UNIT 8: THE ART OF FILMING "CAMERA SHOTS AND ANGLES" and "COMPOSITION"

CAMERA VIEW ANGLES AND SHOT SIZE

In the art of filming and photography, there is a specific vocabulary, terminology that is important to know before we get started. 

WHAT IS A FILM FRAME? 

In filmmaking, video production, animation, and related fields, a frame is one of the many still images which compose the complete moving picture. ... The term may also be used more generally as a noun or verb to refer to the edges of the image as seen in a camera viewfinder or projected on a screen.

HOW DO WE GET ANIMATION FROM STILL FRAMES? 

Watch this 2 min. video from Pixar, you will understand perfectly the process of ANIMATION.

WHAT IS A SHOT? 

In filmmaking and video production, a shot is a series of frames that runs for an uninterrupted period of time. In production, a shot is the moment that the camera starts rolling until the moment it stops. In film editing, a shot is the continuous footage or sequence between two edits or cuts. 

Camera shots are an essential aspect of filmmaking and video productions, because by combining different types of shots, angles and camera movements, the filmmakers are able to emphasize specific emotions, ideas and movement for each scene.

1. CAMERA ANGLES

Angle indicates the physical position of the camera and the center of the lens axis. 

CAMERA ANGLES: LET'S SEE ONE BY ONE NOW

Source: www.studiobinder.com Click here for more info.

A. EYE LEVEL SHOT.

First, consider the most common height: the eye level shot. When your subject is at eye-level they’re in a neutral perspective (not superior or inferior). This mimics how we see people in real life -- our eye line connecting with theirs.

B. LOW ANGLE SHOT.

A low angle shot frames the subject from a low camera height looking up at them. These camera shots most often emphasize power dynamics between characters.

C. HIGH ANGLE SHOT.

In a high angle shot, the camera points down at your subject. It usually creates a feeling of inferiority, or “looking down” on your subject.

D. BIRD'S EYE SHOT OF OVERHEAD SHOT.

An overhead shot is from way up high, looking down on your subject and a good amount of the scenery surrounding him or her. This can create a great sense of scale and movement.

2. CAMERA SHOT SIZES

Shot size means how much of the scene is included in the picture, and whether it mainly shows the setting, people in the setting, or details of faces and things. ... Most filmmakers use standard names for shot sizes.

3. PHOTOGRAPHY. COMPOSITION RULES

el febrero 17, 2019

Photography is an essential technique for transmitting visual information. As a beginner photographer you should be looking at the images made by other photographers, people whose work you admire. You sure noticed that somehow the compositions of these photographers tend to be a lot more eye catching. There is no magic wand which you can wave and your photography can become better all of a sudden. It does take a considerable amount of time and energy to develop the necessary skills to make great images. The first thing you must consider is a good understanding of the Compositional Rules of Photography. This compositional rules are not designed to remove your creativity. Once you have mastered these rules, you would be able to go beyond them, break them whenever necessary so that you can create even more captivating images and you will consider them as guides.

This year we are going to focus just in three of them:

RULE OF THIRDS: The main object is placed on one of the intersections.

RULE OF SPACE: There is more space in front of the view of the person/animal than in the back

RULE OF THE HORIZON LINE: You can divide the landscape in three horizontal lines.

COMPOSITION RULES TIPS

MORE ABOUT COMPOSITION (Click on the image):

A few other videos about types of camera shots and composition: 

Different photography genres

Sumarizing... plus adding a bit more information (camera movements): 

 

TYPES OF SHOTS IN FAMOUS CLASSIC FILMS