We all consume media in different forms on a daily basis. Almost 59% of the world consumes media, whether that be print or digital media. Books, newspapers, movies , TV shows are all forms of media used on a daily basis, the most common being movies.
When we often sit down with our families or friends and watch a movie with them, our main objective is not to observe the critical details that have helped in making the movie what it is; our main objective is to have a good time, because that is what a movie is for.
It is a source of entertainment that consists of fictional stories, characters and settings to help us learn and have fun whilst consuming it. I also consume media and movies in this way. I look more for movies that make me laugh or make me cry rather than movies that have amazing cinematography or camera shots. However, I decided to sit down and think about it. What are some of the aspects that make movies beautiful or engaging? And the one thing that caught my attention was the camera work. Therefore, this brings up the question, what is the importance of camerawork in the process of filmmaking?
Camera work not only helps in creating psychological and emotional effects through various camera movements, but also allows more engagement of the audience with the film in question.
How is it possible to create such emotional or horrifying scenes with the use of camerawork? For this, we need to know about the various types of camera shots and angles one can use. An 'Establishing shot' can help the audience know the setting of the movie. A 'cutaway shot' can let the audience know about the side story happening simultaneously alongside the main story. A 'High-Angle shot' can help the audience feel superior to the main character as it looks down on the character, whereas a 'Low-Angle shot' looks up at the character, which gives the audience a sense of inferiority.
Through these camera shots (and many others as well, examples: Dutch angles, bird’s eye view shot, Aerial shots etc), one can achieve the true essence of filmmaking. Without the use of camera work, it is impossible for a viewer to experience the sort of emotion one can experience with the use of good camera work. In short, camera work is not a part of filmmaking, it is filmmaking.
Sources of information:
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/the-essentials-of-camera-shots-getting-the-right-shot-and-understanding-film-terminology#who-controls-camera-coverage https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/different-types-of-camera-movements-in-film/
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