Camera Angles

Name: Luke Newcombe

Deadline: Friday 16th SeptemberSent to G Teasdale via email before the

lesson

Challenge

You are to independently research the following camera angles and movements and create a

visual representation, as well as a description of how the technique is used within the film

industry.

Camera Angle: Close UpImage example:

How am I used in a film?Close-ups are used within film in order to emphasize a persons emotions/ expressions. A close up shot portrays meaning to the audience as the shot draws the audience into the personal space of the person- resulting in the audience sharing the feelings of the character.

Camera Angle: Establishing ShotImage example:

How am I used in a film?An establishing shot sets the location for where the action is taking place. These types of shots are often Extreme Wide Shots as they show the viewer the full extent of the setting and further help the audience to see where the action will be set around as the shot shows a large depth of detail, with regards to the scenery, buildings etc…

Camera Angle: Extreme wide shotImage example:

How am I used in a film?An extreme wide shot is used in films in order to present both the location and surroundings of where the film is taking place. Extreme wide shots don’t capture detail as they’re so far away from the subject/ subjects that they aren’t visible on camera. This type of shot is usually found at the beginning of films and establishes to the viewer the region of where the film is set.

Camera Angle: Wide shotImage example:

How am I used in a film?Wide shots are used within film in order to aim the viewers attention towards a certain subject. Wide shots show the full body of a character at the center of the frame and leaves little room for the target to be something else, for example, the focus wouldn’t be in the background as the subject/ subjects will take up the majority of the screen. Wide shots are used within films in order to aim the viewers focus on a certain person, as they are the forefront of that particular shot.

Camera Angle: Mid shotImage example:

How am I used in a film?Mid shots only show the subjects top half of there body. This allowed the subject to be shown in more detail without having the need to show the legs and feet. Although, the mid shot doesn’t show the bottom half of a subject it still gives the appearance to the audience that they’re seeing the full subject. As the mid shot is a replication of how someone would be viewed in real life during a conversation. As the lower part of the body wouldn’t be focused on during a conversation and is therefore not needed.

The mid shot is often used when the subject is speaking but the character doesn’t have the need to show nay emotion or use facial expressions. To add to that, the mid shot also allows the subject to have a freedom of movement and use hand gestures, without the viewers focus being lost.

Camera Angle: Medium close upImage example:

How am I used in a film?

This type of shot lies between a mid shot and close up. A medium close up shot provides extra detail of a characters facial expression without the need to get excessively close. Medium close up shots are ideal for scenes which capture conversations as the shot shows enough detail of the face without having the need to have just the face as the center of focus. To add to that, it also allows the upper body to be scene on screen which can help in showing the movement of the upper body during scenes where dialogue is taking place. Also, as the upper body is present it can also give further emotions which can’t always be conveyed through just showing the face.

Camera Angle: Extreme close upImage example:

How am I used in a film?This specific shot is where the camera moves directly into the subjects face which often shows the eyes of a character. As an extreme close up shot moves so far into the character an enormous amount of detail is on show due to how close the camera is to the subjects face. Scenes which feature sharp drama or scenes which want to convey a large amount of emotion would commonly use an extreme close up due to how much detail is presented to the audience.

Camera Angle: CutawayImage example:

How am I used in a film?The cutaway shot is used within films in order to act as a temporary barrier in order for the scene to move further on (help within the process of editing) , or to add extra information/ interest within a specific scene. This type of shot veers away from the action in order to show a different subject, for example, a cutaway shot could be used to move away from showing a full character in order to zoom in on that characters hand.

Camera Angle: Two-shotImage example:

How am I used in a film?A two way shot is used within films in order to show two people in a frame comfortably, without the audience getting distracted by the surroundings. This type of shot is useful for highlighting the relationship between characters, as both are in the frame at the same time it therefore shows they have equal prominence within that seen. In some cases, a two shot is a natural way to introduce more than one character within a scene as it allows the focus of the shot to be aimed at the characters since only a limited amount of the background is visible.

Camera Angle: Over the shoulderImage example:

How am I used in a film?An over the shoulder shot is a common camera shot used within conversations between characters. The framing of the scene gives the appearance that the subjects are opposite each other, as the camera is focused just over the shoulder of a subject, while the person facing the camera occupies 1/3 of screen. During conversations this shot often switches with the shot alternating between the subjects.

Camera Angle: Point of view (POV)Image example:

How am I used in a film?Point of view shots are used within films to show the audience the view from the characters perspective. Within films the POV shot is edited in order for the audience to easily understand what charters perspective they are veiwing.

Camera Movement: TrackingImage example:

How am I used in a film?Tracking shots are camera movements which travel in coordination with the action. These shots are useful as they allow the audience to have one full visual representation of a scene without the need of a variety of different shots, which could distract the viewer and in some cases make the audience lose focus.

Camera Movement: TiltImage example:

How am I used in a film?A tilt shot is a camera angle which stems from a stationary location, in which the camera moves vertically in order to point up or down. This type of shot is used within films in order to help establish the size of certain subjects/ objects, and can also be used to show dominance or more significance. For example, a tilt camera shot could be used to show a taller character- which shows an increase in power. Also, the tilt camera movement could be used in scenes where other camera angles just aren’t fitting. An example of this could be when a tall structure, such as a skyscraper, wouldn’t fit in the shot of another camera angle. By titling the camera, it allows the audience to have an idea of the size of the structure and in doing so, adding extra detail for the viewer.

Camera Movement: ZoomImage example:

How am I used in a film?The zoom camera movement is used in order to alter and enhance/ diminish the focus point of a particular shot. This then gives the illusion of either moving closer or further away from the action.

Rules of Framing

Detailed explanationFraming is the composition of producing a shot which incorporates objects in a frame successfully. This consist of capturing the Mise en scene techniques (props, lighting, costumes etc…) within a single frame. In order to do this it involves encompassing a vareity of different elemtns in order for the most important objects being in a more essential area of the frame. To do this it means the position of the camera to the position of the charcater must be in precise places in order to highlight to the audience objects which are of increased importance than others- focus the viewers attention on certain objects/ subjects. By combining these concepts an athetically pleasing shot can be formed.

How am I used in a film?Rules of framing are paramount to films as each shot should easily portray to the audience what the most important subject/ object is within that frame. If the center of focus is directed towards a certain subject, that subject should be positioned towards the center of the frame to prevent showing the background, as this could mean the audience lose what the focus is.

The rules of thirdDetailed explanationThe rule of third is a rule in which the subject(s)/ object is aligned in a position most pleasing to the eye. In order to gain this, the frame is divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically in order to produce nine boxes which act as reference boxes. Where the lines intersect is where the visually appealing frame will be- whatever crosses at these lines will be visually appealing to the audience.

How am I used in a film?The rule of third shirt is used within films to not only help show the center of focus for the audience, but to also present to the audience a scene which is visually appealing and more balanced, enabling the viewer to interact with the frame more naturally.