The Grammar of Video Making: Camera Distance, Angle, Movement
As part of the effort to bring to light these below-the-consciousness rules, I discuss video making conventions as they relate to camera usage. Just as words in an essay are carefully chosen to deliver the message at the author's intended way, the camera of the video maker is likewise used to the same effect. In the context of video making, everything that appears on the screen has to be driven by the author's careful and effective choice. The video maker has to ensure that the audience views the elements on the screen the way he has intended. For example, if the author wants the audience to pay attention to a cat on the screen, he has to make sure that he uses a shot that effectively makes the cat the salient element on the screen. That said, the video maker has to be knowledgable of the conventions surrounding the camera shots, angles, and movements.
"Camera distance," refers to the distance between the camera and the person or object being photographed or filmed. A specific language or grammar of video making, which the video maker should understand, has been developed to describe different camera shots. These shots have different implications on the way the message is received.
Extreme Long Shot:
- Can be taken from as much as a quarter of a mile
- Used as a scene-setting, establishing shot
- Shows very little detail visible in the shot
- Meant to give a general impression rather than specific information
Long Shot
- "life" size shot corresponding to the real distance
- Camera distance as in between the audience and the screen in a cinema
- Usually shows the entire human body with the head
- Focuses on characters, but still displays plenty of background details
Medium Shot
- Contains a figure from the knees/waist up
- Background detail is minimal
- Usually used for dialogues
- Another variation of this shot is the over-the shoulder shot
Close-Up Shot
- Concentrates on either the face or specific details of mise-en-scène
- Shows very little or blurred background
- Used to show the importance of things
- Often takes the audience into the mind of a character
The Extreme Close-Up Shot
- magnifies beyond what the human eye would experience in reality
- no background detail
- could be used for dramatic effect
- The slightest shake in focal length is very noticeable
Camera Angle
"Camera Angle" refers to the relative angle from which the camera was placed to photograph or film and object or a person.
Bird's Eye View
- This shows a scene from directly overhead, a very unnatural and strange angle
- Familiar objects viewed from this angle might seem totally unrecognizable at first (cars, people, etc.)
- This shot does, however, put the audience in a godlike position, looking down on the action
High Angle View
- the camera is placed above a character or setting
- allows the audience to feel like they are looking down on the scene
- it can also be used to gain a wider shot of the scene
- can also be used to have a character looking down at something or someone
- shows the character in the shot as weak, vulnerable, or powerless.
Eye Level View
- the camera is placed upon the same angle as the person or object being filmed
- it creates the idea that the viewer is on the same level as what is being viewed
- can be used to bring the viewer more closer to the action
Low Angle (Worm's Eye) View
- the camera is placed to look up at an object or the character
- makes the viewer feel as though they are looking upwards during this type of scene
- This angle is usually used to create the idea that the character is superior or higher in authority etc
Oblique Angle View
- deviates from a normal horizontal and vertical axes, the image appears tilted to the audience
- can change the main focus of the scene and signify a mental imbalance of a character
- used to create an impression of chaos within the scene
Camera Movements
Zooming
- allows the objects/person to be brought into the scene by a closer look
- they also appear bigger in the frame of the shot by zooming in
- can also happen by a reversing zoom shot
- can be used to surprise a viewer and a reverse zoom could be to allow more of the scene to be visible
Panning
- involves a camera moving from side to side to gain more access to the scene for the viewer
- all the while the movement is happening, the tripod is kept still
- can be used to show the speed of an object
Tilting
- the camera tilts up and down while the tripod is kept still
- can create a sense of unease for the viewer
- Hand-held - this can create a jerky and unsteady image, which creates a sense of chaos
- Steadicam - allows the camera to be within the action to allow the audience to feel more involved.
The terminology presented above allows video makers to effectively talk about different shots they used or saw used in a video. In real life, however, not every shot used in a professional video would necessarily fall into one of the above categories. In fact, video makers often use a combination of camera shots and angles and/or movements to cause the suitable emotional impact on the audience. Look at the following images of the Ball State Bell Tower and see if you could apply the above terminology to describe each one. While doing so, think of the different emotional implications each of these images has for you.