Video Camera Course - Week 6

Shot Angles
Your shot angle is the level from which you look at your subject.

Eye-level angle - the perspective most familiar to us - we usually see things from our own eye-level. This angle also causes the least discomfort because we're used to it. If you're shooting a person, make sure you shoot at their eye-level, not yours.

Low Angle - In this shot, the camera looks up at the subject, making it seem important, powerful, or perhaps larger than it is to the viewer. For example, you might be sitting on the ground looking up at someone who is standing.

High Angle - In this shot, the camera looks down on the subject, decreasing its importance. The subject looks smaller. It often gives the audience a sense of power, or the subject a sense of helplessness. In this case, you'd be higher than the other person (maybe they're sitting, or maybe you're standing on a desk) looking down on that person.

Zooms

The further you zoom in, the more difficult it is to keep the picture steady. At very long zooms, a tripod is essential. If you're having trouble keeping your shot steady, it may be possible to zoom out and move yourself closer to the subject. This way you'll have essentially the same framing, but much steadier.

Zooming is the function everyone uses. It's over-used. Use it less !. It's a great tool in moderation, but when most of your shots are zooming in and out, your audience will feel nauseous. As a rule, don't zoom unless there is a reason to.

If you want to show both the whole scene as well as some close-up details, you don't need to have a zoom in. Instead, shoot a "Wide Shot", stop recording, zoom in to a "Close Up", and then start recording again. The result is one shot which cuts cleanly and quickly to another, portraying the same information as a zoom, but more efficiently.

To use the zoom effectively first you should put the camera on a good tripod. Once set up zoom in on a subject, check your focus, and zoom out to the shot size you desire, the focus should stay sharp unless you or the subject are moving away from one another. Hold the shot without zooming, it will look better in the end.

Pan:
The framing moves left & right, with no vertical movement.

Tilt:
The framing moves up & down, with no horizontal movement.

Follow:
Any sort of shot when you are holding the camera (or have it mounted on your shoulder), and you follow the action whilst walking. Hard to keep steady, but very effective when done well.

Tripod

Make sure it's stable and level . If the tripod has a spirit level, check it. If not check the level against a horizon or the edge of a building.

If you're going to be panning and/or tilting, make sure that you'll be comfortably positioned throughout the whole move. You don't want to start a pan, then realise you can't reach around far enough to get the end of it. If it's going to be difficult, you're probably better off finding the position which is most comfortable at the end of the move, so that you start in the more awkward position, and become more comfortable as you move.

Hand-Held

Stabilise yourself and your camera as best you can. Keep your arms and elbows close to your body (you can use your arms as "braces" against your torso). Breathe steadily. For static shots, place your feet at shoulder width (if you're standing), or try bracing yourself against some solid object (furniture, walls, or anything).

Always use wide angle because it is a less wobbly picture and gives more depth-of-field. Learn to walk backwards. Have someone grab your belt and guide you.