Camera Angles - Sony PDX10 Workshop Handbook

CAMERA ANGLES

The relationship between the camera and the object being photographed (ie the ANGLE) gives emotional
information to an audience, and guides their judgment about the character or object in shot. The more
extreme the angle (ie the further away it is from eye left), the more symbolic and heavily-loaded the shot.
1. The Bird's-Eye view
This shows a scene from directly overhead, a very
unnatural and strange angle. Familiar objects viewed
from this angle might seem totally unrecognizable at
first (umbrellas in a crowd, dancers' legs). This shot
does, however, put the audience in a godlike position,
looking down on the action. People can be made to look
insignificant, ant-like, part of a wider scheme of things.
3. Eye Level
A fairly neutral shot; the camera is positioned as
though it is a human actually observing a scene, so
that the camera lens is eye level to the subject.
2. High Angle
Not so extreme as a bird's eye view. The camera is
elevated above the action using a crane to give a
general overview. High angles make the object
photographed seem smaller, and less significant (or
scared). The object or character often gets swal-
lowed up by their setting - they become part of a
wider picture.
4. Low Angle
The background of a low angle shot will tend to be just sky
or ceiling, the lack of detail about the setting adding to the
disorientation of the viewer. The added height of the object
may make it inspire fear and insecurity in the viewer, who
sees the subject as a dominating, powerful figure.
Sometimes the camera is tilted (ie is not placed hori-
zontal to floor level), to suggest imbalance, transition
and instability (Titanic!!). This technique is used to
suggest Point-of-View shots (ie when the camera
becomes the 'eyes' of one particular character, seeing
what they see).
SONY PDX10 Handbook page 17