A wide shot, also called a long shot or a full shot, is a shot that shows the subject within their surrounding environment. A wide shot tells the audience who is in the scene, where the scene is set, and when the scene takes place.

Why use a wide-angle shot?

The wide angle shot invites the audience into the full scene and allows them to absorb all the relevant information at once so that they have context for what's about to happen. A wide shot can be used to establish a scene, convey a character's emotional state of mind, and explore every nook and cranny of a landscape.

What is the best way to use a wide angle lens?

By far the best way to use a wide or ultra-wide-angle lens is to capture the foreground along with the background. Especially in cases like mudflats, fields, or beaches, where you want to capture as much detail as possible in the foreground.