Reading Technical codes: The camera.
How the camera is used affects how an audience reads
an image, or shot, used in a media text.
What is included in the frame depends upon the distance,
the angle and the movement of the camera.
You should be aware of the standard terms used by filmmakers to describe the choice of shots used. More
importantly you must be thinking abut why these shots
were used and what effect they have in creating meaning
for the audience.
When you make your own media texts for coursework you
will decide how to use the camera to create specific
effects. Get in the habit of using the correct terms from
the start.
WIDE SHOT(WS) or VERY LONG SHOT(VLS).
Used when it is important for the audience to
understand or have an idea about the setting. This
shot will often establish a scene or place giving an
audience context for the following action. Any
figures will be very small.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
LONG SHOT (LS)
In this shot any figures will be seen from head to foot.
The audience will be able to identify more detail about
the person or persons but will also be able to see where
they are or what is going on around them.
A Long Shot often follows a Wide Shot particularly if
the film maker wishes to introduce a character.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
MID SHOT or MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
Now that the camera is closer to the subject the
audience can easily recognise them and identify detail
about what they are doing. Within the frame a person
will be shown from roughly their waist to their head.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU)
This is very similar to the previous shot but the camera
is a little closer to the subject and within the frame a
person will be shown from their chest to their head. The
difference is only slight but can create subtle effects.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
CLOSEUP (CU)
This allows the camera to focus on the detail of the
subject as there is little emphasis on background or
setting. The frame contains the person’s head and
shoulders allowing the audience to recognise a
subject’s thoughts and feelings.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
BIG CLOSE UP (BCU)
This shot shows just the face. It is an effective shot to
use when signifying emotions or focusing on expressions.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
EXTREME CLOSEUP. (ECU)
In this shot the camera seems to be extremely close to
the subject. The whole frame is filled with a part of the
subject. A person’s face would be shown from just below
the mouth to just above the eyebrows or even closer…
It can have the effect of making a person seem
powerful or threatening but can also be used as a
reaction shot to focus on an emotional response.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
CAMERA ANGLES OR POSITION.
As well as thinking about the distance the camera is
from the subject you should also think about the
position of the camera in relation to the subject.
If the camera is filming from above it is possible to
make individuals within a frame appear weak. Conversely,
by filming them from below and emphasising their size
so a subject may appear stronger.
You may also identify or hear about ‘bird’s eye view’,
‘crane’ shots, ‘aerial’ shots or ‘point of view’ shots.
Remember that as well as recognising where the camera
was you must consider what effect is created. Each
shot is constructed to create meaning…
LOW ANGLE SHOT.
In this shot the camera is below the subject pointing
upwards. It can be used to create the effect of making
the subject seem overpowering, important or threatening.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
HIGH ANGLE SHOT.
In this shot the camera is above the subject pointing
down. It can be used to create the effect of making
the subject seem vulnerable, insignificant or
threatened.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
Other shots you may come across:
TWO SHOT. Any shot which has two people in
it.
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT. The audience is
seeing over one person’s shoulder.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
POINT OF VIEW SHOT. A shot that shows what
a character is looking at
DUTCH ANGLE. The camera is tilted or slanted
creating a feeling of unease or disturbance.The
verticals or horizontals are out of line.
BIRD’S EYE SHOT. The camera is looking vertically
straight down at the subject.
(photos courtesy of photolibrary wales www.photolibrarywales.com)
CAMERA MOVEMENT:
Cameras are usually placed on a tripod which allows it to
move around on a pivot or remain stationary. Try to
recognise the various results of moving the camera in
different ways.
Moving the camera from left to right is called panning
and is used in the same way that we look at something by
moving our head.
The camera can also be made to move up or down- this is
a tilt.
Placing tracks alongside a moving subject allows a camera
to follow the action- known as tracking.
Harnesses worn to counterbalance the camera and cancel
operator movement keep the camera steady when
following rapid movement this is known as a steadicam .
You may have seen steadicam operators running along the
touchline at televised football matches.