Research of different Camera Angles, Camera movement and Shots

Before coming up with an idea of our final idea, my group and I did some research on different types of camera angles, camera movement and shots. We did this in order to ensure that we got the best out of our opening thriller piece and could make it of the best quality as possible. We planned to incorporate both basic and advanced camera shots and angles to create our piece. 


Camera Shots

The main objective that camera shots have is to demonstrate different aspects of a film's setting, characters and themes and are the amount of space that is seen in one shot or frame. As a result of this, camera shots are very important when shaping a meaning in a film.

Examples of Camera Shots:

Extreme Long Shot
An extreme long shot often contains a large amount of landscape and is used to set a scene or establish a location, which is called an establishing shot. These types of shots are often used to show mise-en-scene in the scene. 

Long Shot

Long shots are similar to extreme long shots but are much more specific and give the audience a more specific idea of the setting. In these shots, the emphasis is on the environment and generally includes the characters whole body in the scene. 

Mid Shot

Mid Shots contain just the characters bodies or a someone from the waist up. In these types of shots, the audience can see the characters faces much more clearly than in extreme long shots and long shots. The interaction between different customers can also be seen in mid shots.

Close-up

Close ups contain only one character's face. Also known as personal shots, they allow the audience to capture the character's feelings and emotions and enables them to feel empathy for the character in the film. 

Extreme Close-up

Extreme close-ups show just one part of a person face and are quite common in Thriller and Horror films. These types of camera shots show emotions of the character in great detail and create an intense mood which provides interaction between the film and the audience. 

Over the Shoulder shot

This shot is taken from behind a character's shoulder, towards another subject. Depending on how much of the subject is show in the shot compared to the person who's shoulder is being film over, the audience can tell who the inferior or superior character is. For example from an elevated/birds-eye view, over the shoulder the subject would appear inferior and a worms eye-shot over the shoulder would make the subejct seem superior. 

Camera Angles

People often get camera angles and shot mixed up, but they are not the same thing. Whilst camera shots are used to establish settings, show emotions and themes, camera angles are used in film to position the viewer in order for them to understand to relationships between different characters. 

Examples of Camera Angles:

Birds Eye Angle

A bird's eye angle looks directly down on a scene from a so called view from a 'bird's eye'. These types of angles are often used as establishing angles to establish the setting of the scene.

 

High Angle

High angles look down upon a subject or a character. These types of shots are used to make people look inferior, vulnerable or small as if someone is looking down or standing above them. 

Low Angle

Low angles look up at a character or subject in film. It is the complete opposite of a high angle and makes the character look inferior instead of looking superior, it can also make the audience feel vulnerable or small by looking up to the character. 

Camera Movement

Camera Movement is used in films to shape meaning. 

Examples of Camera Movement:

Panning

Panning is usually used to set the scene or setting of a film and gives the audience a panoramic view of the set.

Tracking Shot

Tracking shots used 'tracks' to move and are most common when exploring a room such as a restaurant. They are used to give the audience a detailed tour of the current situation of the characters. Tracking shots can also be used to follow a character.

Crane shot

These types of shots are often used to signify the ending or finale of a film. The outcome is achieved by the camera being placed on a crane which can then be moved upwards to create a zoom out effect.