Intro to stills camera:

I have learnt that there are many of different camera shots, for example Extreme wide shots, very wide shots, wide shots, mid shots, medium close ups, close ups and exteme close ups. Close ups have the most detail whereas wide shots have visible view of the subject or just takes up half the frame.There are also camera shots such as over the sholdour shots, point of view shots and two shots. An exampe of two shots would be in skins when Effy and Tony are in the same frame which we learn represnts their closeness in relationship. An over-the-shoulder shot is similar to a point of view shot as you see the view of the figure which the camera is behind.

The picture at the top right would be an example of a very wide shot so the subject is barely visible. The picture on the left is an example of a mid shot so the subject shows some part of detail but you can still see the rest of the subject in less detail.

We have learnt about hot spots which you use on posters etc which is the places on your poster which attracts the person's eyes. You would usually have four hot spots on each corner. So you would have something for the person to view on each hot spot, for exampe text or the subject, e.g a face or building.

Another shot is a hero shot. This is when you have a person looking up at "the hero" so that hero has the power over the person who is weak and has no control. This is used in posters for action films when they want to show who is meant to be the bigger figure, for example in the gladiator poster. Also to make this effect you can have the camera at a high angle to make it look like the subject is weak and the opposite when the camera is low as it makes the subject look high in importance and powerful.

We had a lesson on a photoshop which we learnt how to edit photos for example making them change colour or make them have a black eye and even making parts of their body enlarge or decrease, for example making the horror poster. I made her face change colour to make it look more scary and also adding text to the poster i did on photoshop.

We have also learnt about camera movements such as tracking shots when the camera moves on tracks to follow the subject, for example on a platform on wheels called a "dolly". If not a dolly you can also use a steadicam whch uses weights and balances for smooth movement. We learnt other movements such as:

tilt - whch is a subtle movement on vertical

crab - which is also a subtle movement on horizontal

crane - which the camera is mounted on a crane and can move dramatically up or down and from left to right

handheld - this makes a feel of reality as the movement can be shaky but creates a good point of view

zoom lens - illusion of movement by alternating the lens length