This document analyzes the shot composition in the music video for "Hold Back the River" by James Bay. It finds that there are 115 total shots used, including close-ups, medium shots, and long shots with varying lighting. Close-ups of other band members are used to show they are part of the song, not the band. A close-up of James Bay at the beginning with low-key lighting sets a sad tone. Medium shots of James Bay with high-key lighting suggest happier times in a past relationship discussed in the song. The camera panning around James Bay in medium shots implies the relationship felt routine.

1. Shot count for James Bay “Hold
back the river”
BY ALEX INKSTER

2. Overall Shots.
From observing the music video, I found out that there are 115 different shots that are used
within this music video. Some of these shots include a extreme close up’s, medium’s shot,
longshot’s as well as including rule of thirds and it also includes thought beats. All of these shots
are incorporated to create a generic music video of an Indi rock music video.
Within most of these shots, the main artist is shown in them and there are very little shots of
the other people playing the different instruments. There is also a change in the lighting in
mostly every shot as there are some shots that have low key lighting and some that have high
key lighting.

3. Close ups
These are some of the examples of close ups that are used
within this music video. Most of the close ups that are used
in this song aren’t of the artist but of the other people
playing the instruments, this will have been done to ensure
that these people aren't in a band but part of the song as
James bay is a solo artist. These shots are in high key lighting
which could have been done to match the mood of the song
as during the main verse of the song it is more up beat so it
would make sense to have high key lighting.
There is one close up of the artist that is used at the
beginning of the song. This shot has low key lighting and you
can only see the side of the artists face, which will have been
used to create a sad tone. From this shot, it makes the artist
look like he is just a empty shell and this could be linked with
the narrative of the song which is about a relationship and
“life” is getting in the way which acts as the “River”.

4. Medium shot
These are some examples of the medium shots that are used
in this video. I noticed that all of the medium shots that are
used within this video are of the artist, this will have been
done to establish that he is a solo artist, however it could
shot that the music video is about him and a past
relationship.
I also noticed that most of the medium shots that are used
high key lighting. This will have been done to shot that during
that relationship, there were some good times as shown with
the high key lighting.
Also when there is a medium shot used, the camera always
pans around the artist. This could show that the relationship
that is talked about in the song is just like a routine as it
keeps on coming back around.