Camera Movement PDF

Camera Work
Sunday, 31 October 2010

Camera Work
Aims
To identify the various shot types and techniques used in film,

television, interactive media and games.
To develop an understanding of camera technology and

terminology.
To establish reasons why particular shots are chosen.

Camera Work
OBJECTIVE CAMERA
The attempt to suggest that the camera acts only as a passive

recorder of what happens in front of it.
The use of objective camera relies on de-emphasis of technique,
involving minimal camera movement and editing.
http://www.psu.edu/dept/inart10_110/inart10/film.html

Camera Work
SUBJECTIVE CAMERA
Shots simulating what a character actually sees; audience,

character, and camera all "see" the same thing.
Much subjective camera involves distortion, indicating abnormal

mental states.
Shots suggesting how a viewer should respond are also called
"subjective" (for example, a high-angle shot used to make a boy
look small and helpless).

Dr, Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1931 cinematography by Karl Struss

Dr, Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1931 cinematography by Karl Struss

Camera Work
Building Blocks of a Scene:
Wide Shot / Long Shot
Full Shot
Medium Shot
Close Up
Two Shot

Camera Work
Wide Shot aka Long Shot
The wide/long shot is taken at a great distance.
Almost always an exterior shot and shows much of the locale.
Used a lot in Establishing shots. It is the opening shot of the scene and
therefore tells us where we are.

Camera Work
Wide Shot aka Long Shot
Try to inject threads of narrative into the shot to grab the audiences
attention and entice them to see ‘what happens next.’
A zoom towards a building tells the audience we are about to enter

the building.

Dirty Harry, 1971 cinematography by Bruce Surtees

Dirty Harry, 1971 cinematography by Bruce Surtees

Camera Work
Full Shot
A full shot includes all of the subject.
Whether it be a full shot of a person, object or a building.
Full Shot from Dawn of the Dead 1978

Camera Work
Medium Shot
Full Shot Medium Shot
For example, a full shot of a helicopter includes all of the helicopter.

A shot which includes the pilot and part of the door would be a
medium shot.
Camera Work
Medium Shot
A medium shot is usually from the knee to waste up.
Also known as Waist Shot or Mid Shot
Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991, Cinematgoraphy by Adam Greenberg

Camera Work
Medium Shot
Goodfellas 1990, cinematography by Michael Ballhaus
A medium shot is commonly used as it can capture facial reactions,

body language and environment.
Camera Work
Close Up aka Single
A Close Up concentrates on a relatively small object.
For example, CU on the characters face or CU on a mobile phone.
A Single refers to a single character shot.

The Hurt Locker 2008, cinematography by Barry Ackroyd

Camera Work
Extreme Close Up
Extremely close to the subject. For example, ECU on the characters
eyes or on the actors mouth.
2001: A Space Odyssey 1968, directed by Stanley Kubrick

2001: A Space Odyssey 1968, cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth

2001: A Space Odyssey 1968, cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth

Camera Work
Two Shot
A frame which contains two characters.
Two shots are frequently used and are a fundamental peace of story
telling.
Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

Camera Work
Three Shot
A frame which contains three characters.
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)

Camera Work
Four Shot
A frame which contains four characters.
The Inbetweeners (2010)

Camera Work
Over the Shoulder
Red Dead Redemption (2009)

Camera Work
Character Shots
Head & Shoulders
Big Head
Cowboy
Tight Two
Dirty Single
Clean Single

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, 1966 cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, 1966 cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli

Camera Work
Camera Angles
Eye Level
Birds Eye View
High Angled Shots
Low Angled Shots
Oblique Angle

Camera Work
Eye Level
Most scenes in a film are photographed at eye level 5-6ft from the
ground. The audience sees the event as if it were happening right in
front of them.
This shot is used to treat characters as equals and discourages the

audience judging them and permits viewers to make up their own mind.

Camera Work
Birds Eye View
Shot from directly overhead the camera hovers from above like an all
seeing all powerful God.
The shot expresses an idea of fate.

The Shining, 1980 cinematography by John Alcott

The Shining, 1980 cinematography by John Alcott

Camera Work
High Angled Shots
The camera is tilted down and therefore the ground is in the background.
A character seems harmless and insignificant.
The higher the angle the more it tends to imply fatality.

Camera Work
High Angled Shots
Red Dead Redemption (2009)

Dawn of the Dead 2004, cinematography by Matthew F. Leonetti

Dawn of the Dead 2004, cinematography by Matthew F. Leonetti

Camera Work
Low Angled Shots
The camera is tilted upwards and therefore the sky or ceiling is in the
background.
Can be used to inspire awe or excitement.
Can also express authority and power.
Heightens the importance of a subject.

Camera Work
Low Angled Shots
Full Metal Jacket 1987 cinematography by Douglas Milsome

Camera Work
Low Angled Shots
Starship Troopers 1997 cinematography by Jost Vacano

Camera Work
Low Angled Shots
Starship Troopers 1997 cinematography by Jost Vacano

Commando 1985 cinematography by Matthew F. Leonetti

Commando 1985 cinematography by Matthew F. Leonetti

Camera Work
Low Angled Shots
Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991, Cinematgoraphy by Adam Greenberg

Camera Work
Oblique Angle
The lateral tilt of the camera.
Suggests tension, transitions or

impending movement
Evil Dead, 1981 cinematography by Joseph LoDuca
Image that slants to the right - Acting Forceful
Image that slants to the left - Weak, Static

Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Camera Dynamics

Camera Dynamics
• Pan • Dolly
• Swish Pan • Dolly Zoom
• Tilt • Hand Held
• Pedestal • Floating
• Truck/Track • Crane/Jib
• Zooms • Helicopter

Camera Dynamics
Pan
Horizontal movement from a stable point.

Look left and right, that’s panning.

Camera Dynamics
Swish Pan
Fast horizontal movement. Creates a motion blur.
Can make the shot more subjective.
Can be used as a transition into another shot or scene.

Camera Dynamics
Tilt
Vertical Movement from a stable point.

Look up and down, that’s tilting.

Camera Dynamics
Pedestal
Moving the camera up or down without changing the horizontal or

vertical axis.
Physically moving the whole camera.

The Cameraman 1928, cinematography by Edward Sedgwick

The Cameraman 1928, cinematography by Edward Sedgwick

Camera Dynamics
Truck/Track
Motion Left or
Right but not
panning.

The Exorcist 1973, cinematography by Owen Roizman

The Exorcist 1973, cinematography by Owen Roizman

Camera Dynamics
Zoom
Changes the focal length of a camera lens to make the subject appear
closer or further away.
The timing of a zoom is critical because sometimes it can distract the

viewer.

Camera Dynamics
Dolly
Motion towards or away.

Physically move the camera closer or further away from the subject.

Camera Dynamics
Dolly Zoom
A cinematic effect that occurs when the camera pulls away from the
subject as the lens is zoomed closer or vice versa.
1958
Vertigo 1958, cinematography by Robert Burks

Vertigo 1958, cinematography by Robert Burks

Camera Dynamics
Dolly Zoom
Aka The Hitchcock Zoom,Vertigo Zoom, Jaws Shot,Trombone Shot,

Zolly/Zido, Telescoping, Contra-Zoom and Reverse Tracking, The Dolly
Zoom creates perspective distortion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Contra-zoom_aka_dolly_zoom_animation.gif
1975
Jaws 1975, cinematography by Bill Butler

Jaws 1975, cinematography by Bill Butler

Camera Dynamics
Hand Held
When the camera operator films without the use of a tripod.
This type of shooting is like news reel and documentary footage.
It can be very unstable.

Camera Dynamics
Floating
The Steadicam was invented by Garrett Brown in 1971.
Brown wanted to achieve smoother shots hand held rather that lay
down bulky tracks which is time consuming, expensive and inflexible.

Garrett Brown Steadicam tests

Garrett Brown Steadicam tests

Rocky 1976, cinematography by James Crabe & Garrett Brown

Rocky 1976, cinematography by James Crabe & Garrett Brown

Camera Dynamics
Crane/Jib
A Crane or Jib can be used to achieve high or low angles and can move
smoothly in most directions.
They are bulky, expensive and can be tricky to operate.

Camera Dynamics
Crane/Jib

Camera Dynamics
Helicopter
Footage shot from a helicopter can also achieve great results.

It is also expensive and dependant on weather conditions.

Attenborough’s Journey (2010)

Attenborough’s Journey (2010)



Fallout: New Vegas 2010

Fallout: New Vegas 2010

Summary
Building Blocks Character Shots
Wide Shot / Long Shot Head & Shoulders

Full Shot Big Head
Medium Shot Cowboy
Close Up Tight Two
Two Shot Dirty Single
Clean Single

Summary
Camera Angles
Eye Level
Birds Eye View
High Angled Shots
Low Angled Shots
Oblique Angle

Summary
Camera Dynamics
• Pan • Dolly
• Swish Pan • Dolly Zoom
• Tilt • Hand Held
• Pedestal • Floating
• Truck/Track • Crane/Jib
• Zooms • Helicopter

Further Study
READING
Cinematography: Theory & Practise by Blain Brown
DVD
Visions of Light (1992)
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)
Hollywood Camera Work: The Master Course
WEB LINKS
http://www.tv-handbook.com/Composition%20and%20Camera%20Movement.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_zoom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Contra-zoom_aka_dolly_zoom_animation.gif

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Camera Work

Sunday, 31 October 2010

To identify the various shot types and techniques used in film,

To develop an understanding of camera technology and

To establish reasons why particular shots are chosen.

Sunday, 31 October 2010

The attempt to suggest that the camera acts only as a passive

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Shots simulating what a character actually sees; audience,

Much subjective camera involves distortion, indicating abnormal

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

The wide/long shot is taken at a great distance.

Almost always an exterior shot and shows much of the locale.

Sunday, 31 October 2010

A zoom towards a building tells the audience we are about to enter

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Full Shot from Dawn of the Dead 1978

Full Shot Medium Shot

For example, a full shot of a helicopter includes all of the helicopter.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991, Cinematgoraphy by Adam Greenberg

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Goodfellas 1990, cinematography by Michael Ballhaus

A medium shot is commonly used as it can capture facial reactions,

A Close Up concentrates on a relatively small object.

For example, CU on the characters face or CU on a mobile phone.

A Single refers to a single character shot.

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

2001: A Space Odyssey 1968, directed by Stanley Kubrick

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)

Sunday, 31 October 2010

The Inbetweeners (2010)

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Red Dead Redemption (2009)

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Birds Eye View

High Angled Shots

Low Angled Shots

Sunday, 31 October 2010

This shot is used to treat characters as equals and discourages the

Sunday, 31 October 2010

The shot expresses an idea of fate.

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

A character seems harmless and insignificant.

The higher the angle the more it tends to imply fatality.

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Red Dead Redemption (2009)

Sunday, 31 October 2010