Tutorial 131 - Framing (Field Sizes)

Added 2016-05-14 09:31:45 +0000 UTC

If you ever do sequential art like comics or storyboards, or if you're planning an animation or a film, then some cinematography basics will come in handy. 

The right framing will serve the story visually, captivating your audience. The wrong framing will bore or confuse your audience. 

I've presented the 4 basic shots, as I know them, here in the visual. I added very basic descriptions of each shot, but of course, these are somewhat flexible. Framing is just one of many variables available to the visual storyteller. 
Below, I've gone into a little more detail about each shot and their functions.
Establishing Shot Used to establish a scene. Usually communicates time and place to the audience. The establishing shot might also be used to present a mood or concept to the audience. A closeup of tears running down a face, for example, tells the audience that there's someone hurt or upset, setting the scene. The establishing shot might be a blank screen with only audio or text, which teases the audience a little and plays with our expectations. There are many ways to establish a scene.
Full/Long/Wide Shot Used to present an object or figure and it's relationship to the immediate environment. This type of shot might be used for action scenes involving a group or large crowds, or just a solitary figure in a setting. There's no close up detail but we can clearly see at least one full figure and the surroundings. This shot might follow from the establishing shot, giving the audience a bit more local information about place. 
Medium Shot The medium shot shows at least one character in a scene, cropping into mostly the upper body area on the figure or figures. It's a good shot to use when presenting two characters who have just entered into a dialogue. 
Close-up Used to show detail, like facial expressions and emotions. Designed to impart feelings of intimacy or create a connection between the character and the audience. In general, the framing is of the head and shoulders of the character.