Closeups

/ˈkloʊzˌʌps/ noun

Definition

Photographs or film shots taken from very near to a subject, showing fine details; or intimate, detailed views of something.

Etymology

Compound of 'close' (near) and 'up.' Emerged in early cinema vocabulary in the 1910s as cinematographers discovered the power of proximity in storytelling.

Kelly Says

Close-ups revolutionized filmmaking—D.W. Griffith's pioneering use of close-ups in the 1910s-20s allowed audiences to see actors' faces in detail, fundamentally changing how movies told stories by emphasizing emotion over action.

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