Camera Angles

13/09/16

In today's media lesson, we have been looking at the different camera shots/angles which are used throughout films. We watched a few short clips which described lots of different angles to us. The camera shots include extreme long shot/establishing shot, long shot, extreme close up, close up, mid shot, two shot and point of view.
We also learned the definitions of these shots and why they are used:

• Extreme long/establishing shot - you are able to see the setting, where the action is going to take place and this is generally used at the start of a film.
• Long shot - enables the audience to see the character from head to toe; you are able to see the relationship with the character and the setting.
• Extreme close up -  this draws the audience further into the characters emotions, which makes it seem intense.
• Close up - this is a shot of the head and shoulders of a person (and maybe even a close up of a certain object). There is usually not a lot of background shown, which helps the audience to focus on the main subject and the characters emotions.
• Mid shot - this is the view of a character from the waist up. The audience is able to see the facial expressions and the body language of the characters.
• Two shot - this shot includes two characters and their relationship with each other.
• Point of view - with this, the audience sees the characters viewpoint: this engages the audience with the characters motives.

Also, we looked at different camera movements which occur in films. Tilt shots, tracking shots, zoom, arc shots, crane shots and panning shots are all used frequently throughout movies.

• A tracking shot is used to follow the action; this means moving the camera backwards and forwards to let the audience follow what is happening. 
• A tilt shot is the upwards and downwards movements of the camera on an axis which shows the sense of height and power of a particular character.
• Zoom is used as an alternative to a tracking shot; this shows the focal length of the character.
• An arc shot is a full or semi circular shot around an object or a character; this increases the intensity of what may be happening. 
• A crane shot is used in a film to follow the action in a vertical direction; the camera is simply attached to a crane.
• For left to right (or vice versa) movements, a panning shot is used to create the effect. 

Additionally, we watched the opening scene of The Book of Eli. From this, we were able to see how film directors use different elements to creating a film.
We looked at the setting, sounds, camera movements, the plot/narrative, characters and how gender is shown. As a class, we were able to see that by using ghostly, mysterious sounds and adding this in with certain camera movements, like a tracking shot for example, it sets a good scene of a peculiar, eerie setting.