What is an establishing shot?

Every skilled storyteller, whether they wield a pen or a camera, understands the fundamental rule of captivating an audience: Show, don't tell. In film, the strategic use of imagery enables filmmakers to narrate a story with minimal dialogue, ensuring the audience remains engaged and comprehends the plot effortlessly.

Filmmakers employ a range of shots to convey ideas and stir emotions in viewers. While watching a movie, the camera's movements often go unnoticed. However, a closer analysis reveals the distinct types of shots and their specific roles in crafting a cinematic experience.

The establishing shot, often employed at the beginning of a film or scene, plays a crucial role in setting the stage and offering vital context for subsequent events. Filmmakers achieve this by utilizing wide-angle lenses and long or aerial shots to capture expansive views within a single frame. This technique enables viewers to grasp the broader environment and understand spatial relationships, rather than focusing solely on close-up details. While it lacks the intricacy of close-ups or medium shots, its purpose is to provide context, ensuring the audience can follow the narrative seamlessly.

Curious about how something as straightforward as an establishing shot enhances storytelling? Continue reading to uncover the techniques filmmakers use to captivate their audience.

Setting the Scene

Establishing shots offer viewers a wealth of contextual details, such as location and time of day. When used before an indoor scene, an exterior shot of a building informs the audience of the setting, which can be pivotal to the narrative. For instance, an aerial view of Manhattan's skyline convinces viewers the story is set in New York, even if filming occurred entirely on a Los Angeles soundstage. This method has also been employed to immerse audiences in diverse settings, from ancient Egypt to Imperial China and beyond.

A snowy establishing shot signals a winter setting, while vibrant autumn foliage indicates the season is fall. These visual cues help ground the audience in the story's timeframe.

Beyond indicating seasons, establishing shots are effective for films that transition between time periods. For example, a modern-day story with medieval flashbacks might use a lush landscape featuring castles to signify the past. Conversely, a bustling cityscape can instantly return viewers to the present, ensuring clarity in storytelling.

Establishing shots also help define perspective by illustrating the spatial relationships between characters or elements. Consider a classic murder mystery: an establishing shot revealing each party member's seating arrangement before the lights go out and tragedy strikes is essential for building suspense.

When used at the end of a scene, establishing shots—sometimes called re-establishing shots—can deliver powerful impact. Imagine a close-up of a character's face, only for the camera to pull back and reveal a gruesome scene of bloodshed, shocking the audience in an instant.

Now that you grasp the fundamentals of this widely-used film technique, let’s explore iconic examples of establishing shots from some of Hollywood’s most celebrated movies.

Memorable Establishing Shots

Whenever a film begins with a glimpse of a famous landmark, you’re witnessing an establishing shot. Vast deserts and towering pyramids transport audiences to Egypt. The Eiffel Tower signals that the scene, or even the entire movie, is set in Paris. Scenes featuring Central Park, the National Mall, or a streetcar instantly anchor the story in New York, Washington, or San Francisco.

Directors also employ establishing shots in subtler, more nuanced ways:

The use of establishing shots in iconic films is nearly limitless, underscoring their significance and enduring role in contemporary cinema.