The video uses various camera techniques and motifs to portray themes of love, heartbreak, and self-awareness. Various shots like close-ups, over-the-shoulder, and point-of-view are used to show Adele's emotions. Flashbacks and slow motion add drama. Low-key lighting and a black-and-white filter create a mature and melancholy mood. Natural scenery like grasslands and lakes portray Adele's growth from despair to strength.

1. CASE STUDY 2
Christabel Kusi

2. This video is performance based through the use of
acting. The themes in this song are love/relationships,
heartbreak and self-awareness. Motifs used are the
telephone box in the woods and the landscape fields.
They connote feelings of bewilderment, loneliness and a
desire for comfort, referring back to the themes of self-
awareness and heartache. Adele, the artist, is
represented in a mature and subtle but strong way. This
all together makes her look quite aspiring. She lips syncs
to the soundtrack, as well as acts.

3. At the start there is an establishing shot of a countryside setting
through a window of the house. There is a depth of field shot
from the frame of the window to the detail of location. The video
has many depth of field shots throughout which make viewer
aware of the different components in the scene, for example the
fire on the stove boiling her water. There is also a short acting
intro giving us a sense of what the video is about and also makes
it more life-like. There are numeral camera shots - close-ups
shots, over the shoulder shot, long shot, wide shot, high and low
shots. The use of wide and longs as she sings, makes it more
dramatic because her voice is so large in comparison to her size.
We also get to be in the actresses’ shoes when POV (point of
view) shots are used as though we a travelling through her
memories with her. Close-up and mid-shots allow us to
understand her emotions as she sings/acts. The use of high
angle shots on Adele also allows us to see her vulnerability in this
video, for example when she cries on the phone and the use of

4. There is clearly flashback edits as we get the sense that
she is reminiscing and recharging after the high angle
shot. Slow motion is often used through the montage,
adding to the drama and emotion. Much like a movie,
there are jump cuts at the start which compresses many
the shots so we see them all quickly. When the music get
to the end where it's more dynamic, zoom in effects of
Adele are used to draw more focus to her. This creates
the bold, aspiring figure she presents.

5. Low-key lighting is used, especially at the start where the
mood of the song is dark and despairing in the townhouse.
Towards the end, the lighting brightens up through the use
of natural sunlight. The use of rain, grassy landscapes,
hills, lakes, forest setting and an old town house
symbolizes that earthy and mature representation of Adele.
Her growth to strength is shown through the strong
turbulence at the end because she stands against an
intense atmosphere. The black and white sepia effect adds
to the mature portrayal of Adele as it lacks vibrancy and
animation. Plus it also makes us aware of the depression in
her sorrow.

6. The overall presentation of the video along with the song type
(ballad) would be targeted at a much more mature audiences
like late teenagers and adults. They dramatise the song by
including short acting scenes at the start, using a black and
white edit and creating a strong ending scene with Adele. This
could attract people into buying this record because it brings her
song to life, much like a movie - realistic yet impassioned.
I really like the use of black and white sepia effect from this video
and would consider using that myself to make my video more
dramatic. I also like how some of the scenes have been staged
in a natural setting, like the grassy landscape and lake. It adds a
sense of sentimentality and beauty. I want to attempt to use point
of view shots too because it a interesting shot to use.

7. High Angle, Close-up
Rainy setting
Depth of Field from
window frame to
landscape
Over the shoulder
and Low Angle.

8. POVs
The Telephone
box, and woody
setting.
L
a
n
d
s
c
a
p
e
Turbulence
Long/wide shot
Depth of field
Low-key lighting