Basic Photography Course

302.214

Figure 13-12.Showing change of screen direction.

shots can be used to change screen direction by
temporarily showing a neutral condition between two
shots when the subject moves in opposite directions.

Tracking shots are accomplished by moving the

camera directly ahead or behind the subject, either
leading or following the subject, respectively.

As with head-on or tail-away shots, tracking shots

are neutral only when the subject is not shown entering
or leaving the frame and when only the front or back of
the subject is shown.

High-or-low camera angle shots-The subject

moves directly toward and under or over the camera so,
the subject exits at either the bottom or the top of the
frame. Examples: a train, shot from a high-camera
angle, may move directly under the camera and exit at
the bottom of the frame, or an aircraft may take off and
move over a low-angled camera and exit at the top of
the frame.

Subjects traveling abreast shots-Two or more

subjects move directly toward the camera and split up
to exit the frame on both sides of the camera, or enter
the frame on both sides of the camera and join up,
moving directly away from the camera.

A neutral shot inserted between two shots of a

subject moving in opposite cross-screen directions

distracts the audience momentarily to allow for the
change in direction.

To open a sequence, you can use a head-on shot to

bring a moving subject from a distant point toward the
audience. To close a sequence, you can use a tail-away

shot of a subject moving away from the camera. Shots,
such as these, present moving images that increase or

decrease in size and have more of an effect on apparent
depth than do cross-screen movements.

Head-on and tail-away tracking shots add variety by

offering a change from the usual three-quarter side
shots. Head-on shots tend to produce greater audience
impact because the audience is "placed" dead center

with the action advancing toward them.

Constant Screen Direction

Constant screen direction shows subjects moving in

one direction only. When one subject moves in the same
direction through a series of shots, progression is
represented.

Once screen direction has been established, it

should be maintained until a change in direction can be

explained. When a shot suddenly shows a subject
traveling in the opposite direction to the previous shot,

the audience will get the impression that the subject has

turned around and is heading back to the starting point.

Any change in screen direction must be explained.

One way to change screen direction (for example, a

head-on to a tail-away) and explain the change to the

viewers is to film the subject in the following sequence.

First, record a head-on shot. Secondly, cut the shot to a
three-quarter angle of the subject moving left to right.
Next, cut the three-quarter angle to a view of the subject
crossing the screen, then to a rear three-quarter angle of
the subject. Finally, cut from the rear three-quarter angle
to a tail-away shot (fig. 13-12).

A way to maintain constant screen direction is to use

the action-axis technique. An action axis is nothing more
than an imaginary line created by subject movement.

13-18

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> 302.214 Figure 13-12.Showing change of screen direction. shots can be used to change screen direction by temporarily showing a neutral condition between two shots when the subject moves in opposite directions. Tracking shots are accomplished by moving the camera directly ahead or behind the subject, either leading or following the subject, respectively. As with head-on or tail-away shots, tracking shots are neutral only when the subject is not shown entering or leaving the frame and when only the front or back of the subject is shown. High-or-low camera angle shots-The subject moves directly toward and under or over the camera so, the subject exits at either the bottom or the top of the frame. Examples: a train, shot from a high-camera angle, may move directly under the camera and exit at the bottom of the frame, or an aircraft may take off and move over a low-angled camera and exit at the top of the frame. Subjects traveling abreast shots-Two or more subjects move directly toward the camera and split up to exit the frame on both sides of the camera, or enter the frame on both sides of the camera and join up, moving directly away from the camera. A neutral shot inserted between two shots of a subject moving in opposite cross-screen directions distracts the audience momentarily to allow for the change in direction. To open a sequence, you can use a head-on shot to bring a moving subject from a distant point toward the audience. To close a sequence, you can use a tail-away shot of a subject moving away from the camera. Shots, such as these, present moving images that increase or decrease in size and have more of an effect on apparent depth than do cross-screen movements. Head-on and tail-away tracking shots add variety by offering a change from the usual three-quarter side shots. Head-on shots tend to produce greater audience impact because the audience is "placed" dead center with the action advancing toward them. Constant Screen Direction Constant screen direction shows subjects moving in one direction only. When one subject moves in the same direction through a series of shots, progression is represented. Once screen direction has been established, it should be maintained until a change in direction can be explained. When a shot suddenly shows a subject traveling in the opposite direction to the previous shot, the audience will get the impression that the subject has turned around and is heading back to the starting point. Any change in screen direction must be explained. One way to change screen direction (for example, a head-on to a tail-away) and explain the change to the viewers is to film the subject in the following sequence. First, record a head-on shot. Secondly, cut the shot to a three-quarter angle of the subject moving left to right. Next, cut the three-quarter angle to a view of the subject crossing the screen, then to a rear three-quarter angle of the subject. Finally, cut from the rear three-quarter angle to a tail-away shot (fig. 13-12). A way to maintain constant screen direction is to use the action-axis technique. An action axis is nothing more than an imaginary line created by subject movement. 13-18 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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