CAMERA SHOTS – THE VISUAL LANGUAGE:Angle Shots, Movement shots

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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

LESSON 29

CAMERA SHOTS THE VISUAL LANGUAGE

In the TV broadcast the scene drastically change from verbal to non verbal communication.

This broadcast is actually the blend of both but at times when no words are uttered, a

communication, rather an effective communication, still goes on. This is done through the

footage which runs on the screen a result of camera work.

When we talk about camera, we in fact talk about the non verbal communication. Just as the

verbal communication is possible with words, sentences and the articulation of the language

with its grammar, the camera language is also composed with camera shots, sequencing,

editing and manipulation of some other factors.

Here we will study some basic camera shots which lend basics of non verbal communication.

The understanding of these shots will also help us in the course meant for TV production. In

this lesson we will only examine how these shots operate to make the TV broadcast possible.

Shot

A camera shot is a very commonly used term. This means what camera has recorded

between the opening and closing of its shutter. The time may be from a fraction of a second to

many seconds, or even more if it is a complex shot. There is no dearth of camera shots. About

40 camera shots are well defined and very much practiced. But during a program some

innovative shots are also made which depend on the situation where camera work has to be

done to report the even as much possible through the visual means.

The Standard Shots:

Basic shots are discussed under this title.

Big Close up

from head to chin

Close up

slight headroom to shoulder-line

X-close up

one part of body like eyes

Medium close up

with little head room to chest line

Medium shot

with more headroom to the waist-line

Medium long

ample headroom with lower line cutting below knees

Long shot

with adequate headroom to a slight foreground- covering whole

body

Very long shot

giving enough details of the surroundings of an individual/ object

Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

All the shots have reasons to be taken. A close shot is taken when details of the face or an

action through the movements of eyes, eyebrows or any other facial gesture is required. Or

some time the purpose is to expose the beauty of the face. The long shot is done when the

purpose is to show the complete body of a person, building etc. A very long shot is taken

when the director wants to show the surrounding of a talent. For instance the talent is standing

in a desert. A set of close or medium shots would never enable the viewers to judge as to

where the action is being taking place. But one very long shot would do the needful and the

viewers would immediately come to know about the place of action. This shots arrangement

greatly helps the director to carry forward the story.

Angle Shots:

High angle

when looking down from high point

Low angle

when looking up from eye level

These are two very important shots. In normal life one is making angular shots every now and

then; you may be looking up or down. If you are traveling in a bus you may be looking at the

road. Or if you are on the footpath, you may be looking upwards to see a building, statue or

billboard. Every time you are making an angle. Exactly so is done by the camera.

In another way, a high angle shot is made to show a person in distress or weak. The low

angle is just the other way round. It shows the power of a person or grandeur of a building etc.

Movement shots:

Pan

moving camera on horizontal lines

Tilt up/ down

moving camera on vertical lines

Dolly/ track shot

moving camera to and fro from an object

Crane shot

camera movement at crane

These are amazing shots. There is no movement in the action but these shots create a sense

of movement. When camera pan on spectators as they applaud a stroke by a batsman in a

cricket match, they are actually sitting on their benches or chairs but a TV viewer finds on its

TV screen as if they are moving from left to right, or right to left depending on the panning

direction of the camera. The most amazing fact in this case is that the camera is also not

moving from its position. The only movement which is taking place is the movement of camera

on its axis.

Some other important shots:

Composite (also nose room/looking room)

Wide angle

Master/establishing

Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

O/S

Cut-in

Cut-away

The establishing shot is much talked about. A shot which establishes as where the action is

going to take place is called an establishing shot. It is usually taken at the start of the action

but could be taken during the course of the film/ dram. In this case it would be referred as re-

establishing shot.

The Sequence

Understanding and taking camera shots are the first step towards learning the TV language.

Learning alphabets is essential for using a language, but construction of words and sentences

is equally essential to use the language effectively. The camera shots have to be placed in a

sequence to give them proper meanings to communicate a message. As we commonly watch

a series of such shots put in order in different TV broadcasts. At the same time if sequence of

these shots has not been given a proper treatment, it may lead to severe criticism for it would

not be able to communicate the message.

Support Elements

Fortunately the camera shots get a lot of support from other non verbal areas like sound

effects. A proper sound effect with the nature of shot like in big close ups, help tremendously

in enhancing the meaning of the piece of broadcast for a TV channel. Think of a documentary

on a river in Swat valley; the shots combined with peculiar musical notes bring you a great

treat to watch!

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