CAM SAM and Composition

By: Denise O’Brein, Kate-lyn Aranda, Annamaria Noto and Amanda Abi-Khalil

Camera Shots

• Establishing shot• Wide shot• Long shot• Mid/ medium shot• Close up shot• Extreme close up shot• Point of view• Over the shoulder shot• Two shot • Overhead shot

Establishing shot

Establishing shot is when you take a photo of enough information to set a scene.

The reason an establishing shot is used is to set a scene so that the audience gets the general gist of the setting and whereabouts the film or photos are set.

Wide shot

Wide shot is when a frame shows information.

The purpose of a wide shot is so the audience sees more information about the setting of the film.

Long shot

Long shot is when the audience can see the object in the frame as well as background.

The reason long shot is used is because it shows who is in the scene and also helps to show what the character is doing as well as to introduce them.

Mid/medium shot

Mid shot is when the subject can be seen from torso above.

The reason mid shots are used is because it helps to show the characters body language.

Close up shot

Close up shot is when an object is focused on and zoomed in on.

The purpose of a close up is so that the object can be seen in detail.

Extreme close up shot

Extreme close up is when an object is extremely zoomed in.

The purpose of an extreme close up is to show the audience the characters expressions in even more detail.

Point of view (POV)

Point of view is when a frame is taken in the point of view of the character or object.

The purpose of a point of view shot is so that the audience can see the frame from the characters perspective.

Over the shoulder shot

Over the shoulder shot is when the frame is taken from an angle in which the shoulder of one character can be seen but the other characters front can be seen.

The reason over the shoulder is used is to either show dominance or inferiority. Or it could be to show that a private conversation could be at place.

Two shotTwo shot is when two characters are in a frame.

The purpose of a two shot is to show the possibility of a conversation.

Overhead shot

Overhead shot is when a subject is taken a photo or filmed from above.

The purpose of an overhead shot is so the audience can see what the characters are doing from a birds eye view.

Camera Angles

• High angle • Low angle• Oblique/canted angle

High angle

A high angle is taken from a higher place that looks

down at a character/characters or a

subject. Purpose...

It is often used to make a character/characters or a subject appear smaller, or potentially vulnerable or

weak.

Low angle

A low angle is taken from a lower place that looks up

at a character or a subject.

It is often used to make a character or subject appear

bigger, possibly more dominant or powerful.

Purpose...

Canted/oblique angle

Purpose...

A canted/oblique angle makes what is shot appear

tilted or skewed.

It could be used to disorientate the audience.

Camera Movements

• Pan• Tilt• Track• Zoom• Reverse zoom• Dolly

Pan

Pan is when the camera pivots horizontally either from left to right, or right

to left.

• In order to reveal more information (e.g. a

setting)• To give the viewer a

panoramic view.• Sometimes used to

establish a scene that can't fit in one

shot/frame.

Tilt

Opposite to pan: Tilt is when the camera pivots

vertically either from top to bottom, or bottom to top.

• Often used to reveal a whole outfit of a

character.• To reveal more

information (e.g. a setting, objects,

characters e.t.c).

Track

Movement of camera from side to side.

This is used to follow a subject without the harsh

use of many camera angles.

Zoom

Zoom is when the camera zooms in towards the subject or character.

This is used to zoom into a character or subject to

reveal more detail.

Reverse zoom

when the camera reverse zooms out from a subject

or character.

This is used to reveal more detail about the characters

or subject surroundings.

Dolly

When a camera moves in and out or backwards and

forwards around a character or subject.

This is used when wanting to show all angles of the

setting whilst creating smooth camera

movement.

Composition

• Balance• Symmetry • Asymmetry • Rule of thirds• Shallow focus• Deep focus• Focus pulls

Balance

Balance is the way objects or subjects are placed in a frame to show balance or equalness in colour, size or texture.

The reason Balance is used is so that no one part of a work overpowers, or seems heavier than any other part.

Symmetry

Symmetry is when the shot is equally symmetrical or balanced on both sides.

The reason Symmetry is used is because it shows a form of order, normalness or organisation.

Asymmetry

Asymmetry is when the shot is unbalanced on both sides.

The reason asymmetry is used is to show a form of disorder and chaos.

Rule of thirds

Rule of thirds is a composition rule in which photos are to be taken using a grid of nine equal parts.

The reason rule of thirds is used is because technique claims that aligning an object with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition rather than centering the object.

Shallow focusShallow focus is when one plane of the image is in focus whilst the rest is out of focus.

The reason shallow focus is used is to emphasize one part of the image over another.

Deep focus

Deep focus is when the entire image is in focus.

The reason deep focus is used is to emphasise on the entire image rather than a specific object in the frame.

Focus pulls

Focus pull is when you change the focus from one object to another during a shot.

The reason deep focus is used is because the change in focus emphasises on the character or object that the producer or photographer want the audience to see.