HOW DO CAMERA SHOTS, CAMERA

ANGLES AND MOVEMENTS CONVEY

MEANING?

Understanding camera work in music videos

The use of types of camera movements, angles and shots is significant when creating a music video, as it will convey the message and theme of the song. The type of camera shot that is being used adds power to the visuals on screen.

Deep Focus Pull/Change in Focus

A deep focus pull/change in focus is when the camera goes blurry and goes out of focus. This can be used for many different reason in a music video. From the music video I analysed, theses two photos demonstrate a before and after shot of a bottle of alcohol from a music video. This change in focus shot is significant, as it demonstrates the affects of alcohol, and demonstrates a distortion in the life of the protagonist. It makes the video more meaning full, and gives the viewer a greater understand of how the protagonist is feeling at this moment.

Establishing shot

An establishing shot is when the camera displays the scene to the audience and displays the setting in which the characters in the music video are in. These establishing shots are from Taylor Swift’s Blank Space and due to the location of the music video, the beginning of the narrative allows the audience to have a better understanding where the video is set. This adds an element of realism and allows them to continue on with the narrative. The establishing-shots are repeated through different locations in the house and the gardens to remind the audience of where these character are at that moment.

Extreme Close-Up An extreme close-up is when the camera is up close and personal with the characters and allows the viewer to see ever detail and facial characteristics of the person being shown on screen. This close-up from Rita Ora’s body on me shows her and the male singer, and conveys the chemistry between, the two as it displays an element of intimacy and relates to the meaning of the song.

Tracking ShotA tracking shot is a shot when the camera is following a certain character, and creates the ideology that we are there walking with them. In the music video to “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve, it is constructed of one long tracking shot, and makes it appear that we are there on the street with him, and the mid-tracking shot, allows the viewer to see him at eye level, making it even more realistic. Alternatively, a tracking shot conveys a slow melody, and in Bitter Sweet Symphony adds to the slow, relaxed mood of the song.Hand-held

cameraA hand-held camera is when the singer or another character in the music video, hold the camera, and as a consequence causing a jerky, yet realistic affect to the video. In the Justin Bieber’s “Beauty and the Beat” the singer uses a hand-held camera, to invite the viewer into the party that is going on in the music video. Also, a hand-held camera makes it personal and makes it appear as if the singer is addressing someone directly.POV

A point of view shot is when the audience are able to see what the character is seeing and doing. This places the viewer in the character’s perspective, thus allowing them to experience the situation themselves. In The Prodigy “Smack My B***h Up” the whole narrative is shown through a point of view shot to let the viewer engage and understand how the character is feeling.

Low- Angle shot

A low-angle shot is when the camera is titled at an angle looking upwards towards all the characters. In this music video by Jessie J, the use of a low-angle shot is significant as it gives a sense of, power, female dominance and authority, which is what is being conveyed in the lyrics of the song. The low-angle shot makes us seem inferior to all the character, as makes us seem subordinate. This illustrates the lyrics as it is about hierarchy and being able to a vary of things that are labelled as being masculine.

High - Angle shot

A high – angle shot is the opposite to a low – angle shot, as this time the camera is titled down on the singer to make them seem inferior. In the music video “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato, the use of this high- angle shot makes her seem vulnerable which conveys the meaning of the song. As an audience we feel sympathetic with her, because of the way she is portrayed. The high-angle shot is important in this narrative as it creates a contrast with the low angle shot that appears towards the end of the narrative to convey her resilience in this situation.