Shot Styles
Ok, so firstly we have the wide shot. This is usually used at the start of the scene, to show the audience the setting and the time. It is also constantly used during fastpaced action sequences. Off the top of my head, I can remember a scene in Inception where Leonardo Di Caprio is bieng chased by executives from a Cobalt Corporation who's task he failed to complete. As he runs through Mobassa, there are a few shots of him pushing through crowds, but to avoid the viewer getting innundated with imagery, there is a helicopter shot from above, where we can see exactly what's going on. This is known as a wide shot. There are variations of this, like extreme wide, which does not include the subject, or very wide, which does include the subject (barely), but I think you get the gist.
Secondly, we have the mid shot. This usually shows the upper half of the subject. The goal of this shot is to give an impression of the whole subject while allowing the viewer to focus on smaller details. It's like a semi wideshot and a semi closeup.
Thirdly, we have the Closeup. This also has various varieties like the Extreme Close Up, and the Semi Close Up, but essentially the goal of this shot is to get a specific characteristic of the subject taking up the whole shot, like the eyes of a villian, or something like that.
Fourthly, we have the cutaway, a shot that shows something other than the subject in a quick cut.
Then, we have the over the shoulder shot. This is used during conversations in which you are trying to show the subject talking to the object in a natural manner.
Finally, we have the Noddy Shot. This is shot shows the interviewee looking at the camera at an angle, but without showing the interviewer.
Camera Techniques
There are numerous camera angles that you can use. The first one I'd like to talk about is the eye level angle. This is the one most commonly used, and is a normal landscape camera angle. Then, we have the higher than eye level angle. This is taken from above eye level, and so has the effect of making the subject seem weaker, and more vulnerable. Also, we then have the below eye level angle. This is useful for making someone look stronger and more imposing. It's also good for making the viewer feel powerless towards the action. Then, there's the birds eye angle, a quick glimpse of the scene from above to reorientate the viewer in a busy sequence. Then there is the tilted shot, which makes the character seem disorientated. These are popular in horror films and for P.O.V. shots.
Camera techniques include panning (tripod based movement - following a certain character's movements by keeping him in the middle of the frame), tilts (panning vertically), Dolly shots (which is moving along with something tracking its progress), and Dolly Zooms, where the cameraman walks towards the subject while zooming out at the same rate he is walking forward. Therefore, the subject stays the same, and the background zooms in and out. You should check out some examples on Youtube. Hope you guys enjoyed this section, and I hope it helps you guys out. Comment on anything and everything I've just said in the forum.
How to get that "Professional" Look
First things first - you need to stop the camera from shaking. To do this, stand feet shoulder width apart, with knees bent to act like a shock absorber, to minimalize shaking. Hold the camera in front of your eye-level, with elbows bent. Hold your elbow with your other hand to stabilize it. This is a very stable position ideal for walking and moving while still keeping a low amount of shakiness. Another way to get that very professional look is to have smooth flowing shots, with different angles for everything. You have to make every shot flow, as in no time gap left between. This adds an element of professionalism that is very important to your production.
