Camera Angles & Shots

Research

Kiran Raza

There Are 3 Main Shots That Describe How Near Or How Far

The Camera Is From The Subject:

Long ShotMedium ShotClose Up Shot

Long Shot• This shows the

whole subject → See surroundings → Used to show the full human figure and often provide a clear view of the environment or setting where we find the character.

Medium Shot• This shows the human

body from mid shin or mid- thigh up and often used to show interaction between two or more characters → Shows half of the subject. It May feature some background to relate the character/characters to their surroundings.

Close Up Shot• This shows one

part of the subject, usually in great detail →It is usually used to show the emotion on a persons face → This shot may leave viewers uncertain as to what they are seeing.

Other Camera Shots Include:

Extreme Close Up

Extreme Long ShotFull Shot

Extreme Close Up

• This shows only a detail of the subject, such as someone's eyes, or the paws of a dog walking down a path, of a hand on a doorbell or a tree branch→ We can understand how a character feels; even get into the head of that character → It is used a lot in thrillers → It helps to clarify action.

Extreme Long Shot

• This is used to show landscapes or provide a view of a whole world (city, town, galaxy), where the film is set → There is very little detail visible in the shot, as it is meant to give a general impression rather than specific information.

Full Shot• This is a variation on

the long shot showing the full subject → It is usually used to place a character in some relation to its surroundings →e.g. full human figure with feet at bottom of the frame and head at the top of the frame.

How might these shots be used in

a movie?

Establishing shotReaction

Shot

• This is used at the beginning of a scene to let the viewers know where the characters are →It can also be used to show the relations between the main figures in the film and objects. → e.g. A long shot of a car driving up to a hotel, or a close up of a restaurant sign.

Establishing Shot

Reaction Shot• This is used to show

the effect of one persons words or actions on the other people in the scene →A close up shot is usually used in this to show the emotion on the characters face → It usually cuts away from the main scene in order to show the reaction of a character to it.

Camera Angles

The angle from which a shot is taken is another way to give variety to a film as well as information.

High Angle• This positions the

camera above eye level looking down on the subject, which consequently appears insignificant, weak, helpless or small according to how extreme the angle is.

Low Angle• This has the camera

looking up at the subject, the subject appears important, powerful, or domineering, again depending on how exaggerated the angle is → It is shot anywhere below the eye line, looking up.

• This is a fairly neutral shot; the camera is positioned as though it is a human actually observing a scene, almost a point of view shot but reversed →e.g. actors' heads are on a level with the focus.

Eye Level

Reverse Angle• In a normal shot or

angle the camera usually looks at the subject but with this angle the camera shows what the subject is seeing also known as a point of view shot → e.g. a shot of the gates of a prison from within followed by a reverse angle shot showing the gates from outside.

• This is used when the camera is tilted, to suggest imbalance, transition and instability →It is very popular in horror and thriller films → This technique is used to suggest point of view shots → When the camera becomes the 'eyes' of one particular character, seeing what they see → A hand held camera is often used for this.

Oblique Angle