The Close-Up Shot

The close-up shot is an important shot which is used in most, if not all films. A close-up shot normally shows very little background, if there is any background included in the shot it is normally blurred or out of focus to ensure the main point of interest stands out from the rest of the frame.  A close-up shot on an actors face would emphasise their emotional state which would help the viewer relate to the character.

Film makers often use close-up shots to 'magnify' an object or point of interest to show a specific detail that wouldn't be clearly seen in a medium or wide shot.

There are different types of close-up shots:-

The REGULAR Close-Up:

Fig #1

From The Shining.

The regular close-up shot is ideal for capturing the whole of someone's face.  It also shows a small part of the background to help the audience to establish the location of the shot.

The MEDIUM Close-Up:

Fig #2

From The Dark knight.

The medium close-up is a shot somewhere in between the regular close-up and a standard medium shot.  A film maker might use this shot if they want to show something that might be arising in the background and also show how the main object in the frame is reacting to it.

Figure #2 above is a good example, here the viewer can see Batman is approaching the Joker but also clearly see the Joker's expression.

The EXTREME Close-Up

Fig #3

From Harry Potter.

The extreme close up is a very close shot (either with the camera positioned very closely or zoomed tightly in) which highlights the fine details that wouldn't be captured in other shot types. This shot also normally adds a dramatic aspect to the film by showing the character in great detail.

Film makers often avoid using too many extreme close ups however as they do not provide any detail of the location making it difficult for the viewer to understand clearly where the character is, which way they are facing, or how they are moving.