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Extreme Close-Up Shot

Shows only a specific detail of the subject, such as eyes, lips, or hands. This hyper-focused framing isolates a single feature to create dramatic intensity or symbolic meaning. It's more abstract than a standard close-up, often used for stylistic emphasis or to reveal critical micro-details.

Extreme Close-Up Shot - cinematic example

When to Use

  • Emphasizing a specific physical detail that carries symbolic weight
  • Building extreme tension before a critical action or revelation
  • Creating visual metaphors through isolated body parts or objects
  • Showing minute details that would be missed in wider shots

Famous Examples

Blade Runner (1982)
Eye extreme close-ups during the Voight-Kampff test
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Eyes of gunfighters during standoff sequences
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Dilating pupils during drug use montages

Related Techniques

Close-Up ShotInsert ShotPoint-of-View ShotMedium Close-Up Shot

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