CAMERA SHOTS

AND ANGLES

CAMERA SHOTSI have been looking at the different distances at which the camera can be positioned in order to take different shots. The shots create a different effect depending on what the focus of what we’re seeing is. For example in a school magazine, a long shot could be used to show the uniform or in a music magazine to show the outfit of the individual but a closer up shot would focus on the facial expressions of the individual photographed to give some insight about their personality.

Extended Long Shot/Establishing Shot

This shot establishes where the action is about to take place or provides information as to where something is happening. It often shows a landscape and a ‘character’ is barely visible.

Long ShotThis shows the whole person in a frame but the back ground and other individuals are still visible. This indicates the relationship of the character and their surroundings to an audience.

Medium Long ShotThis shot creates context. We can see the whole person and some background.

Medium ShotThis shot displays half of the body. Its taken from above the head to just below the waist and allows room to see hand gestures. It also the audience to understand the individual in frame by displaying body language. The audience can now see facial expressions clearly.

Medium close upA medium close up is similar to a medium shot. It shows the upper half of the body from just above the head to lower chest. It allows the audience to recognise the importance of the photo and the individual in frame based on the masthead or story surrounding the image and the expressions or pose of the ‘character’.

Close UpThis shot only shows a person’s head from just above the head to the top of the upper chest. It can also be used to show an object and contains little to no background. In a magazine it would be used to show a particular expression relevant to the article to illustrate the individual, unlikely on a front cover.

Big Close UpA big close up is a face shot taken from the mid-forehead to above the chin. It shows the close detail of the character's eyes and mouth, detailing expression.

Extreme Close UpThis is a very close shot showing the detail of an object or the physical features of a person.

CAMERA ANGLESIn looking at the different ways the camera can be positioned in relation to the focus of a shot, I’ve discovered the different effects and purposes of camera angles. A high angled shot may indicate something different to when the shot is taken at eye-level for example, and be relevant to what the image is designed to show. In a school magazine or a music magazine, is it is desired the individual comes across as powerful and confident a shot at a lower angle may be required.

High AngleHigh angle is a photo taken from slightly above eye-level. The individual will be looking up to look ‘up’ at the audience or may be looking straight ahead, away, etc.

Eye LevelThis angle is literally at ‘eye-level’ to the individual in the shot or as though the audience is looking specifically at an object. The camera is directly in front of the person in frame. It is used with a certain ‘directness’ as though the individual in the image is looking at the audience in a magazine, and puts the focus on the level of the individual.

Low AngleLow angle is a photo taken from slightly below eye-level. The individual may be looking down at the audience or may be looking straight ahead, away, etc.

Worm’s EyeThe worms eye view is taken from way below, so the entire frame is above the camera. This gives the illusion of a ‘worm’s eye’ so from the perspective of a worm. It makes the object or individual in frame seem large, significant or powerful. This would be an uncommon shot for a magazine, unless the individual is crouching down so that more of their facial expression would be in frame.

CantedThe canted angle is taken with the camera at a tilt to what is in the frame, it is not directly in line with the individual in the shot. This may be useful in designing a magazine to keep text in alignment with the image.

Bird’s EyeThe birds eye view is taken from way above, so what is in the frame is below the camera. This gives the illusion of a ‘bird’s eye’ so from the perspective of a bird. It makes the object or individual in frame seem large, significant or powerful. This would be an uncommon shot for a magazine, unless the individual is crouching down so that more of their facial expression would be in frame.