Mastering Midjourney: Prompts for camera angles and different shot types

Unlocking the Power of Camera Angles in AI Art

May 29, 2024

Midjourney, the cutting-edge AI image generator, has revolutionized how we interact with visual art. With simple text prompts, anyone can become a digital artist, conjuring up stunning landscapes, fantastical creatures, and evocative portraits.

However, to truly take your Midjourney creations to the next level, understanding the power of camera angles is essential.

Camera angles are critical for crafting the perfect Midjourney prompt.

Photographers and filmmakers use them to provide audiences with a clear view of the subject’s location and the scene’s story. Mastering Midjourney camera angles can elevate your generative AI art, adding a specific style and making the images more appealing.

Part 1: Camera Angles

Eye-Level Angle
High Angle
Low Angle
Dutch Angle

Part 2: Shot Types

Macro Close Up Shot
Close Up Shot
Point of View Shot
Medium Shot
Wide Shot
Extreme Wide Shot

Let’s start:

Part 1. Camera Angles

A camera angle is the position of a camera when it takes a shot. The angle can affect how the viewer perceives the scene and the characters or objects in it.

Eye-Level Angle

The eye-level angle is the most common and straightforward. It provides a neutral and realistic perspective, making the audience feel part of the scene. This angle is excellent for building empathy with characters. It’s also boring sometimes. It’s the default angle for Midjourney and other AI tools.

Prompt: Frontal portrait photograph of beautiful woman with long silky black hair, white skin and grey eyes, pure, soft, white background --v 6.0

Prompt: Front photography of cowboy aiming a gun, cinematic movie poster, dust, wind, sun, daylight, dramatic mood, western background, bokeh --v 6.0

Variant: Profile Angle

One nice variation for portraits is the Profile Angle in Midjourney. It showcases a character’s side, highlighting unique features:

Prompt: Portrait photography of Side view of a young Japanese woman meditating in a minimalist garden, grey tones, red accents --niji 6

High Angle

Also known as Bird’s Eye Shot, High Angle Shot, Top Down Shot, Top Down Perspective, Elevated Shot, Overhead Shot.

A high angle shot is a cinematic technique where the camera is positioned above the subject and looks down on it. This can make the subject seem smaller, vulnerable, or powerless, and can be used to establish a location or convey emotions.

Prompt: Bird’s-eye view, frontal illustration of a brave warrior looking up holding a sword and a shield, her face reflects despair, losing hope, looking up, Aerial view angle, long shadow on the floor of a giant adversary in front of her, fire and smoke all around her, bravery, heroic --niji 6

Prompt: Top down photography of a young boy standing in a field of green grass looking up smiling, happiness --v 6.0

Variant: Aerial View

Of course, you may want to add more distance to your shot. You can use then some of the following:

Drone-footage, Aerial Perspective, Aerial View, Aerial Landscape, Satellite View, Satellite Photography.

Combine with a large objective, like a house or city.

Prompt: Aerial view of an alien city on the planet Tatooine from Star Wars, it has large circular landing pads in its streets and there are no buildings but only a vast desert landscape with tall spires in the distance, in the style of cinematic. --v 6.0

Low Angle

Also known as Knee Level Shot, Ground Shot, Ground Shot Angle, Ground Level, Low Angle Shot.

The low angle places the camera below the subject, pointing upwards, making the subject appear larger, more powerful, and more imposing. It’s ideal for creating a sense of dominance or intimidation.

Prompt: Low-Angle photography of rampaging Godzilla looking down a modern city --v 6.0

Prompt: Extreme low angle, low angle view of soldier stepping on tiny viewer below, dynamic --niji 6

To maximize this angle, use “full body shot” in the prompt to ensure the whole body fits in the image, and make sure to add a more vertical Aspect Ratio.

Prompt: Low angle shot of a full body villain addressing a crowd, looming large, citizens appearing small and subdued --v 6.0 --ar 3:5

Dutch Angle

Also known as Dutch Tilt, Canted Angle, and Oblique Angle.

The Dutch angle tilts the camera to one side, creating a sense of action, unease, or disorientation. It’s used to convey tension, action, or chaos.

Prompt: Extreme Dutch-angle of female assassin in catsuit in combat, close up intensity --niji 6

Part 2. Shot Types

Shot types are compositions used in filmmaking, defined by how close the camera is to the subject being filmed.

Macro Close Up

Also known as Macro Lens, Macro Photography

Macro photography is an extreme close-up of something small or a specific detail you want to focus on.

Prompt: Macro photography of technological nanites shaped like tumor cells, purple tones --v 6.0

Prompt: Macro close up photography of the eye of beautiful young woman, mesmerizing, stunning, delicacy, realistic skin, global illumination, natural features, shot taken with Sony a7S III —v 6.0

Let’s use the same prompt without the Macro to see the differences with regular close ups:

Close Up Shot

Also known as Close Up, Close Shot, Tight Shot, Intimate Shot, Intimate Photography, Detail Shot, Close Up Intensity.

These shots focus on the objective, highlighting intricate details, and minimizing background distractions.

Prompt: Close up photography of a beautiful young woman, mesmerizing, stunning, delicacy, realistic skin, global illumination, natural features, shot taken with Sony a7S III

Point of View Shot

Also known as POV, Subjective Shot, and First-person Shot.

This shot presents the scene as if witnessed firsthand. This approach transforms viewers from mere spectators to active participants.

Prompt: Point of View Shot of the pilot holding the steering wheel of a racing car, dangerous, dynamic, unusual angle, motion, close up intensity --v 6.0

Medium Shot

Also known as Mid-shot, Waist-up Shot, Medium Close-up, Three-quarter Shot, Mid-range shot.

It’s used to capture subjects from the waist up, a prevalent choice for photographing individuals. Perfect for portraits and social interactions, it will also showcase the subject’s surroundings.

Prompt: Medium shot of a samurai in full armor, swords, a stylized mountain garden background created from ethereal black charcoal smoke, cherry blossom motif, three-color palette, black red pink and white, minimalism, red bokeh, hyper-realistic quality 16k --stylize 1000 --v 6.0

Wide Shot

Also known as Panoramic, Wide-angle, Wide-angle shot, Full view, Wide-angle Shot, Wide Perspective, Far-shot, Broad view, Wide perspective

It captures a scene as if taken from a distance or through a wide-angle lens. It offers a full view of subjects and their environment. When used with isolated elements, it will create a sense of vastness or scale.

Prompt: Panoramic shot of a massive alien jungle, nature bloom, growth --v 6.0

Variant: Extreme Wide Shot

To maximize this angle, you can use the keywords Extreme Wide Shot and set a wider vertical Aspect Ratio like 16:9

Prompt: Extreme Wide Shot of a lone man in a wasteland, dystopic scene, menacing mood, lone, isolation, --v 6.0 --ar 16:9

View your prompts not just as descriptive words but as instructions for your virtual camera operator. Experiment with different combinations of angles and shots, incorporate cinematic language, and observe how it affects your results.

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