Extreme Wide Shot (EWS)

In the extreme wide shot, the view is so far from the subject that s/he isn't even visible. The point of this shot is to show the subject's surroundings.

The EWS is often used as an "establishing shot" - the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the action is taking place.

The EWS is also known as an extra long shot or extreme long shot (acronym XLS).