Fall 2019
Camera Angles and Their Impact—within this Research
Camera angles and their impact
Camera Angle is the angle from which the camera views and records the subject. Different camera angles convey different meanings and affect the viewer’s perception. A high-angle shot is a shot in which the camera is physically higher than the subject, who is looked down upon, and makes the subject look small, weak or vulnerable (Baranowski & Hecht 2017, 2). A low-angle shot is taken from below the subject’s eye-point and has the power to make the subject look powerful or threatening (Baranowski & Hecht 2017, 2). Eye-level angle—also called “neutral shot”—is when the camera is at the level of the viewer’s eyes, and it elicits trust in the viewer (Baranowski & Hecht 2017, 8).
“The more extreme the camera angle, the more likely it is to reinforce or alter the narrative structure” (Baranowski & Hecht 2017, 2). Bird's eye shot or bird's-eye view shots are taken directly above the scene to establish the landscape and the actors relationship to it—as if God is looking down upon the subject—to emphasize the insignificance of the subjects in the surrounding (The New York Times 2011, 214). Worm’s-eye view is a shot that is looking up from the ground, and gives the viewer the feeling that the subject is imposing (BBC Bitesize).
Bibliography:
Baranowski, A. M., & Hecht, H. (2017). Effect of Camera Angle on Perception of Trust and Attractiveness. Empirical Studies of the Arts 0(0) 1–11. DOI: 10.1177/0276237417710762. Retrieved December 14, 2019, from here.
The New York Times. (2011). The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge: A Desk Reference for the Curious Mind. 3rd Edition. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN: 978-0-312-64302-7.
BBC Bitesize. (n.d.). Camera - Revision 2 - GCSE Moving Image Arts (CCEA) - BBC. Retrieved December 14, 2019, from here.
Sub-thematic 1 | Confrontation with the Enemy
7 portraits shot at extreme low angle
13 portraits shot at slightly low angle
3 portraits shot at slightly high angle
1 portrait shot at over-the-shoulder angle
20 portraits in this sub-thematic are shot at a low camera angle. By employing this technique the IS reinforces the notions of bravery and strength of its fighters to entice its audience to get inspired by them and want to become one of them by way of idolizing the fighters.
Sub-thematic 2 | Religious Legitimacy & Islamic Identity
8 portraits shot at extreme low angle
22 portraits shot at slightly low angle
2 portraits shot at extreme high angle
All the portraits of fighters in this sub-thematic – except 2 – are shot in low camera angle. By shooting the fighter at a low camera angle the IS reinforces the notions of not only bravery and strength of its fighters but also their religious legitimacy and superiority to also, in its turn, entice its audience to get inspired by them and want to become one of them by way of idolizing the fighters within the notion of piety.
Sub-thematic 3 | Martyrdom
3 portraits shot at extreme low angle
29 portraits shot at slightly low angle
4 portraits shot at eye-level angle
Sub-thematic 4 | Collective Belonging
5 portraits shot at extreme low angle
17 portraits shot at slightly low angle
4 portraits shot at slightly high angle
3 portraits shot at extreme high angle
5 portraits shot at eye-level angle
2 portraits shot at God’s-eye view angle
Sub-thematic 5 | The Future of the Caliphate
1 portrait shot at an eye level angle
9 portraits shot at a slightly low angle
1 portrait shot at an extreme low camera angle