Camera Angles

Close-up• A Close-up shows very little background, and purely concentrates on

either a face/expression or on a specific detail/object. Everything else in the background is just a blur. This shot magnifies the object and shows the importance of things such as words written on paper, or the expression on someone's face. The close-up takes us into the mind of a character/figure. In reality, we only usually let people that we really trust get THAT close to our face like your parents, children and lovers. Therefore a Close-up of a face is a very intimate shot. A film-maker may use this to make us feel extra comfortable or extremely uncomfortable about a character, and usually uses a zoom lens in order to get the required framing.

I have chosen this frame as it shows a good close up of a face, just like my

example. It shows her facial expression portraying emotion in more detail so the

audience can clearly identify how they are feeling. This shot would be used in Drama films to convey emotions and

string themes.

Extreme Close-up• An Extreme Close-up is as its name suggests, an extreme version of the

close up. It generally magnifies beyond what the human eye would experience in reality. An extreme close-up of a face, would show only one feature such as the mouth or eyes, with no background detail whatsoever. This is a very artificial shot, and can be used for great dramatic effect. The tight focus required means that extra care must be taken when setting up and lighting the shot as the slightest camera shake or error in focal length is very noticeable.

I have chosen this frame as an extreme close up shows even more detail and emotion than a close up and it portrays even more emotion, for example the extreme close up I have taken of an eye could have a tear drop under the eye showing

sadness. This shot could be used in horror films to show the terror in peoples eyes/facial expressions.

Extreme long shot• An Extreme long shot is generally used as a scene-setting, establishing

shot. It normally shows an exterior for example, a landscape or an outside of a building. It is quite often used in film to show scenes of thrilling action eg in a war film or disaster movie. There is very little detail visible in the shot due to how long the shot is. It's meant to give a general wider overview rather than specific details.

I have chosen this frame as clearly shows a long shot

image of a landscape giving the audience a clear idea of

what the setting/surrounding looks like. This shot could be used in an Adventure film to show the exotic place they

travelling to/exploring.

Long shot • A Long shot is generally shows the image as approximately "life" size i.e

corresponding to the real distance between the audience and the screen in a cinema (the figure of a man would appear as six feet tall). This category includes the Full shot showing the entire human body, with the head near the top of the frame and the feet near the bottom.

I have chosen this frame it shows a persons whole body which is a long

shot, it is to portray that they are life size to the audience making it realistic on a cinema screen. This shot could be used in an Action film, for example of a bad guy pointing a gun at someone.

Medium shot • The Medium shot usually contains a figure from the knees/waist up and is

normally used for dialogue scenes, or to show some detail of action/emotion. Variations on this include the Two shot (two figures from the waist up) and the Three shot (3 figures) Any more than three figures and the shot tends to become a long shot. There is minimal background detail as the focus is on the figures.

I have chosen this frame as it is an accurate portrayal of a mid-shot. It is

used a lot in dialogue scenes or to show a limited amount of detail and emotion. This shot could be used in a Western film, for example it could be

two cowboys stood next to each other in a bar.

The Bird’s-Eye view • The Bird’s eye view shows a scene from directly overhead as if you were

looking down. Familiar objects viewed from this angle might seem totally unrecognisable at first such as umbrellas in a crowd of people. This shot does, however, put the audience in a godlike position, looking down on the action. People can be made to look insignificant, small and ant-like.

I have chosen this shot as it shows a birds eye view of a daisy. This shot

gives the audience an all round view meaning they can see everything. This shot could be used in a disaster film to

show the disaster from a birds eye view showing the audience and

emphasising the large scale.

High Angle • The High Angle is not so extreme as a bird's eye view. The camera is

elevated above the action to give a general overview. High angles make the object photographed seem smaller, and less significant. The object or character often gets swallowed up by their setting it’s like they become part of a wider picture.

I have chosen this frame as it shows the purpose of a high angle shot greatly. The high

angle shot is used to make the thing look smaller, less

significant. This shot could be used in a thriller/horror film to

portray the villain/monster standing over the victim.

Eye level • Eye level is A fairly neutral shot; the camera is positioned as though it is a

human actually observing a scene, so that, for example, actors' heads are on a level with the focus. It is as if you are on the same level as the person/object looking straight at them. The camera will be placed approximately five to six feet from the ground when taking an Eye level shot of a person.

I have chosen this frame as it conveys the equal level to the camera as an eye level shot should. It makes the audience feel as if they are on the same level as the character/object

looking straight at them/it. This shot could be used in a Romance film, for example a shot of people kissing.

Low Angle • Low Angles increase height which useful for short actors and give a sense

of speeded motion. Low angles help give a sense of confusion to a viewer, of powerlessness within the action of a scene. The background of a low angle shot will tend to be just sky or ceiling, the lack of detail about the setting adding to the disorientation of the viewer. The added height of the object may make it inspire fear and insecurity in the viewer, who is psychologically dominated by the figure on the screen due to the camera angle.

I have chosen this frame as it shows a low angle of a tree. This

shot makes the tree look significant and big. Basically the

opposite of a high shot. This shot is sometimes used in films to

make short actors look taller and can be seen in Action films.