Camera Angles

Name: Hannah Lortie

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:

This is used in a film to show detail to the subject or any objects. A shot like this could be classed as an extreme close up, depending on how close the shot it to the object.

Camera Angle: Establishing ShotImage example:

This is used in a film to give a broader view of the location of the scene.

Camera Angle: Extreme wide shotImage example:

An extreme wide shot is used in a film to show where the scene is, it is similar to an establishing shot.

Camera Angle: Wide shotImage example:

Unlike an extreme wide shot this shot is used in a film by moving closer to the subject, enabling it to be seen more clearly.

Camera Angle: Mid shotImage example:

In a film this is used to focus the character in the middle of the frame and make that character the main attraction.

Camera Angle: Medium close upImage example:

This is used in a film to focus on the top half of a character and draw the audiences attention to this character.

Camera Angle: Extreme close upImage example:

This is used in a film because it shows facial expressions and focuses on the emotion coming from the characters face, in this shot there would normally be both eyes rather than just one.

Camera Angle: CutawayImage example:

This is used in a film when a continuous shot is interrupted, changing the shots focus. Usually this type of shot is followed by a cut back to the first shot but not always.

Camera Angle: Two-shotImage example:

This is used in a film when the frame is showing two people at once.

Camera Angle: Over the shoulderImage example:

This is used in a film during a scene where, usually, two characters are sat or stood having a conversation and the camera is angles of the shoulder of one character looking onto the other.

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

This is used in a film to show what a character is looking at. Usually it is recognized by being positioned between the character looking at something and then a shot showing the characters reactions. Sometimes the point of view is taken over the shoulder of another character.

Camera Movement: TrackingImage example:

This is used in film by tracking the movement of the main subject. For example, following a car as it drives along a road. Tracking is mainly shot close to the ground, it would focus on someone's feet whilst walking or the wheels of a moving vehicle.

Camera Movement: TiltImage example:

This is used in a film when the shot is tilted, focusing the frame at different angle. It can also rotate around the axis that runs from left to right or up and down through the camera head.

Camera Movement: ZoomImage example:

Zoom is used in a film when the shot in zoomed into a specific part of the frame, in other words, the focus of the shot is adjusted. Sometimes zoomed can be used in place of tracking shots. Usually a zoom ends in a close up but a zoom-back ends in a general shot.

Rules of Framing

Framing is the process of composing an image. One rule of framing is to do with horizontal and vertical lines, the horizontal lines must be level and the vertical lines must be straight up and down (this links to the rule of thirds). Another rule is to do with the amount of room in a frame, for example if you take a shot of a baby crawling you put ‘leading room’ in the shot so that it shows where the baby will be crawling and makes the shot less uncomfortable. The rules of framing also look at how the shot is frame. What does the background look like? Is there anything distracting? You have to pay attention to the frame, this will avoid you from having half objects in your frame.

This is used in a film to compose the frame and make it look less crowded or uncomfortable.

The rules of third

The rule of thirds divides the frame into nine sections. The lines (or points) of interest should arise at 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up the frame, rather than in the centre of the frame (as shown in the image). This means the important compositional elements should be placed along the intersections of the lines. Aligning an object with these points creates tension, energy and interest. Whereas, centering the object wouldn’t create the same effect.

This is used in a film by using the points as a frame for where you put the important elements in a scene, such as a person.