CAMERA
The Production Element Camera (or Camera Techniques) describes the way the film makers use the camera to tell the story. The three aspects of Camera are:
Camera Shot Type
Describing the 'distance' from the camera to the subject, or the way the subject is framed in the shot. There are many different ways to describe the different types of shots, but the basic shot types are:
Extreme long shot - Establishing shots are often used at the beginning of scenes to establish the setting. At the beginning of a film, for example, you might see an extreme long shot of a city or rolling hills. Then, we cut to a closer shot of a street, building and finally the character inside.
Long shot - A long shot usually still shows a great deal of background, characters are visible but may not be close enough to be recognisable. Long shots are used to establish the relationship between the character and where they are.
Full shot - A full shot shows characters from head to toe. It is used to show the character in action, usually interacting with the background.
Mid shot - A midshot shows the characters from the waist up. They are used to show the subjects face as well as their body language, making them ideal fro conversations or establishing the relationship between characters
Close up - The close up is one of the most commonly used shot sizes in film and television, usually showing a character’s face. A close up is used primarily to show how a character is feeling, as their facial expressions dominate the frame.
Extreme close up - Extreme close ups are usually an attempt to draw the viewer’s attention to a particular detail. For example, the director may choose to cur from a mid shot of a character to an extreme close-up emphasizing something about that character’s appearance.
Camera Shot Type
Describing the 'distance' from the camera to the subject, or the way the subject is framed in the shot. There are many different ways to describe the different types of shots, but the basic shot types are:
Extreme long shot - Establishing shots are often used at the beginning of scenes to establish the setting. At the beginning of a film, for example, you might see an extreme long shot of a city or rolling hills. Then, we cut to a closer shot of a street, building and finally the character inside.
Long shot - A long shot usually still shows a great deal of background, characters are visible but may not be close enough to be recognisable. Long shots are used to establish the relationship between the character and where they are.
Full shot - A full shot shows characters from head to toe. It is used to show the character in action, usually interacting with the background.
Mid shot - A midshot shows the characters from the waist up. They are used to show the subjects face as well as their body language, making them ideal fro conversations or establishing the relationship between characters
Close up - The close up is one of the most commonly used shot sizes in film and television, usually showing a character’s face. A close up is used primarily to show how a character is feeling, as their facial expressions dominate the frame.
Extreme close up - Extreme close ups are usually an attempt to draw the viewer’s attention to a particular detail. For example, the director may choose to cur from a mid shot of a character to an extreme close-up emphasizing something about that character’s appearance.
Camera Angle
Camera angle refers to the angle at which the subject is shot. Camera angles can have a particular effect on the audience, and the way they understand what is occurring in the story or with the characters.
Overshot -The camera is positioned directly above the subject. This is often used in establishing shots, where the camera flies over city streets. Alfred Hitchcock used an overshot in Psycho when Norman Bates carries his mother out of her bedroom and down the stairs.
High Angle - The camera is positioned above the subject, looking down at an angle. This angle makes the subject appear smaller, powerless and more vulnerable.
Eye Level - This is the most commonly used camera angle in film and television. Whereas most other camera angles are highly stylised, an eye level shot creates a sense of normalcy and realism because this is how we see the world.
Low Angle - The camera is positioned below eye level, looking up, to imply a sense of power and dominance.
Undershot - The camera is positioned directly beneath the subject, looking up. Often coupled with point-of-view shots when the character is looking up at something.
Observe the use of camera angles in the trailer for the film 300. Consider the way the characters appear when shot from different angles.
Camera angle refers to the angle at which the subject is shot. Camera angles can have a particular effect on the audience, and the way they understand what is occurring in the story or with the characters.
Overshot -The camera is positioned directly above the subject. This is often used in establishing shots, where the camera flies over city streets. Alfred Hitchcock used an overshot in Psycho when Norman Bates carries his mother out of her bedroom and down the stairs.
High Angle - The camera is positioned above the subject, looking down at an angle. This angle makes the subject appear smaller, powerless and more vulnerable.
Eye Level - This is the most commonly used camera angle in film and television. Whereas most other camera angles are highly stylised, an eye level shot creates a sense of normalcy and realism because this is how we see the world.
Low Angle - The camera is positioned below eye level, looking up, to imply a sense of power and dominance.
Undershot - The camera is positioned directly beneath the subject, looking up. Often coupled with point-of-view shots when the character is looking up at something.
Observe the use of camera angles in the trailer for the film 300. Consider the way the characters appear when shot from different angles.
Camera Movement
Camera movement, too, makes a significant contribution to storytelling. The way a camera moves (or doesn't) can create tension, excitement or simply add a sense of interest to the frame. Here is a list of different types of camera movement that you might encounter in narratives:
Dolly - A dolly is any sort of moving platform that a camera is mounted on. Professional camera crews often lay down tracks which the camera can be moved along.
Tracking Shot - The camera follows a moving subject.
Pan - The camera turns horizontally when mounted on a tripod.
Tilt - The camera tilts up/down when mounted on a tripod.
Crane - The camera is mounted on a crane, helping filmmakers to achieve dynamic overhead shots.
Handheld - Handheld camera movement is often used to achieve a sense of realism because audiences associate this sort of camera movement with documentary film.
Steadicam - A device that allows camera operators to achieve smooth, fluid camera movement.
Zoom -The lens of a camera is used to magnify an image. Action films of late use what are termed 'crash-zooms', where the camera zooms extremely rapidly to give a scene a sense of excitement and energy.
Camera movement, too, makes a significant contribution to storytelling. The way a camera moves (or doesn't) can create tension, excitement or simply add a sense of interest to the frame. Here is a list of different types of camera movement that you might encounter in narratives:
Dolly - A dolly is any sort of moving platform that a camera is mounted on. Professional camera crews often lay down tracks which the camera can be moved along.
Tracking Shot - The camera follows a moving subject.
Pan - The camera turns horizontally when mounted on a tripod.
Tilt - The camera tilts up/down when mounted on a tripod.
Crane - The camera is mounted on a crane, helping filmmakers to achieve dynamic overhead shots.
Handheld - Handheld camera movement is often used to achieve a sense of realism because audiences associate this sort of camera movement with documentary film.
Steadicam - A device that allows camera operators to achieve smooth, fluid camera movement.
Zoom -The lens of a camera is used to magnify an image. Action films of late use what are termed 'crash-zooms', where the camera zooms extremely rapidly to give a scene a sense of excitement and energy.