Visual Poetry Viewing & Film Studies: Camera Shots

Today, we will be doing the following:
A. Read and take notes about the different camera angles and shots. You should know the terminology of each of these shots and why they might be used in a film. You will be tested on this information so please read, understand, and be able to illustrate the different camera angles.

B. Watch a few visual poetry films from your peers. Fill out the comment/feedback sheet and turn in by the end of class. You are required to do at least 6 of these. See sheet. Complete this part of the class while you are waiting for the camera.

C. While you are working on this, please gather with your groups and shoot examples of the camera shots with the camera. You may shoot in the hallway, but you must stay on this level and nearby. Once you have completed your shooting, please return so other groups may illustrate and shoot their shots.

FILM VOCABULARY: Take notes!

Shot: How much subject matter is included within the frame of the screen.
In general, shots are determined on the basis of how much of the human figure is in view. Additionally, a shot is also an unedited strip of film, recording images from the time the camera starts to the time it stops.

Types:

1. extreme long shot - taken from a great distance, almost always an exterior shot; shows much of the setting or locale. They serve as spatial frames of reference. Used where locale plays an important role. (Historical, epics, westerns, etc.)

2. long shot (proscenium shot) - About the distance one would be from the theatre stage to the audience. Usually includes complete human form to a distance less extreme than the ELS.

3. Full shot - Fits the whole human form in the frame of the camera.

4. Medium shot - Usually contains a figure from the knees or waist up. It is useful for shooting exposition scenes, for minor movement and for dialogue.
A. Two shot (two people in the shot, usually from waist up)
B. Three shot (three people crowded in the shot)
C. Over the shoulder (focal point is the person the viewer can see, shot over another character's "shoulder" to show POV

5. Close up - Usually a person’s face (or neck and shoulders). Concentrates on a relatively small object. Elevates the importance of small details, often symbolic.

6. Extreme close up - Focuses on a very small item. The item usually fills the frame. Used to elevate importance of small details; again, often symbolic.

7. Deep Focus Shot (wide angle shot) - A long shot with many focal distances. Shot captures objects at close, medium and long ranges simultaneously.

Camera Movement Shots

8. Pan, panning shot: (short for panorama), a revolving horizontal movement of the camera from left to right or vice versa.

9. Tracking shot, trucking shot, dolly shot: A shot taken from a moving vehicle. Originally tracks were laid on the set to permit a smoother movement of the camera.

10. Crane shot: A shot taken from a crane (mechanical arm) which carries the cinematographer and the camera to move in any direction, vertical or horizontal.

Camera Angle:
This term refers to the point of view held by the focal point of the camera when it is positioned for shooting. Included in the angle is the perspective given by the camera to the depth of focus, height and width of the particular object and action being photographed. The angle also refers to whether the shot is taken from behind, in front, from the side or from the top or bottom of the particular view. Terms appropriated for these various angles include:

eye-level angle (general default for most film shots) The Eye-Level shot is the most common angle seen in movies. Scenes are shot at roughly the same level as an observer would see the scene.

high-angle (the camera lens is placed at a high angle) This angle looks downwards, tending to draw attention to the importance of the environment or setting for a scene. High angle shots also tend to make characters look small and are often used by directors to symbolically suggest insignificance.

low-angle (the camera lens is placed at a low angle) looking upwards, this angle has the opposite effect of a high angle shot. It tends to focus attention on the size and significance of a character or object. Often directors will use this kind of shot to symbolically announce the power and authority of one of their characters without literally telling the audience this information. For instance,
in Star Wars the first time the audience meets Darth Vader, he is shot from a low angle to announce his role as the antagonist.