A shot from a medium distance. For human figures, a view containing the entire body is considered a long shot; a medium shot would generally be a shot from the waist up. The dividing line between "long shot" and "medium shot" is blurry, as is the line between "medium shot" and "close shot"; medium shots still show a subject's surroundings but (since they're framed more tightly) not as much as a long shot. |
A camera shot from a medium distance. The dividing line between "long shot" and "medium shot" is blurry, as is the line between "medium shot" and "close shot". In some standard texts and professional references, a full-length view of a human subject is called a medium shot; in this terminology, a shot of the person from the knees up or the waist up is a close shot. In other texts, these partial views are called medium shots. There is no evident reason for this variation. It is not a distinction, for example, between TV and film language or 1930s and 1980s language. |
There is no evident reason for this variation. It is not a distinction, for example, between TV and film language or 1930s and 1980s language.