4 Basic Photography Skills To Take Great Shots
POV: The Point of View Shot means taking your shot from the point of view of the subject itself. If you have seen the movie the Patriot you will recognize this as when the cannon ball comes right at the camera and then the action cuts to a soldier being hit by that same cannon ball. It captures the viewers interest and instantly pulls the audience into the action. These shots are great when there is a lot of action and you want to shots of the same action.
Rack Focus: Rack Focus is when you change your focus between a close subject and a distant subject. You can get some pretty amazing footage using thse because it puts the camera man in direct control of the audience. By manually switching the focus of the camera between subjects distant and close you include two totally distinct subjects without cutting or moving the camera. You are forcing your audience to follow the focus since the blurred images are not easily interpreted. This technique adds a professional look to any video.
Crooked Angle: You can get some great shot simply by turning the camera to the side so the ground is no longer parallel with the square of the viewfinder. You will be amazed at how incredible some of these shots can be. A bit of a warning though, try to keep the camera somewhat still as a lot of movement may make your audience sick. Using very slight movement at crooked angles is an easy way to create interest and cast your subjects in a new light.
Track Shot: A track shot is when you move the camera in a definite path. You can do this shot using a wheelchair or skateboard but it creates some amazing video! You often see this used during music videos where the camera zips around the band.
Using these four classic shots will definitely increase the interest of your productions and leave your audience wanting more.
