Media Language - Lesson 2

1. Odd One Out?

2. Introduction to Media Language
Lesson 2: Camera

3. Learning Questions
• What camera techniques are there?
• What media terminology should I use when
discussing camera work?
• Can I analyse the use of camera work in a
media text?

4. Media
Language
(Moving
Image)
Mise en scene
Camera
Costume, Hair
and Make-Up
Props
Lighting and colourPerformance
(Facial expressions and body
language) Shot Type
Camera
Angle
Dialogue
Soundtrack (Diegetic)
Editing
Order of
Shots/Continuity
Pace and
Rhythm
Special
Effects
Space
(on screen and off
screen)
Sound effects
Transitions
Shot
Duration
(Non-Diegetic)
Sound
Camera
Movement
Silence
Setting

5. Camera
Camera Angle
Camera
MovementShot Type

6. Identifying camera shot sizes
Close-up (CU): used for
particularly important
moments or reactions.
Close-ups of people's
face are usually framed
from the neck upwards.
Medium/mid-shot
(MS): usually frames
people from the waist
up; this emphasises the
details of people and
objects within their
environments.
Extreme Close-up (ECU):
usually frames an aspect
of a person’s face, such as
their eyes or mouth. Can
be used to emphasise
other specific details such
as hand gestures.

7. Wide shot (WS): often the first shot of a
sequence (establishing shot), giving the
viewer a clear sense of location and time of
day. Wide shots of people will usually frame
them in their entirety.
Long Shot (LS)
The person occupies 3/4 to 2/3 of the
screen height Often used to contextualise
a character within a specific location, or
to focus on the action between two or
more characters.
Extreme long shot (ELS)
Can be taken from as much as a quarter of a
mile away, and is generally used as a scene-
setting, establishing shot. It is often used to
show scenes of thrilling action, eg, in a war film
or disaster movie.
Identifying camera shot sizes

8. TASK: Identify the camera shots used below and make one point
about the meaning created in each shot:
C
BA
Long Shot
Close up
Mid Shot
The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick

9. Camera
Camera Angle
Camera
MovementShot Type

10. Low angle (LA)
The camera is
positioned at the foot
of an object and looks
upwards. This can be
used to create the
impression of great
height or power; a
technique used
frequently in the action
/ horror genres.
High angle (HA)
The camera is
positioned above an
object and looks
downwards, making the
character look small,
weak or vulnerable.
Also used to reveal
geographical situation
of characters/action.
Canted angle
The camera is tilted
(ie is not placed
horizontal to floor
level), to suggest
imbalance, transition
and instability. Often
used in point-of-view
(POV) shots.
Identifying camera angles

11. Camera
Camera Angle
Camera
MovementShot Type

12. Zoom
Panning: when the
camera pivots on its
axis; used to establish
setting or follow
action.
Zoom: the change of image size
achieved using the camera lens.
Can heighten dramatic impact
and tension.
Tracking: A shot taken
from a camera mounted on
a dolly or other moving
vehicle; often follows the
movement of a character.
Pan
Track
Identifying camera movement

13. Reviewing Camera
• Name 1 or 2 shot types that are used in the clip
• What effect did this have on the audience (you)?
And/or
• Why did the director/cinematographer use this shot type?
• Name 1 or 2 camera angles that you identified during the clip
• What effect did this have on the characters/object(you)?
And/or
• Why did the director/cinematographer use this shot type?
• Name 1 camera movement featured in the clip
• How did this impact on the audience/you
And/or
• How did this enhance the action?
Watching an unseen text
1. View the clip without taking notes
2. Take notes on the use of media language
3. Begin thinking about the meaning created by the media language
THINK – PAIR -
SHARE

14. Breaking Bad SE04 EP13
AMC

15. Reviewing Camera
• Name 1 or 2 shot types that are used in the clip
• What effect did this have on the audience (you)?
And/or
• Why did the director/cinematographer use this shot type?
• Name 1 or 2 camera angles that you identified during the clip
• What effect did this have on the characters/object(you)?
And/or
• Why did the director/cinematographer use this shot type?
• Name 1 camera movement featured in the clip
• How did this impact on the audience/you
And/or
• How did this enhance the action?
THINK – PAIR -
SHARE