TAMALE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY CREATIVE ARTS

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY IN GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
DESIGN
LEVEL 400
COURSE TITLE: VIDEOGRAPHY II
COURSE CODE: GCD 463
 GROUP 1
1. ASAASI GILBERT
2. MOHAMMED AMIN GOMDA
3. TAKYI JOHN
4. ABDULAI ABDUL SOMED
 Presentation
DEFINITION AND USAGE
 EFFECTS ON THE AUDIENCE AND STORY TELLING
 EXAMPLES FROM FILMS

High angle shot, Low angle shot and Eye-level shot

SOURCE:
SC LANNOM ON OCTOBER 28, 2019
HIGH ANGLE SHOT DEFINITION

What is a high angle shot?

A high angle shot is when the camera looks down on the character or subject
from an elevated perspective. This is usually achieved by placing the camera
higher than the subject and then angling it down on them. This can range from a
shallow angle just above eye level all the way to directly above the subject.
 Why use a high angle shot?
1. Convey Narrative Information
2. Elicit Emotional Response
3. Convey Character Information

High angle shots can be used for (at the very least) three ways: to add narrative
information, to create a visceral or emotional response, and to present characters
from a perspective that makes them seem vulnerable or diminished A high angle
shot is just one of the many camera angles possible and can even be combined
for additional effect. It all depends on the context of the scene. There is no single
answer to "what does high angle shot mean." It means whatever you want it to
mean. In the next section, we'll run through the most common applications.
1. Narrative high angle
This is when a director uses a high angle shot to show things that would be hard to see
from any other angle. It is often used in battle sequences or when showing a large space
that has a lot of visual information.

It can establish the scale of a crowd. It can give context to a scene, and is usually shot at
a shallow angle.

In Citizen Kane, the high angle shot is used to show the actual scale of the newspaper
operation Charles Foster Kane runs. If you look at this scene, Orson Welles uses the high
angle to also convey how one person can be dwarfed by the power of the press.
.
Consider how much information we get from a shot like this. The masses are so far away they become
an anonymous collective ruled by a single man. We don't need exposition explaining this — a single
high angle shot will do the trick.

High angle shot example  •  Immortan Joe's Kingdom

 2. Visceral high angle

This is where a director uses a high angle shot to generate a feeling within the mind of the viewer.
That feeling is most often ties to human beings natural fear of falling from heights — and thus a
high angle shot can simulate that terror. Usually shot at extreme angles, this type of high angle shot
establishes tension.

Take this shot from the first act of Titanic. Rose feels like she can’t control her life. She’s got an
arranged marriage to a man she doesn’t love James Cameron looks down on her as she looks down
on the ocean. She feels insignificant and framed her that way so the audience is on her emotional
level. It allows us to share Rose's experience from her perspective. As she contemplates the
hopelessness of her situation and the fear of what her actions will mean, so can we.
Rose Contemplates Death  •  High Angle View
3. Character-driven high angle

High angle shots can signal a character's vulnerability. It is like a psychological

vantage point for anyone other than the character in the frame. Most examples do
not have a practical reason for using a high angle, but very simply a psychological
and film grammar rationale. 

Let's start with Dobby in the Harry Potter series. We almost always frame Dobby
with a high angle shot. Not only are we trying to show the size of the house elf, but
we’re also trying to define how the world looks at and treats him.
High Angle Shot Example  •  Looking down on Dobby
 LOW ANGLE SHOT DEFINITION

What is a low angle shot?

In cinematography, a low-angle shot is a shot from a

camera angle positioned anywhere below the eye line,
pointing upward. It can even be below the character’s feet
which is called an extreme low angle shot.
LOW ANGLE SHOT EFFECT

Low angle shots give you:

They can make a hero seem powerful 
They can make a hero seem vulnerable
They can increase perceived height of an object
A low angle shot is just one of the many camera angles possible and can even be
combined for additional effect. Here's a rundown of every camera angle, how
they work, and whey they might work best in your next shot list.
Low angles can convey power

Low angle shots are often used to convey power, and depending on your subject,
that power can be a good thing or a bad thing. 

Take this low angle shot of the Biker from Raising Arizona. He's hellbent on
catching his man, and will stop at nothing to bring the Arizona baby back.
The demon biker providing an example of a low angle shot purpose (Raising Arizona )
Here’s another use of a low angle shot from the Wachowski’s Matrix series.
We can tell that these Agents are in control here. We haven’t met them yet, but the low angle
shot shows that they are in charge.

Low angle shots from The Matrix

Low angle can convey vulnerability

Low angles have this weird ability to signal vulnerability, which seems a bit
contradictory since we know that low angles can convey power.
Part of this is simply that we see the character from an unusual angle, and within
the context of the scene we as a viewer become irked by the framing.
Another reason is because we are more confined, especially when indoors. 
 
This shot above is both a low angle and a Dutch angle, and while the Dutch angle
signals to use that something is wrong, the low angle give us a claustrophobic feeling
and signals that Ethan is trapped, and vulnerable.
Low angles increased perceived height

As a kid, did you ever take a photo of your friends or sibling jumping
they're bike off a ramp, hoping to catch a moment of some sweet air?

Did you get down low to make that air seem even sweeter?

It is a basic perception trick, but it is one that is used in filmmaking a

lot.
You can combine this with miniatures to create the feeling that an entire,
massive world exists in front of the camera.

If you have any kind of moment that could benefit from some extra
height, but you don't have the means to get way, way up there...

Consider going as low as you can go to increased the perceived height.

 EYE LEVEL SHOT DEFINITION

An eye level shot refers to when the level of your camera is placed at the same height as the eyes of
the characters in your frame. An eye level camera angle does not require the viewer to see the eyes
of the actor, nor does the actor need to look directly into the camera for a shot to be considered eye
level. Eye level shots simulate standard human vision and thus present visual information through a
familiar viewpoint.  

The difference between an eye level and shoulder level shot is determined by the middle portion of
the frame because the position of the lens iris determines the level of your shot more accurately
than the base of your camera body. You may have the base of your camera in line with an actor’s
shoulder, but the iris of your camera will be level with the eyes of the actor.
Two Examples of eye level camera angle 

Here you will see scenes that used eye level shots for a specific purpose. Often, directors will
use shoulder or hip level angles to slightly empower characters, so an eye level shot is less
common than you may think.

In this scene, the filmmakers use a ton of different camera levels and compositions to
generate emotions within the viewer.

This scene makes effective use of various angles and shot compositions, and it uses the eye
level shot that has great impact.

When Jon Snow realizes Ramsay has his brother on the end of a rope, the filmmakers use this
high angle shot to diminish Jon’s power.
Jon Snow - Game of Thrones
Ramsey with Jon's brother - Game of Thrones
Why do directors use eye level shots?

Dissolve the barrier between viewer and story. 

Humanize characters with a neutral camera angle.
Simulate human vision and familiar composition. 
Let’s take a look at a few scenes and sequences that used eye level
shots effectively, and how there are many opportunities for eye level
shots.
EYE LEVEL SHOT EXAMPLES

Examples of eye level camera angle 

Here you will see scenes that used eye level shots for a specific
purpose. Often, directors will use shoulder or hip level angles to
slightly empower characters, so an eye level shot is less common than
you may think.
In this scene, the filmmakers use a ton of different camera levels and
compositions to generate emotions within the viewer