Camera angle
can influence how viewers interpret a scene.
The camera angle is an important part of still and motion picture photography. Where the camera is placed relative to the subject can play an important part in how the visual image is interpreted. Camera angle can be used to make a villain appear larger and more menacing or it can be used to make a hero look more heroic. It can also be used to simply add interest to a scene.
Basic Camera Angles
The three basic camera angles are high angle, low angle and eye level. By shooting down at a subject with the high angle shot, the character can be made to appear smaller, weaker and more subordinate. Shooting up from a low angle makes a character appear larger, stronger and more dominant. Mediacollege.com points out that most scenes are shown from approximately eye level. Eye level shots provide the audience with a realistic view of the scene and let them experience it roughly as if they were a part of it. The eye level shot is neutral in terms of suggesting dominance or subordination and tends to feel the most real to the viewer.
Point of View
According to David Cheshire’s book of movie photography, a point of view shot is typically placed at the eye level of a character. If a dialogue is being filmed, multiple cameras are usually used and shots are frequently taken over the shoulder of one of the characters. If a woman on the left of the screen is talking, the shot might be over her shoulder to get the reaction of the man she’s addressing if his reaction is important. Otherwise the shot could be from over his shoulder so viewers can see her face as she speaks. The third option is the "two shot," which catches the faces of both actors in profile.
Specialty Angles
The bird's eye shot is taken from directly overhead. It allows a panoramic view of the scene, showing things that the participants in the scene can’t see. It is useful for filming sporting events and is sometimes used in documentaries. Sometimes the best way to see what’s going on in a battle scene is from the bird's eye view.
Slanted shots that make the horizon line tilt can add to the feeling of action. The Batman television series made frequent use of the tilted camera. Wildsound-Filmmaking points out that a scene that tilts right suggests forceful action and a scene that is tilted left suggests passivity.
Tags: over shoulder, appear larger, Camera angle, Camera Angles, high angle