Looking at the framing for moving image, one fact is quite obvious – usually it is in landscape format. If you go to the movies, you will observe different aspect ratios. Presenting your video on a screen, the current standard ratio is 16:9. Unless you plan your video for an installation, you will face new callenges when it comes to framing.

A good example are ‘Western’ movies, which utilise the full potential. Here for example the different categories used by ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’:

The establishing or long shot gives an overview of the scene, location and possibly the time. Where is it set? An urban or rural scenario? The future or past?

The medium or full shot is closer on the actors. We see them full size with enough background to get to know more details about them.

The American or 3/4 shot is much closer and often characters are often ‘cut’. The american shot has its origin typically in Western. It is the confrontation with the camera. In this case, an over the shoulder shot. We, the viewers are in the position of the seated man and the enemy is facing ‘us’.

Medium shot brings us closer to the protagonist – or contrahent