2. Camera angles and shots
Why are they important in Media?
When a movie is made, a variety of camera shots are
used to add atmosphere and create a mood for the
story. The shot refers to the kind of image we see in a
frame.
Frame types are also important in photography as
what we see in adverts/magazines/
online/newspapers etc... can have a big impact on the
viewer and their response to what the photo’s
purpose is.
3. CAMERA ANGLES & FRAMING
LONG SHOT OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT HIGH ANGLE SHOT
LOW ANGLE SHOT BIRDS EYE VIEW ESTABLISHING SHOT
4. CAMERA ANGLES & FRAMING
LONG SHOT OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT HIGH ANGLE SHOT
LOW ANGLE SHOT BIRDS EYE VIEW ESTABLISHING SHOT
Look at these camera
angles and note down an
example of when you
may use the angle and
why it may be effective.
(5 mins)
5. Top tips for taking a good
photo!
1. GET IN CLOSE
Close or tight shots are good
for capturing expressions or
atmosphere. When
capturing images, focus on
what you want to show and
eliminate distractions (Always remember when
taking photographs of people
to get their permission first!)
2. FILL THE FRAME
To create interesting photographs, you need to fill the frame and
minimize the amount of dead space. The first rule is to get in close.
This will help you to capture emotion that wouldn't be detectable from far
away.
6. Top tips for taking a good photo!
3. TAKE ACTION SHOTS
Capturing action shots requires practise. You could
practise capturing images of footballers in action.
Take lots of pictures to see if you can capture a
player making contact with the ball.
Some cameras have a function called continuous mode that allows you to
take several photos in quick succession. This is great for taking action shots.
(The image above was taken in continuous mode)
7. Top tips for taking a good photo!
4. CHOOSE A FOCAL POINT
The focal point is the most interesting object/person in your photograph.
Any more than one focal point looks cluttered.
There are too many focal points (people, trees, bench) in the first image
shown above, whereas the second image shows the tree as the clear
focal point.
8. Top tips for taking a good photo!
5. ARRANGE YOUR SUBJECT(S)
Arrange your subjects to ensure you translate what you want the
audience to focus on. Use plain backgrounds. Be selective. If your
object is in front of a messy background, move it until you are
satisfied with the shot.
In the first image above, the messy background takes the focus
away from the fruit.
9. Top tips for taking a good
photo!6. THINK ABOUT COMPOSITION
Composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients
in a work of art - in photography terms, it means to arrange elements within a shot
in a way that suits the images purpose or core goal, effectively. Composition is a
way of guiding the viewer’s eye towards the most important elements of your
work
Cameras view things differently to the human eye and have a limited focus range
whereas the eye is constantly scanning scenery, recomposing it, and responding
to changes in light conditions. Cameras have a much narrower exposure range
than the human eye.
10. Top tips for taking a good photo!
7. APPLY THE RULE OF THIRDS
Photographs with the focal point exactly in the centre can lack depth and
interest, so it's better to position your focal point off-center. To do this,
apply the rule of thirds. Draw two horizontal and two vertical lines through
the picture you want to capture.
The eyes are naturally drawn to the four focal points illustrated in red
above, so place the important elements of your picture on one or more of
these points.
Compare the two images above. A focal point placed in the
centre often just looks boring, so avoid placing your focal
point in the centre. You will see this rule being applied in
any magazine or advert you look at.
11. Top tips for taking a good
photo!
8. THINK ABOUT LIGHT
Most cameras have an automatic flash that works when there isn't
enough natural light. Experiment with the flash to work out its depth or
range.
Also think about natural light, especially outside. Try to make sure the
sun/light source is behind you, or focused on your subjects.
Be aware that strong bright light will show up people's wrinkles and
blemishes. Similarly, try to take pictures of landscapes in early morning
or early evening because the light is softer.
12. Top tips for taking a good photo!
9. VARY YOUR SHOTS
Experiment with using your camera horizontally and vertically. A
photograph of Nelson's Column, for example, would be ideal for
a vertical shot.
13. Top tips for taking a good photo!
10. KNOW WHEN TO BREAK THE RULES!
Once you have mastered these rules, you can then
begin to break them. With digital photography, it's
easy to take lots of pictures, so don't be afraid to
experiment. If you can create an unusual image, it's
likely that people will be interested in it.
14. DSLR
Compact camera
In the Media department we variety of cameras for you to use, however are very limited, so you
may not always be able to hire the equipment you need straight away.
We have DSLR’s (Digital single lens reflex camera), compact still cameras and HD digital video
cameras.
The main difference between the two cameras is that the DSLR allows you to be more creative in
terms of manually adjusting the focus, shutter speed etc...(mainly used by professionals or
photography enthusiasts)
The Canon IXUS compact camera is a great camera for your adverts that you will be creating and
uses automatic functions - the quality of the images is very high and this is what you will be using
to complete your projects.
LINK -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/art/video/photography/cameratyperev1.shtml
We also have HD digital video cameras that you will be using to film your practical production
pieces in year 11.
Other equipment is available to use but please ask Miss for more information.
Panasonic HD Video
camera
EQUIPMENT IN THE MEDIA
DEPARTMENT
Lighting Kit
Green screen
15. Task/Homework
Your task is to create a print advert for your object that you have brought to
class.
To do this, you firstly need to take five different photos of the advert in
different camera angles. The angles you need to take are:
Close-up.
Extreme close-up.
Medium shot.
High angle shot.
Low angle shot.
Think about the photography tips you learnt about when taking your photos -
use lighting if you like! Experiment with the composition, background and
positioning of the object - be as creative as possible!
Next lesson, you will be taught how to use Photoshop and will edit these into
a print advert.
