What does a medium shot typically show?

A medium shot typically captures the subject from the waist up. This framing effectively balances both the character's emotions and their surroundings, allowing viewers to connect with the subject while still maintaining some context of the environment. It’s commonly used in dialogue scenes because it provides an immersive look at the character's expressions, gestures, and interactions with others. The medium shot is versatile and serves to highlight the dynamics of the scene while allowing for enough visual information from the background, which can contribute to the storytelling. This makes it a staple in visual storytelling, particularly in film and television.