Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Many beginners tend to keep their camera at the same distance from the subject throughout
a scene. You should use a range of shots to give your fi lm visual variety and to take advan-
tage of the emotional or psychological message that each type of shot can convey. You
may want to avoid a medium-to-medium shot unless you change camera angle. It is often
better to use a medium to close-up shot if the angle stays the same.
Another aspect of scale relates to the comparative size of one shape or area of the screen
to another shape or area. Since we are attracted to visual contrast, we tend to notice the
shape that is biggest. In a cowboy movie gunfi ght, the camera may be behind one cowboy's
holstered gun as his hand twitches in anticipation. This silhouette may fi ll 80% of the screen,
making his opponent look small and distant. This kind of shot is surely more dynamic than
simply fi lming the entire gunfi ght in profi le with the camera the same distance from each
cowboy. Compose your shots with consideration to a variety of shape sizes. The visual
richness that shape size variation brings to your shots can translate into a more powerful
telling of your story.
