1. Creative Camera Controls and more
Visual Communication
Creative Camera Controls and more

2. Creative Camera Controls
Three standard “shots” of people
Close-up
Mostly face and shoulders
An intimate look at objects, actions, events, people
Add emphasis, emotion, detail
Medium shot
Waist-up
Meeting a person; gets us closer to the action
Long shot
Head to toe
Shows environment; gives us more information
Introduces a sense of place, time, theme
Provide context
Sometimes called an establishing shot

3. Creative Camera Controls
Shots

4. Creative Camera Controls
Shots

5. Creative Camera Controls
Shots

6. Creative Camera Controls
Shots

7. Creative Camera Controls
Shots

8. Creative Camera Controls
Shots

9. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Rule of thirds
Looking room
Head room
Camera angle
Framing

10. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Rule of thirds
Based on the “golden” rectangle

11. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Rule of thirds
Based on the “golden” rectangle

12. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Rule of thirds
Divides the frame into thirds
Puts an imaginary grid over the frame
Place the focal point at an intersection of the grid; place horizon’s on one of the horizontal lines
Gets the subject out of the center of the frame, which is static

13. Creative Camera Controls
Rule of thirds

14. Creative Camera Controls
Rule of thirds

15. Creative Camera Controls
Rule of thirds

16. Creative Camera Controls
Rule of thirds

17. Creative Camera Controls
Rule of thirds

18. Creative Camera Controls
Rule of thirds

19. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Looking room (leading room)
Subjects - people especially - should be looking into the frame rather than “out” of the frame
Psychologically the viewer perceives the subject as boxed in a frame
Not just for people

20. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Looking room

21. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Looking room

22. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Head room
Subjects often need a comfortable amount of space over their heads in a shot - especially in medium and long shots
Not as critical in close-ups
Too little head room gives the feeling that people are glued to the top of the screen or top of the frame

23. Creative Camera Controls
Head room

24. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Camera angle
By raising and lowering a camera, you can subtly influence how the viewer will perceive people, objects and events

25. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Camera angle
Eye level
Subject and viewer are of equal value
Routine, pedestrian, functional
Often visually boring - status quo
Don’t shoot everything from eye level

26. Creative Camera Controls
Eye level

27. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Camera angle
High angle
Gives the feeling that the subject is inferior, smaller, less important
Sometimes referred to as “God’s eye view”
Can be effective

28. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Camera angle
Low angle
Gives the feeling that the subject is more important
Camera is below subject

29. Creative Camera Controls
Low angle

30. Creative Camera Controls
Low angle

31. Creative Camera Controls
Low angle

32. Creative Camera Controls
Low angle

33. Creative Camera Controls
Low angle

34. Creative Camera Controls
High angle

35. Creative Camera Controls
High angle

36. Creative Camera Controls
High angle

37. Creative Camera Controls
High angle

38. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Framing
Use natural frames in your shots to direct the eye of the viewer
Archways, tree branches, etc.

39. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Framing

40. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Framing

41. Creative Camera Controls
Placing subjects in the frame
Framing

42. Creative Camera Controls
Lighting

43. Creative Camera Controls
Artificial, flourescent light

44. Creative Camera Controls
Light
Quality
Direction

45. Creative Camera Controls
Light
Quality
Direct light
Diffused light

46. Creative Camera Controls
Light
Quality
Direct light
The sun
A studio lamp or a flash
Hard light
Distinct shadows
Harsh
Can be very high contrast; deep blacks, white whites
Dramatic
Strong
Bold
Angry

47. Creative Camera Controls
Light
Quality
Diffused light
“soft” light
A cloudy day
Or a sunny day, but in the shade
Usually reflected by clouds, reflective shield
No clearly defined shadows
Hard to tell where it’s coming from
Subtle
Less contrast; no deep blacks or white whites

48. Creative Camera Controls
Direction
Front light
Side light
Backlight; silhouette
Top lighting

49. Creative Camera Controls
Direction
Front Light
Evenly lights subject from front
Shadow will be behind subject
Eliminates texture
Attached flash is front lighting

50. Creative Camera Controls
Direction
Side light
Located to the right or left of subject
Often used for portraits
Shows texture, adds depth
Can be dramatic

51. Creative Camera Controls
Side light

52. Creative Camera Controls
Side light

53. Creative Camera Controls
Side light

54. Creative Camera Controls
Side light

55. Creative Camera Controls
Side light

56. Creative Camera Controls
Side light

57. Creative Camera Controls
Direction
Back light
Located behind the subject
Extreme backlight becomes a silhouette; separates foreground from background
Can give subject a slight glow around edges
Can be difficult to get a good exposure
Will wash out details in subject

58. Creative Camera Controls
Back light

59. Creative Camera Controls
Back light

60. Creative Camera Controls
Back light

61. Creative Camera Controls
Back light

62. Creative Camera Controls
Back light
To the extreme is silhouette

63. Creative Camera Controls
Direction
Top lighting
Light comes from straight above subject
Sunny day at noon
Creates terrible shadows on people

64. Creative Camera Controls
Direction
Top lighting

65. Creative Camera Controls
Direction
Bottom lighting
Also called monster lighting

66. Creative Camera Controls
Direction
Look for shadows

67. Creative Camera Controls
Light as an element of design
High contrast between light and shadow = drama
Low contrast between light and shadow = peacefulness and tranquility

68. Creative Camera Controls
Shooting outdoors
Where’s the sun?
Golden hours

69. Creative Camera Controls
Shooting outdoors
Where’s the sun?
Avoid times around noon, especially for people

70. Creative Camera Controls
Shooting outdoors
Where’s the sun?
Shoot when the sun is at an angle so the shadows aren’t as harsh
Golden hours: sunrise to 10 a.m.; 2 or 3 p.m. to sunset

71. Creative Camera Controls
Shooting outdoors
Where’s the sun?
Golden hours: sunrise to 10 a.m.; 2 or 3 p.m. to sunset