Camerawork: Photo storyboard

Learning to accurately identify different camera shots and the effect they have on an audience is a critical skill in Media Studies.

Before long, you'll find yourself naturally identifying interesting examples of camera shots, movements or angles when you're watching movies, TV or YouTube. The key aspect is always to consider WHY the director has chosen to present the scene in that way - what are they trying to communicate to the audience?

Here's a great YouTuber for Film Studies - Darius Britt AKA D4Darius. Notice that he uses 'full shot' instead of long shot - but otherwise this is pretty much as we learn the shots in class:



Photo storyboard: blog task

In class, you'll have gone out in a group and shot a simple school-based drama storyline using the different camera shots and angles we have learned. You now need to post these shots to your blog with a written analysis of each shot. The key question is simple: what is this shot communicating to the audience?

Your photo storyboard needs to include the following ten shots and angles:

Camera shots recap:

• Wide shot / establishing shot (WS/ES)
• Long shot (LS)
• Medium shot (MS)
• Medium close up (MCU)
• Over-the-shoulder shot (OTS)
• Close up (CU)
• Big close up / Extreme close up (BCU/XCU)

Camera angle:

• High angle: makes subject look small and weak.
• Low angle: makes subject look big and powerful.
• Unusual perspective: can be used to surprise the audience or show danger (e.g. looking down off a cliff)

To get an example of what your photo storyboard should look like, have a look at this example from a former Media student or this one - both very good.

Remember: you need to include all ten shots/angles and write an analysis to go with each shot to explain what it communicates to the audience.

Finish this for homework if you don't complete it in the lesson - due next week Thursday.

Good luck!