Camera Angles, Shots and Movements
When you are making a film, or animation, you need to consider how it will be "shot". Where you will place the camera (Camera Angle), how much of the subject you will have in the shot (Shot Type), and if there is any camera movement.
Camera Angles
The camera angle is all about adjusting the height of the camera to create different impacts. Key angles are:
- Eye Level
- Low Angle (points up, good for creating a feeling of power, being loomed over)
- High Angle (points down, good for creating a feeling of inferiority)
- Hip Level
- Knee Level
- Ground Level
- Shoulder Level
- Dutch Angle (camera is tilted to one side - creates disorientation)
- Birds Eye / Overhead
- Aerial
Camera Shot Types
These are sometimes called shot sizes in the video. They describe how you will frame the subjects. There are a number of key ones
- Establishing shots - set the scene, focusses on location
- Master shot - wide angle, shows location and main characters in scene.
- Wide Shot (WS) - subjects shown in envrionment (good for showing scale)
- Full Shot - subjects entite body fills frame from top to bottom
- Medium Full Shot / Cowboy Shot - waist up to top of head
- Medium Shot (ms) - above waist to above head (very popular)
- Medium Close Shot (MCU)- chest to above the head. Reduces distraction,
- Close Up (CU) - captures characters Tight - usually at eye level, shows feelings.
- Extreme Close Shot (ECU) - Used to show detail and emotions, isolates part of the subject, eyes, lips, a ring.ts you see things from their point of view.
- Over the Shoulder - looks over a persons shoulder, ley
- Insert Shot / Cut Away (like ECU)
Camera Movements
- Pan - moves camera left to right (or right to left) on a tripod
- Tilt - moves camera up and down on a tripod
- Zoom
- Zoom In / Out - gets closer after starting further back / pulls back
- Slow Push In -/ creep in - camera creeps closer, makes viewers looks a bit closer
- Creep out - camera slowly moves out. pulls away, abandons the subject
- Tracking Shot - camera physically moves left to right or right to left (either on a dolly track or a slider)
- Crane - camera physically moves up and down (either using a crane or a jib)
- Dolly Shot - type of tracking shot, uses a gimble. lets you follow a character or move away from character