The wide shot (English: wide shot) – a camera framing that shows the entire scene and all characters at full size.
Definition
The Wide Shot (or Full Shot or Long Shot) shows a person from head to toe within their immediate surroundings. It establishes the space and the position of the characters within it.
Variations
- Extreme Wide Shot: Landscape shot, characters very small
- Wide Shot / Full Shot: Entire figure(s) in context
- Establishing Shot: Special function – introduces a new location
Function
The Wide Shot serves several dramaturgical purposes:
- Orientation: Where are we? Who is present?
- Establishment: New location, new scene
- Distance: Objective observer perspective
- Context: Body language and spatial relationships visible
Technical Aspects
In a Wide Shot, all image elements are important. The depth of field should be large enough to keep the foreground and background legible. Wide-angle lenses are often used.
More in the lexikon