to film his own movies as he learn all of these shots and couple of other rules.

So let's start from the shot that shows every pimple, wrinkle or whatever there is on your face - eyes, nose - in a great detail. This shot is called a Big/Extreme Close-Up.

Head or a part of the head. It is supposed to illustrate all shades of emotions on your face in detail and it is usually used to get across the emotional state of the character.

Next shot is a Close-Up which is also rather dangerous and you definitely need a good amount of make-up. Mind it! Heath Ledger is always a dreamboat though.

Head and shoulders. It reveals character personality. It is supposed to be intimate and powerful. Very useful for dramatic or revealing moments of truth/crisis. It works perfect if you want to increase audience identification with a character. 

Close-Up is followed by Medium Close-Up. And "Here we go!"

Head and shoulders to top pocket. A bit frighteningly, isn't it? This means that the creators do their job very good. In this shot we don't see only the facial expression, but also some kind of body language. THis is the purpose of the shot which helps to express the emotion more eloquently.

Mid Shot is next. 

To waist. Gives more information obody language, clothes of characters and also some details on what is around the character.

Medium-long Shot.

Including the knees. This shot provides more physical information than the mid shot, but less details of facial expression. It better shows the disposition of the character in the space.

Long Shot.

Full figure. Contextualises character in their location. Can often be used to distance the audience from events or suggest loneliness or isolation.

Establishing (Wide/Master) shot. 

Establishes location often used at the beginning of a scene and again at the end. Helps make clear the physical geaography of the space and sets up atmosphere.

Over the Shoulder.

Helps to create a dynamic between the character and... what they're seeing. Can also be used to suggest someone is being followed or watched by an unseen prescence. 

Two shot, three shots, four shot, etc shot...

By framing two or more characters in the same shot. a sense of how they relate to each other is created. The opposite of this is to keep characters in separate frames to suggest the lack of common ground or interaction.

Point of View (POV).

Provides perspective from a particular character's point of view. The director manipulates whose eyes the audience experience the story from. 

Angles

High angle.

Camera points down from above eyeline, looking down on someone. Can indicate low status or vulerability.

Low angle.

Camera points up from below eyeline. Can indicate high status - someone powerful or intimidating.

That's it. You only need to find out something about light, 180 degree rule, special effects, writing a script, acting, producing, light, and you can film your movie)