CAMERA SHOTS A shot is the smallest unit of visual information captured at one time by the camera that shows a certain action or event.

The more variety of shots and angles that you use in your productions, the better your program will be.

What is the Rule of Thirds? Rule of thirds: NEW What is the Rule of Thirds? The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As follows.

Rule of thirds:

Rule of thirds defined: The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally. Studies have shown that when viewing images that people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot – using the rule of thirds works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it.

Widescreen 16:9 vs. traditional 4:3

Sample from a story board

OVER THE SHOULDER (OTS)

WIDE SHOT (WS)=ESTABLISHING SHOT establishes the scene where the action is taking place and what time of day. Used at the beginning of program .

Also called a LS (long shot)

Close up (CU) sometimes called a head shot, very intimate, full face shot of a human subject

Extreme close up (ECU) This is used to convey emotion (angry, scared, romantic). Forehead, chin, etc may be cut off.

High angle: camera is high, but the subject appears smaller, less powerful.

High angle shot

High angle and a three shot.

Low angle: camera is held low but it makes the subject appear more dominant, taller

Low angle

Low angle

Birds Eye View Directly from above, hover over the scene like an all powerful “god”.

Oblique angle : the horizon is skewed, POV of a drunk person, tilted angle suggests tension or anxiety

Point of view: POV , also known as the first person camera, shows what the character sees

Eye level: used in most cases Eye level: used in most cases. Places the audience on the same level as the subject, as equals. It is the most non-judgemental , neutral .

More “eye level” or neutral shots

Look space/nose space/lead space/talk space: leaving a space in front of the subject allows them to talk, look or walk.

Too much look space?

Lead space : moving subject

Lead space : moving subject

Selective focus: a portion of the frame is out of focus (intentionally)

Fish eye lens

Foreground/background

What is this an example of?

And this?

What is this?

And this?

Goal: to have shots with interesting composition

Camera movements:

Dolly: the name for the wheels and it is also a camera movement

Dolly in or out (forward or back) Home made dolly

Camera movements: Pan right or left, Pedestal Up or down, tilt up or down, truck right or left, dolly in or out

Tilt up and down: to show height