Shot Types, Angles, Movements

Last week we looked closer at camera angles and movement and discussed the effects of the various shots used, we split into groups and took photos demonstrating certain camera shots.
We used shots like:Aerial Shot - A shot taken from above the subject, usually quite zoomed out, showing a large area Establishing shot - Usually the opening shot of a scene, shows the enviroment and also shows the subject and its relevants to its surroundings

Medium Shot - A shot taken from a medium distance, between long shot and close-up, if used on a person you are aiming to include the waist upwards in the shot Medium Long Shot - Again very similar but slightly further distance between the camera and the subject, if the subject is a person you would aim to include the knees upwards in the shot Long Shot - Full body shot, try to fit a whole person into this shot, shows more about the person as a whole as you can see their clothing and body language Extreme Long Shot - Usually used to show a landscape, gives a much wider shot of the area
Point Of View Shot - A shot type that is used as if it is looking through the eyes of a character, will show what the character can see Close-up Shot - A closer shot of something, can show more detail of smaller parts, for example a close up on a person can reveil their facial expressions clearer Extreme Close-up Shot - Similar to close-up but even closer, can focus the whole frame of the shot around something very small 2 Shot - A shot type that includes two people in the shot, can demonstrate the relationship between two people a bit clearer, usually from the waist up Over Shoulder Shot - As titled, it is a shot from behind the shoulder of someone, looking at what they see, good effect can be created as it seems like your watching them from behind

We then annotated scenes from the film 'Terminator 2' pointing out the various effects that they have used to create a certain atmosphere, for example when the woman was in the cell the shadow of the bars come across her face suggesting she is not only literally trapped, but she is also mentally trapped and restrained as she cannot tell them what she really thinks.

We also looked at shot angles like Canted, Worm's Eye, Eye-Level, High, Bird's Eye and Low all create different effects to the audience for example a worm's eye shot will make the character seem very intimidating and powerful while the high angle shot will make the character will powerless and intimidated. Both creating dynamic emotions

We then looked at camera movements such as Panning, Tilt, Tracking, Dolly, Crane, Steadicam, Hand-Held, Zoom and Reverse Zoom, these too can create different feelings for the audience for example, a hand-held movement isn't very stable but gives the audience a more realistic sensation as if they are actually there, where as a steadicam will take the jolted movements away to keep it still and calm for the viewers.

Picture Analysis

This image is of my 5 year old brother, however the effects used in this picture make him seem like a very powerful, strong person.
The light coming across his face literally creates a dark side to him, although this could represent the inner evil within, the dark side of his face makes the features not very visible which could be saying how the dark side to him is very covered up and hidden away. The light side would suggest there is still a sense of good which is more likely to be on the exterior if his dark side is mysterious and not as known.

His head is leant forward suggesting he is quite aggressive because it seems as if he is leaning into the shot, it can also show he 'dives in head first' or gets into things without thinking. The frown matches this aggressive, dark side and completes the image and is easily noticeable because it is an extreme close-up shot.

Denotation, Connotation, Mise-En-Scene

First lesson we learnt about denotation, connotation and mise-en-scene
denotation - The literal/primary meaning of something
connotation - The ideas/represtation of the denotation
mise-en-scene - Using what's visually available to understand a secondry meaning/representation

We developed our understanding of denotation and connotation by using them to analyse a still Calvin Klein advert, some of the things we noticed were:
-The text is long and thin, also it has been typed in capitals this creates a modern, subtle, feminin appearance which can reinforce the relationship between the mother and daughter. Also you could use these words to describe a perfume and the advert in general.
-The background is a countryside scene which suggests freshness which can relate to the fresh smelling perfume. It can also present freedom/escapism which is available for everyone, opening the audience.

After we did this we looked at the Flora Cuisine TV advert but looked at mise-en-scene, for example we noticed there were a number of cooking utensils around which implied she was an experienced cook, which makes her more trustworthy when selling a cooking product.
Also at the end of the advert she is stood up while Vernon Kay is on a low stool as she treats him like a young child, this represented the fact she was authority and still a lot like a mother figure which relates to the majority of the audience/people that would use the product.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MQdyUBw58o

For homework I analysed the Lynx shower gel advert, looking at the Location/Setting, Costumes/Make-Up, Props and Lighting/Colour which I began to find difficult, but when I looked at the least important objects in the background I noticed more ideas.
On the YouTube video I was able to stop the advert a important frames where it would be like analysing a still advert, some findings included:
-The beach was presented well with the sand, sea, blue sky and umberellas right at the start so the audience would instantly understand where it was set.
-The main character wasn't the most attractive/muscley person that is often used in adverts, he was an ordinary, simple person which explained to the audience that the product is for anyone and the market is very open.
- There is a section in the ad where two girls stop playing volleyball to follow the man's actions, this is showing how the smell of the product can instantly distract others and is a very important/overpowering item.
- At the point 11s into the ad you can see the light comes across him which gives half of his body a shadow and the other half is lit up, suggesting that he has a good and 'evil' side to him, as he goes on to make the women show their breasts he almost reveils his slight darker side. If you look 24s into the add you can see the hand on the dark side comes off first which shows he is being led by that darker side of his personality and that it is overpowering him, hence why he did that.
www.youtube.com/watch?v-ibN4ewcodZ4