Framing your shots..

Camera Shots!!
A camera shot is the amount of space that is seen in one shot . Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of a film's setting, characters and themes. As a result, camera shots are very important in shaping meaning in a film. They are used to show emotion and help you to feel part of the film.

ELS-Extreme long shot.

This shot can be:

• a horizon shot
• an infinity shot
• an establishing shot
• a landscape
• a small figure in relation to a large building

LS-Long Shot.
This shot:

• Shows a whole figure, but closer to the camera
• Shows them in relation to their surroundings
• can also be an establishing shot

MLS-Medium long shot.

This shot:

• Shows more details of the charecter
• Retains the setting quite clearly in the mise-en-scene
• Shows the whole body

MS-Medium shot

This shot:

• Is roughly from the knees or waist to just above the head
• Is sometimes called a 'mid shot' or 'three quarter shot'
• is similar to MLS

MCU- Medium close up
This shot:

• Is from the mid-chest to the top of the head
• It shows much more detail of a charecter
• It can contain two people talking

CU-Close up
This shot:

• Shows head and shoulders
• Is very detailed
• Is used to show emotions and feelings/reactions

ECU-Extreme Close Up

This shot:

• Shows small part of a face or object
• Can also show extreme fear or emotion if tightly on the eyes

All the above is demonstrated below:

Camera Movements!!
These are used to help show emotion and follow the charecters within the shot.

Crab

Camera moves completely tp the left or right. Also called TRACKING SIDEWAYS.

Pan

Camera pivots left or right, but stays fixed to the same point

Boom

Camera moves up or down (as though it's in a lift)

Dolly

Camera moves in/out from subject. Also called TRACKING IN/ OUT

Zoom
Camera zooms in/ out from subject. This is not strictly a camera movement becasue it's the lens that moves, not the camera - it is an optical effect.

Camera Angles!!

Camera angles are used to position the viewer so that they can understand the relationships between the characters. These are very important for creating meaning in film as well as in other visual texts.

Bird's eye angle
is an angle that looks directly down upon a scene. This angle is often used as an establishing angle, along with an extreme long shot, to establish setting.

High angle
is a camera angle that looks down upon a subject. A character shot with a high angle will look vulnerable or small. These angles are often used to demonstrate to the audience a perspective of a particular character. The example above demonstrates to us the perspective or point of view of a vampire. As a viewer we can understand that the vampire feels powerful.
Eye-level angle
puts the audience on an equal footing with the character/s. This is the most commonly used angle in most films as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable with the characters.

Low angle
is a camera angle that looks up at a character. This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character. This can help the responder feel empathy if they are viewing the frame from another character's point of view.
A Dutch angle
is used to demonstrate the confusion of a character. The example above should disorientate you.