Aims
To identify the various shot types and techniques used in film, television, interactive media and games.
To develop an understanding of camera technology and terminology.
To establish reasons why particular shots are chosen.
OBJECTIVE CAMERA
The attempt to suggest that the camera acts only as a passive recorder of what happens in front of it.
The use of objective camera relies on de-emphasis of technique, involving minimal camera movement and editing.
Camera Work
SUBJECTIVE CAMERA
Shots simulating what a character actually sees; audience, character, and camera all "see" the same thing.
Much subjective camera involves distortion, indicating abnormal mental states.
Shots suggesting how a viewer should respond are also called "subjective" (for example, a high-angle shot used to make a boy look small and helpless).
http://www.psu.edu/dept/inart10_110/inart10/film.html
Wide Shot / Long Shot
Full Shot
Medium Shot
Close Up
Two Shot
Building Blocks of a Scene:
Wide Shot aka Long Shot
The wide/long shot is taken at a great distance.
Almost always an exterior shot and shows much of the locale.
Used a lot in Establishing shots. It is the opening shot of the scene and therefore tells us where we are.
Wide Shot aka Long Shot
Try to inject threads of narrative into the shot to grab the audiences attention and entice them to see ‘what happens next.’
A zoom towards a building tells the audience we are about to enter the building.
A full shot includes all of the subject.
Whether it be a full shot of a person, object or a building.
Full Shot
Medium Shot
For example, a full shot of a helicopter includes all of the helicopter. A shot which includes the pilot and part of the door would be a
medium shot.
Camera Work
Medium Shot
A medium shot is usually from the knee to waste up. Also known as Waist Shot or Mid Shot
Camera Work
Medium Shot
A medium shot is commonly used as it can capture facial reactions, body language and environment.
Camera Work
Close Up aka Single
A Close Up concentrates on a relatively small object.
For example, CU on the characters face or CU on a mobile phone. A Single refers to a single character shot.
Extreme Close Up
Extremely close to the subject. For example, ECU on the characters eyes or on the actors mouth.
2001: A Space Odyssey 1968, directed by Stanley Kubrick
Two Shot
A frame which contains two characters.
Two shots are frequently used and are a fundamental peace of story telling.
Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
Three Shot
A frame which contains three characters.
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)
Four Shot
A frame which contains four characters.
The Inbetweeners (2010)
Over the Shoulder
Red Dead Redemption (2009)
Head & Shoulders
Big Head
Cowboy
Tight Two
Dirty Single
Clean Single
Character Shots
Camera Work
Camera Angles
Eye Level
Birds Eye View
High Angled Shots
Low Angled Shots
Oblique Angle
Eye Level
Most scenes in a film are photographed at eye level 5-6ft from the ground. The audience sees the event as if it were happening right in front of them.
This shot is used to treat characters as equals and discourages the
audience judging them and permits viewers to make up their own mind.
Birds Eye View
Shot from directly overhead the camera hovers from above like an all seeing all powerful God.
The shot expresses an idea of fate.
High Angled Shots
The camera is tilted down and therefore the ground is in the background. A character seems harmless and insignificant.
The higher the angle the more it tends to imply fatality.
High Angled Shots
Camera Work
Low Angled Shots
The camera is tilted upwards and therefore the sky or ceiling is in the background.
Can be used to inspire awe or excitement. Can also express authority and power.
Heightens the importance of a subject.
Low Angled Shots
Full Metal Jacket 1987 cinematography by Douglas Milsome
Low Angled Shots
Starship Troopers 1997 cinematography by Jost Vacano
Low Angled Shots
Starship Troopers 1997 cinematography by Jost Vacano
Camera Work
Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991, Cinematgoraphy by Adam Greenberg
Low Angled Shots
Oblique Angle
The lateral tilt of the camera. Suggests tension, transitions or impending movement
Image that slants to the right - Acting Forceful Image that slants to the left - Weak, Static
Evil Dead, 1981 cinematography by Joseph LoDuca
•
Pan•
Swish Pan•
Tilt•
Pedestal•
Truck/Track•
ZoomsCamera Dynamics
•
Dolly•
Dolly Zoom•
Hand Held•
Floating•
Crane/Jib•
HelicopterPan
Horizontal movement from a stable point. Look left and right, that’s panning.
Swish Pan
Fast horizontal movement. Creates a motion blur. Can make the shot more subjective.
Can be used as a transition into another shot or scene.
Tilt
Vertical Movement from a stable point. Look up and down, that’s tilting.
Pedestal
Moving the camera up or down without changing the horizontal or vertical axis.
Physically moving the whole camera.
Truck/Track
Motion Left or Right but not panning.
Zoom
Changes the focal length of a camera lens to make the subject appear closer or further away.
The timing of a zoom is critical because sometimes it can distract the viewer.
Dolly
Motion towards or away.
Physically move the camera closer or further away from the subject.
Dolly Zoom
A cinematic effect that occurs when the camera pulls away from the subject as the lens is zoomed closer or vice versa.
Camera Dynamics
Dolly Zoom
Aka The Hitchcock Zoom, Vertigo Zoom, Jaws Shot,Trombone Shot, Zolly/Zido, Telescoping, Contra-Zoom and Reverse Tracking, The Dolly Zoom creates perspective distortion.
Hand Held
When the camera operator films without the use of a tripod.
This type of shooting is like news reel and documentary footage. It can be very unstable.
Floating
The Steadicam was invented by Garrett Brown in 1971.
Brown wanted to achieve smoother shots hand held rather that lay down bulky tracks which is time consuming, expensive and inflexible.
Crane/Jib
A Crane or Jib can be used to achieve high or low angles and can move smoothly in most directions.
They are bulky, expensive and can be tricky to operate.
Crane/Jib
Helicopter
Footage shot from a helicopter can also achieve great results. It is also expensive and dependant on weather conditions.
Summary
Wide Shot / Long Shot
Full Shot
Medium Shot
Close Up
Two Shot
Building Blocks
Head & Shoulders
Big Head
Cowboy
Tight Two
Dirty Single
Clean Single
Character Shots
Camera Angles
Eye Level
Birds Eye View
High Angled Shots
Low Angled Shots
Oblique Angle
Camera Dynamics
Summary
•
Pan•
Swish Pan•
Tilt•
Pedestal•
Truck/Track•
Zooms•
Dolly•
Dolly Zoom•
Hand Held•
Floating•
Crane/Jib•
HelicopterFurther Study
READING
Cinematography: Theory & Practise by Blain Brown
DVD
Visions of Light (1992)
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004) Hollywood Camera Work: The Master Course
WEB LINKS
http://www.tv-handbook.com/Composition%20and%20Camera%20Movement.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_zoom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Contra-zoom_aka_dolly_zoom_animation.gif http://www.psu.edu/dept/inart10_110/inart10/film.html
