Camera Angles

Camera Angles are used in every film, music video, video game, and much more. There are many different camera angles, here are a few, long shot, close up, bird's eye view, worm view, extreme close up, wide shot, extreme wide shot, low shot, and many more. 

The reason different angles are used, is to emphasise what is happening during that moment, as for example if a film is filmed in a close up view throughout the film, the film would become to look very weird as if explosions happen in the background the camera would need to zoom out to capture the full explosion, or if it's a horror film the camera would need to be zoomed in to create the sense that the person in the film is stuck in a small area making the film scary.

The purpose of an opening shot is to capture the beginning of the film, the opening shot usually has a question or leaves the film blank which makes the viewers question what will happen next and what the film is all about. For example Terminator you never actually get to see the Terminator until the end, the same is for many other film like Alien and many more.

Star Wars Opening Scene

The Star Wars opening scene is very notorious compared to many different opening shots on films. Most people judge films during the first few seconds of watching opening scenes. This opening scene shows you that the film will be in space. The ship is also very big and there is a normal sized ship next to it this is to show how big the aircraft actually is. From this beginning opening shot you gather that the film will be sci-fi and that there will be many fighting scenes throughout.

The bigger aircraft shows power, because it's bigger it shows that it has more power than the smaller one. It also shows that one is the good side and the smaller side and the big forces are the evil ones. Also the beginning shot hit's straight of with a massive aircraft going past your screen showing it's power and that it could destroy anything and everything.

World's End Opening Scene

The opening scene of World's End is with the camera being blurry and focusing onto the company that helped make the film with a country song in the background, after a while it cuts to more modern music. Then Simon Pegg starts talking with 5 guys running toward 5 beers on a bar counter, this shows that this film is automatically about drinking alcohol. Then some young adults walking out of school, this is what you can assume as them 5 at the beginning just younger and at school. Then it introduces us to every character and shows us what they mean to the main character who is talking in the background. Then Simon Pegg talks about where they live and what their home town looks like, and that they were going to do the "Golden Mile" (which is a drinking game). After it cuts to them going to each pub trying to finish their game but, they couldn't make it too the world's end. Then it cuts to the main character (Simon Pegg) sitting down in a circle talking about what just happened. This opening scene is showing what they did and what happened. This is also known as an establishing shot.

Establishing Shot

An establishing shot is used to set up the context of what the film will be about for example, The World's End (the opening scene above) is also an establishing shot telling you who all the characters are, where the characters will be throughout the film, and what the film is about.

If you don't have an establishing shot you can run into some problems, this is because the viewers won't know what is going on and what is happening. The viewer will become bored as they won't know the characters or what is actually happening.

Some films don't have an establishing shot on purpose this is used to confuse the viewers, for example puzzle films usually won't have an establishing shot so you don't know who the characters are and it will create a puzzle for the viewer.

Some films won't actually give an establishing shot until the very end of the film. So then once the viewer has seen the plot and what has already happened then at the end it will give an establishing shot so the viewer will be like whoa.

Establishing shots also show the connection between the character and to the fantasy world they have been protecting or trying to save.

Very Long Shots

Very long shots help to create a sense of an ending, or give the viewers the idea that the film has come to and end, as most films zoom out once finished giving a very long shot, or at the end of a big mission or something happening then it shows that the main character is done with the camera zooming out showing they are going home or are done with everything that has happened.

A very long shot is used to show the character or object from a distance, or the area in which the scene is being taken place. This shot often sets the scene and our character's place in it. This can also serve as an establishing shot, in line of an Extreme Long Shot. Down below are some examples. 

My Establishing Shot

The one on the left is the better picture that I took, then the one on the right I was moving my phone too much on, also a car went by at the wrong time.

These are my establishing shots of The Old Manor across from the college. This is used to show the location of where my fake documentary was filmed, my fake documentary is about the history of this pub.

My Very Long Shots

These are my very long shots of Ollie in my class, he was taking pictures as well and I saw him so I thought I might as well take some pictures of him. In this picture I have the greenery around him, It looks like he is in a Where's Wally book.

If I had more time I would've gotten a better background and person for the picture with something more meaningful behind the image.

Full Shot

A full shot, wide shot, or long shot captures one or more characters or objects from top to bottom to focus on the characters appearance or movement. Full shots can communicate the appearance, movement, or actions of characters before focusing on their reaction or feelings. 

Down below is my full shot of Jordan outside the art corridor. I used the design in the background to not make the image look basic. 

Medium Long Shot

A medium long shot, also called medium full shot, is a shot that frames a character from the knees and up. A medium full shot falls between a normal medium shot and a full shot. The medium full shot is also referred to as a medium long shot, 3 quarter shot or a cowboy shot.

The image below is a picture of Jordan in a medium long shot, this was outside the art corridor to get a different background instead of a plain wall.

Medium Shot

A medium shot, also called a mid shot or waist shot, is a type of camera shot in film and television that shows an actor from the waist up. A medium shot is used to emphasize both the character and their surroundings by giving them an equal presence on screen.

Down below is a picture of Jordan in a medium shot, outside the art corridor so I could use the design behind to make the background not look so plain.

Medium Close Up

A medium close up shot is a shot that frames the character from just above their head down to about midway on their chest. A medium close up is often used when a scene needs to be covered up so that it doesn't shock the viewer.

This is a medium close up of Jordan, this time we was on the stairs in the college.

Close Up

A close up in filmmaking, television production, still photography, is a type of shot that frames a person or object. Close ups are one of the standard shots used regularly with medium and long shots.

This is a close up of Jordan with him crossing his eyes, this was taken on the stairs in the college.

Extreme Close Up

An extreme close up shot captures a subject very closely, often so much so that the outer portions of the character are cut off by the edges of the frame. On an actor, this is commonly used to show specific portions of the body, like the face or hip, but it can go closer to show only an actor's mouth, or even a single eye. 

This is an extreme close up of Jordan on the college's stairs.

Dutch Angle

The dutch angle is a type of camera shot which involves setting the camera at an angle on its axis so that the shot is composed with vertical lines at an angle to the side of the frame, or so that the horizon line of the shot is not parallel.

This is a dutch angle of Mike, in town. 

Low Angle Shot

In cinematography, a low angle shot, is a shot from a camera angle positioned low, anywhere below the eye line, looking up. Sometimes, it is even directly below the characters feet. The effect of the low angle shot is that it makes the character look strong and powerful.

High Angle Shot

A high angle shot is a cinematic technique where the camera looks down on the character from a high angle and the point of focus is them looking up. In film, they can make the scene more dramatic. If there is a person at high elevation who is talking to someone below them, this shot is often used. 

This is Mike looking up to my camera in town.