Camera Angles and Shot Types (CAST)
CAST – refers to Camera Angles and Shot Types
Camera Angles
Refers to height of the camera in relation to the subject.
There are two meanings or messages to all photos. The open message and the hidden or emotional meaning or message. For example:
· Open message for a car is transportation
· Hidden or emotional message is freedom and convenience. Does anyone know why?
Of the two messages, the hidden is most important. Advertisers, marketers, politicians always use the hidden message or meaning to appeal to our emotions to persuade us to buy things or vote for them. As we move through the course, we will learn more about hidden or emotional messages.
High Angle – HA
AKA: parents point of view or birds eye view
Camera is looking down at the subject
Emotional meaning is camera is the boss
Eye Level – EL
Camera is at eye level
Emotional meaning is everybody is equal
Low Angle – LA
AKA: kids eye view or snake’s eye view
Camera is looking up at the subject
Emotional meaning is camera is inferior or small and weak.
One thing to keep in mind is that the camera level does not have to be large or extreme. Even a few inches or centimetres can make a large difference. In fact, most photos of people we see are just a few inches above or below eye level and the emotional meaning can be subtle.
Shot Types
Refers to distance from the camera to the subject.
Extreme close up – ECU
camera s extremely close – ECU
Camera is very close to the subject and shows only a small portion of the image such as the eyes, a piece of jewelry such as an ear ring, a tattoo, a bug or an insect.
Emotional meaning is subject is very important
Close up – CU
Camera is a little farther away
Example is a head and shoulders portrait
Medium shot – MS
A photo taken of a person from the waist up.
Long shot – LS
Shows the total body from head to toe
Extreme long shot
Shows the entire body and the setting the person is in
In video this is called an Establishing Shot
Emotional or hidden meaning for shot types is that as the camera moves away, the subject becomes less important
And the opposite as the camera moves closer, the subject gets more important.
Your Assignment
C and B Level
Take between 5 and 10 photos for each camera angle and shot type listed above. There are eight type of shot listed, so you could end up with 50 or 60 or more photos.
Pick your best 2 photos for each camera angle and shot type to hand in.
Create a 5 column table. Here is what you put in each column.
Column 1 - write the name of the shot.
Column 2 - paste an Internet example.
Columns 3 and 4 - paste the best examples of photos that you have taken.
Column 5 is where you write the hidden or emotional message.
Pick only two photos form the ones you have taken and do a quick edit, (cropping, lighten or darken them) and paste them into a second table as in my sample document.
Hand in both your edited and unedited photos.