closeups

A close-up is a shot that tightly frames a subject, filling the frame with a portion of the subject such as a face, a single detail, or a small object. Close-ups are used to emphasize emotion, texture, or important details that might be missed in wider shots.

In film and video, the close-up (CU) often centers on a character’s face to reveal feelings and reactions, while an extreme close-up (ECU) isolates a specific feature like an eye, mouth, or a hand. An insert is a close-up of a detail that supplements the main action. In photography, macro close-ups capture very small subjects at close distances, frequently requiring specialized macro lenses and lighting. Macro work emphasizes magnification rather than just proximity, and can reach life-size or greater reproduction ratios.

Technical considerations include distance to the subject, focal length, and depth of field. Longer focal lengths can isolate the subject and compress space, whereas shorter lenses can exaggerate perspective. Depth of field is typically shallow in close-ups, making precise focusing essential. Lighting should be controlled to reveal texture and avoid unwanted glare, with key and fill light shaping mood and detail.

Compositionally, close-ups direct attention to the subject and can control pacing, reaction, or narrative emphasis. They are common in drama, documentary, and commercial photography, where they highlight expressions, features, or product details. Historically, close-ups became a fundamental storytelling tool in cinema, evolving into a versatile device across genres and media.