Camera Angles The relationship between the camera and the object being videotaped (ie the ANGLE) gives emotional information to an audience, and guides their judgment about the character or object in shot. The more extreme the angle away it is from the more symbolic and heavily-loaded the shot.

High Angle The camera is above the action to give a general overview. High angles make the object seem smaller, and less significant (or scary). The object or character often gets swallowed up by their setting - they become part of a wider picture

Eye Level A fairly neutral shot; the camera is positioned as though it is a human actually observing a scene, so that eg actors' heads are on a level with the focus.

Eye Level This is the most common view, being the real-world angle that we are all used to. It shows subjects as we would expect to see them in real life. It is a fairly neutral shot.

Low Angle These increase height Low angles help give a sense of confusion to a viewer, of powerlessness within the action of a scene. The background of a low angle shot will tend to be just sky or ceiling, The added height of the object may make it inspire fear and insecurity in the viewer, who is psychologically dominated by the figure on the screen

Selecting Your Shot Subject Always consider the purpose of a shot before you start to set it up. what do you want to show about it/them? If your subject is human - are they wearing the right clothes? Are they in the right mood? Are they doing the right thing in the right place? if your subject is inanimate, think about what it represents, and whether you best communicate that by showing part of it or all of it

Selecting Your Shot Background you need to consider the background of your photograph. Does it match your subject - think colors and textures? Does your subject show up against the background? If there is a mismatch between the two is this for a very specific reason? Depth of Field?

If you want to make someone or something look important, bold, aggressive, strong, or authoritative, shoot it/him/her from below

Things that are usually bigger than us can be made to look more vulnerable as we shoot down on them.

People, on the other hand, are normally seen at eye level and if shot that way, will look neutral

Think about your shots…

Start with a nearby object and change focus to the distant object to begin the scene.

Start the scene with a reflection, as in a mirror, pan lid, beach sunglasses, plate glass window, or pool of water.

Shoot from ground level. Wheels, walking feet, and basketball, bowling ball…..

Try a point of view (POV) shot representing either the person or the object.

Creative camera angles provide not only a feast for weary eyes, but speak directly to the subconscious of your viewers. Go back over your scripts looking for places to add a new creative angle.

I don’t know why I feel that way…

Psycho The "shower scene" took over 7 days to shoot and involved 70 camera setups for the 45 second scene. Anthony Perkins wasn't even on the set for the shooting, but rather was back in New York preparing for a play.

Psycho // Angles-and-Techniques