cowboy shot
Holster-level camera angle
A cowboy shot is a film framing that shows a subject from mid-thigh up, leaving room to see a holstered gun at the hip.
The term comes from Western movies, where this framing was practical for showing gunslingers ready to draw.
Cinematographers still use it for dramatic effect: The director called for a cowboy shot as the detective entered the bar.
Armed combat with firearms
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- holsterSidearm carrying case
- revolverPistol with rotating chamber
- quickdrawRapid weapon retrieval
duel · saloon · sheriff · outlaw · standoff · gunslinger · six-shooter · frontier
Structural or contextual shaping
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- camera anglePosition of the lens
- cinematographerPerson capturing screen visuals
- blockingImpeding forward progress
visual storytelling · storyboard · director of photography · coverage
gunfight
Armed combat with firearms
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- holsterSidearm carrying case
- revolverPistol with rotating chamber
quickdraw · duel · saloon · sheriff · outlaw · standoff · gunslinger · six-shooter · frontier · spaghetti western
framing
Structural or contextual shaping
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- camera anglePosition of the lens
- cinematographerPerson capturing screen visuals
blocking · visual storytelling · storyboard · director of photography · coverage