camera techniques

Camera JargonA filmed image is called a

shot

Changing between two shots is called a Cut

A shot of something other than main action is called a

Cutaway

There are three very important things you need to think about when you’re shooting:

Framing Angle Movement

FramingDivide the frame into nine squares

In interviews the eyes should be about a third from the top of the frame

If you put points of interest on the intersections the image will be more balanced

You should leave some looking room for them talk into

Types of shots

When you’re framing a shot you need to think about how close or far away you want to be from the object or person.

Extreme wide shot

Great way to establish a scene and give the video context

Normally used to show buildings or landscapes

Not much detail, but it gives the viewer lots of information

Long shot

Show an object or person in life-size

Normally include some background

Main focus is the object or person

Mid shot

Shows the object or person in a bit more detail

If it’s a person you’ll normally show the top half of their body

Used for scenes that involve talking

Close up

Concentrate on specific details and faces

A very personal shot because you wouldn’t normally get that close to someone or something

Gives the viewer lots of information and detail

Extreme close up

Even more intense close up

Captures things that the eye wouldn’t necessarily see

Could be an eye or a mouth

Angles of shots

When you’re framing a shot different angles can convey different messages

Birds eye

Shows a scene from directly overhead

Achieve by getting to a higher level and shooting downCan make the action feel less significant and unintimidating

Can make the action feel less significant and unintimidating

High angle

Less extreme version of the birds eye

Raise the camera above the action or person and shoot down

Can make the object or person seem smaller and less intimidating

Viewer feels in control of the scene

Eye level

What you’d see if you were look at the person or objectA very neutral shot that makes the viewer feel like they are being spoken to

This is how most interviews are filmed

Achieve by positioning the camera directly in line with the action or person

Low angle

Looks slightly up at the action or person

Helps to create authority in the scene

Make an interview or object look important

Achieve by putting the camera at a low level and shoot slightly upwards

tilted

Shows a scene at a slanted angle

Used to give a package an artistic or quirky interpretation of a scene

Makes a scene more interesting and dramatic

Achieved by moving the camera slightly sideways

Movement

A sequence can be developed by moving the camera with the action Takes longer than still shots and gives the viewer a sense of real time

Panning

Moving the camera horizontally along with the action or landscape

Keep the object or person in the centre of the frame

Could be following a person into a building or walking along

Tilting

Moving the camera vertically along with the action or landscape

Could shoot from the sky to a building to get a sense of size

Another way to establish a scene – think about TV sitcoms

zooming

Magnifies an images

Allows you to go from a wide shot to a close shot without any cuts

Try and keep the camera still

Experiment with different speeds to see which one looks best. Fast zooms are more intense and can create excitement. Slower zooms give more detail