Camera Shots/Angles in Films

 

Establishing Shot

This can be taken from as much as a quarter of a mile away, and is generally used to show the audience where this film will be taking place and from that they can grasp what type of things will be happening. It usually shows the outside of places, such as the outside of a building or a landscape; there will be very little detail visible in the shot, it's meant to give a general impression rather than specific information.

 

 

Long Shot

This the angle that generally shows the image as almost 'lifesize', which could make the audience feel that the distance from them to character is real - this creates more of an impact by making the audience feel like they are there in the scene also. This shot shows the whole of the body, however still shows some of the background so we still have an idea of what the setting is like.

 

Medium Shot

Contains a figure from the waist up and is usually used for scenes of dialogue or action. It shows some body language along with the facial expression giving the audience a full view of what the character is feeling. This angle is used in two shots or three shots, anything after that and a wide shot is used. Hardly any background is shown therefore this shot is usually used when the audience have already been shown the setting and want to focus more on the characters.

 

Close up

 



 

This concentrates on the face or a detail of mise-en-scene; it shows the importance of things, whether it be a specific object needed in the film or an expression on someone's face.  It is a very intimate shot; it either makes the audience feel comfortable or really uncomfortable - depending on the character - it is a sign of trust, as we only let people we trust get that close to our faces.

 

Extreme Close Up

 

No background is shown whatsoever, it is generally magnifying beyond what the human eye would experience in reality. This shot can be used for dramatic effect or to really convey what the character is thinking or feeling. This shot however, has to be very carefully done, otherwise any little movement can be very noticeable.

 

The Birds-Eye View

 

 

This shot puts the audience in a god-like position, and everything they're looking down on can look very insignificant. It is a shot from directly overhead, and is suggested to be a very unnatural and strange angle - this could make our audience feel un easy.

 

High Angle

 

 

This angle is not as extreme as the birds-eye view; the camera is elevated above the action using a crane to give a general overview. Anything below it can be portrayed as insignificant or weak/not in control.

 

Eye Level

 

 

This is a fairly neutral shot; the camera will be placed approximately five to six feet from the ground. It puts the audience at a realistic angle when viewing the characters in the scene.

 

Low Angle

 

 

This puts whoever or whatever is in the scene, in power and in control. The audience however, can become to feel very disorientated and inferior; there is usually a very neutral background such as the ceiling or the sky which enhances the confusion the audience would feel.

 

Canted Angle

 

  

 

The camera is titled to creates a sense of unstableness and imbalance. This shot could be used to show someone's point of view; hand held cameras are usually used for this shot.