Extreme Close-up
A shot where one very small part of a body or object fills the whole frame. It pulls out a detail like an eye, a mouth or a single drop of water and shows it big. In this dictionary, when only one part of the face is in frame (like a strip across the eyes) and the outline of the face falls outside, it is an extreme close-up. Once the whole face starts to fit, it becomes a big close-up.
How it feels
- Tension
- Focus
- Rising emotion
- Decisive moment
- Detail
When to use it
- A character’s eyes in the final moment of a duel or standoff
- A small, decisive action, like a finger touching a trigger
- Very small subjects like a water drop or an insect
- Drawing attention to the texture or a small detail of a prop
In the movies
Once Upon a Time in the West 1968
Directed by Sergio Leone. The final duel ends on an extreme close-up of Charles Bronson’s eyes.
My Neighbor Totoro 1988
A frame filled with Totoro’s teeth is often cited as an example of an extreme close-up. Since it is animation, no camera moved in; the image was simply drawn that way.
Not to be confused with
- Big Close-up
- The whole face, with eyes, nose and mouth all in one frame. An extreme close-up shows only one part of it.
- Close-up
- The whole head nearly fills the frame. You can read the facial expression at a glance.
- Insert Shot
- An insert is a name for a shot’s role in editing. An extreme close-up is a name for its size on screen.
Prompt
extreme close-up
Extreme close-up of the subject's eyes. Only the band of the eyes fills the frame; the rest of the face is outside the frame.
Try these combinations
Extreme close-up + Rembrandt lighting: eyes just before a duel
Extreme close-up of a gunslinger's eyes, Rembrandt lighting, sweat on the brow, the final moment of a standoff
Extreme close-up + telephoto lens: water drop detail
Extreme close-up of a drop of water landing on a leaf, telephoto lens, shallow depth of field, soft morning light