camera shots

                                                Camera shots relevant to film         

The choice of shot has a significant influence on the audience interpretation of an image.

Photographers and cinematographers have to think carefully about where they position the camera and what to include in the frame. 

Close-up shots only include the persons face or part of the object to the audience. Framed in this way encourages the audience to focus on the characters facial features, expressions and reactions. It conveys emotion and encourages the viewer to empathise with the characters situation. There were some shots that I thought would work well in my short film however, during the editing phase  one of the close-up angles of the mask looked false, there was too much clarity and ambient light from the camera. Instead of a close-up of the antagonist, it was more effective for him to move up from below the camera into a mid shot, the natural light was darker too, it was dusk, perfect for the genre. The effect was creepier and very pleasing. I realised that by almost blacking out the mask and contrasting it with the paleness of the hand was a far more convincing scene.

An extreme close-up shot or ECU is when the camera moves incredibly close to the subject highlighting a specific detail of the body or the face. The audience are now uncomfortably intimate with the subject and emotions. The shot is often used in horror films to convey the characters terror or pain. 

The medium shot is one of the most common shots in television and film it focuses attention on the character while still sharing some of the environment in the frame. It allows the audience to interpret body language.

A high camera angle, is created by moving the camera above eye level and looking down at the person or object. It can make them seem weak, frightened or vulnerable. The higher the angle the smaller and more insignificant the character will become.  

A low angle shot is when a person is photographed from below eye level, they can appear taller or more powerful.  

Point of view and handheld shots are convincing angles to use in the horror genre. A point of view shot POV allows the audience to see the world from the characters perspective. The position of the camera is from their viewpoint. This type of shot can reinforce a major plot point. In horror films and thrillers the director might use a point of view shot of the killer hiding in the shadows and watching the victim. I used POV camera angles taken from the protagonists perspective, running through the woodland with a strong sense that there is danger in the shadows.

This close up shot of the antagonist with his finger up to his mask directly connecting the audience is very effective in the film production. He’s looking directly at the audience but his eyes are covered by a mask. He knows the audience is there and witness to his crime but his appearance is concealed from the audience .

Another close-up shot, this time of the antagonist’s hand and the weapon. The light from his torch as he looks down illuminating the prop and inferring his crime.

This shot of the moon was taken after I had finished filming different scenes for my product. It was perfect and could easily be the POV shot of the protagonist, left amongst the damp decaying leaves.