Research into Camera Work

We learnt different camera shots and movements in our recent lessons, and this is our research on them.

Camera shots
Extreme close up

An extreme close up is a camera shot focusing on generally the actors eyes during a scene. This allows the viewer to pay great attention to the facial expression of the character.

Big close up

A big close up is a full focus on the entity of the actors face. This allows the person to focus fully on facial expressions, whether it be through the actors eyes or mouth movement and so on.

Close up

A close up is a camera shot which starts around the actors neck and finishes at the top of their head. This close up camera shot is used for the viewer to see the emotion the actor is expressing in the scene, for example his reaction to someone doing something bad.

Medium close up

A medium close up consists of seeing from a persons shoulders up to above their head. This shot allows the viewer to see the emotion of the actor, whilst catching some of gestures they may perform to represent something, for example the actor may show unbalance to make it clear to the viewer he could be under the influence.

Medium shot

A medium shot is where the viewer can see from just below the actors waist up to their head. This shows us most of the actors body so we can still slightly focus on the actors facial expression, but also focus on the actor individually and what they are physically doing in a scene.

Medium longshot

A medium longshot is a camera shot that allos the viewer to see from about the actors knees all the way to their head. This shot starts to lose focus on the actors facial expression and starts to force more of the focus onto what they are doing, so we know we are paying great attention to what physically movement they do.

Longshot

A long shot is where the viewer can see the full body of an actor. This shot completely takes us away from facial expression and makes us focus on his body expression. So instead of seeing an actor have a dropped jaw to represent shock, we may see them take a step back and cover their mouth, or seem desperate for air as the thing they are reacting to has taken their breath away.

Extreme longshot

An extreme longshot is a camera shot which allows us as the viewer to see the full body of the actor and their surroundings. This shot can represent many things, for example how small a character may be compared to the environment of the scene. The camera shot focuses on how the actor will physically react or how they compare to the environment of the scene.

Two shot

A two shot is a camera shot used to show two actors in a scene instead of focusing on just one. This shot is used in a lot of situations where dialogue is the main feature of the scene, as it allows us to see the two characters together, how they act based on the chemistry between the two roles, and even how they react through both physical action and facial expressions.

Over the shoulder shot

An over the shoulder shot is basically what the title says it is; it is a shot from over the shoulder of the actor. This shot is generally used to show us what an actor is looking at, but is also widely used as a good camera shot for a scene with dialogue between two actors, as the viewer can see how the other actor in the scene responds to the dialogue from the actor we are over the shoulder of.

High angle shot

A high angle shot is where we are above an actor looking down at them. This shot is used a lot to show the vulnerability of a character in a scene, as it seems like they are overshadowed or small and weak.

Low angle shot

A high angle shot is a shot where the camera is underneath the actor, looking up at them. This shot is the opposite of a high angle shot, as it is from the opposite direction and also represents strength and largeness, instead of vulnerability and smallness.

Canted angle shot

A canted angle shot is where the viewer can see the actor and scene from a titled angle. This camera shot is used mainly to present that something in the scene or something about the actor is unusual and strange, it shows the viewer that something is wrong. This sometimes may also be used to show someone is drunk.

Camera movement
Pan movement

A pan movement is where the viewer is shown a scene or environment through slow horizontal movement. It can be used to bring our attention to something major, as when the camera pans across it we are paying attention to the horizontal movement and will notice it.

Tilt movement

A tilt movement is where the camera is moved up or down an object on an axis. This movement is used mainly to represent the height of something, as the viewer see's a slow movement up an object creating the idea that the object is quite tall.

Tracking/crab movement

A tracking/crab movement is where the camera follows the movement of a person. This can be used effectively to show someone running or walking.

Push out movement

A push out movement is where the camera physically pushes out from an object, instead of zooming. This camera movement generally shows the movement  in a backwards direction as the viewer can see the physical movement of the camera which represents the physical movement of an object or actor.

Push in movement

A push in movement is used to show us the physical movement of pushing in on an object. Once again this is instead of zooming. This allows the viewer to clearly see the physical movement of an actor as the camera will follow the actor using a push in movement.

Arc movement

This camera movement is a semi-circle around a certain actor or scene. This effective camera movement allows the viewer to see all of the surroundings of the actor and get a wide range of different angles on the actor. Also, it can be used to slowly show us what an actor/actors are looking at in a scene. 

Group roles
Charlie- My role in this research was that I was basically the director. I noted which camera angles and movements we were asked to capture, and I told them in order to the actor (Toby) and camera man (George). I also watched George take the photos to see how they replicated to the example shots and movement I had in my book, as well as advicing Toby where he should stand. I put my opinion on how we should do the shot when there was doubt, but this was only for a few shots as most of them were straight forward.
Toby- My role within the group is to pose or act for the camera, however it has to be in the way the director (Charlie's role) see's fit. I have to make sure that my body language is right and suits the shot and also Charlie's vision. The role I have is rather important to the group as without it there would be no actor. Having this role will also give me an insight on the media and film industry as they bounce of each other rather nicely and it allows me to apply my drama skills and techniques in my role.
George- My role within the group was to dictate the camera and the actor (Toby) i studied know camera shots and angles and tried to replicate them, i then took these images and clips and chose the ones suitable to post on here as i felt these are the closest to the described angles listed by Charlie, i also uploaded and edited the blog to fit the images.
Michael- Wasn't included in this research as he joined the group after the work had already been done. However, Michael attempted to assist in setting up the blog and took part in discussions about later group roles.