Close up shots are used in most scenes of films for one reason primarily and that is to highlight and or define a certain element of a scene. Whether it be a subject or character or an apple in a tree, they are all classed as close up shots.
However, more often than not, people get close ups wrong. They should usually be used to enhance an important element of a scene and should not just be used for the sake of using close up shots.
If the above was a close up shot in a movie, it could be used for a number of reasons. It highlights the fact that the female character of the scene is smoking a cigarette. This is the obvious reason for using this shot.
However, if a scene opened with this, it could be for secrecy and it could be used to tell a background story of the character in question. As you can see, the female character’s face is hidden from the audience, except her mouth and lower nose. Therefore, this character could be someone who shouldn’t be smoking such as an addict who is supposed to be giving up, because she shouldn’t be doing it. Therefore she is hidden from the audience. Make sense?
If this shot was in a film, it would mainly be used to highlight the relationship between the two characters who were on the screen.
This shot clearly shows love and happiness between the characters. Also, because the characters are close together in the right hand side of the screen, it can show that they have a close relationship and that they are happy being with each other.
This shot, if used in a film, would be used to highlight the fact that the character is using a computer. There could be a number of reasons for using this shot.
One reason could be that the character is sending an anonymous letter via the internet, therefore it is important for the audience to be hidden from who the character is.
Another reason for using this shot could be to show that a task is coming to an end. The character could be doing their last few clicks of the mouse on the computer and by doing a close up, the audience can clearly see this.
Hopefully, after reading this, you will understand a number of ways in which close up shots could be used and hopefully you understand that the primary use of close up shots is to highlight a certain action or emotion of a scene.
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