Thursday 4 November 2010

Camera Shots

Tracking Shot
This shot is when the camera moves alongside the object that is moving, or to move away or towards a still object. It is called a 'tracking shot' because the camera is put on a track to follow piece being filmed.



Camera Shots

Whip Pan
A whip pan is a shot where the camera moves sideways extremely quickly which leads the picture to blur into streaks.



Camera Shots

Crane/Birds Eye View/Aerial
This shot is taken from a helicopter, plane or crane. However, helicopters and planes are used for shots that need extreme height. This type of shot would be used in restricted outdoor locations. It makes the objects in the cameras view look much smaller than they really are. 


Camera Shots

Worms Eye View
This is the opposite of a birds eye view. It is a view of an object from below and is commonly used to make something appear bigger or more superior than something else.




Camera Shots

Low Angle Shot
A low angle shot is a shot which is taken from a low point on the vertical axis and is looking upwards. It increases height and provides a sense of speeded motion to the viewer. It can also be used to disorientate the audience and add confusion to the scene.


Camera Shots

Crash Zoom
Although this is not actually a movement of the camera, it still appears to be one. It's when the focus of the camera is pulled, making the object slowly appear closer/further away. It is often done very fast, which is called a crash zoom. When the focus is reversed to make the object seem further away, it's called a reverse zoom.


Camera Shots

Panning Shot
A panning shot is when the camera pivots from one side to the other to follow a moving, passing object. The camera stays still as the object moves past which shows us how fast it is moving and helps us to establish the surroundings of the shot.



Sherlock Holmes review

Sherlock Holmes, 2009, is a mystery/action film directed by Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). The film follows the story of detective Sherlock Holmes, played by Robert Downey. Jnr, and his faithful companion Dr. Watson, played by Jude Law.

The plot centers around the attempted capture of the infamous Lord Blackwood, a master of the dark arts who after returning from the dead, continues his upheaval of London. Holmes and Watson are assigned to the case, and with the help of Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), Sherlock's old flame, set out to capture Blackwood and keep peace on the streets of London. After a range of exquisitely shot action scenes and sharp humor, the plot comes full circle when Blackwood is hung from London Bridge in a spectacular fight scene.

The range of different shots throughout the film highlight Richie's tremendous directing skills, as he is able to create tension and suspense while also allowing us to connect with the characters on an emotional level. The film grossed over $200 million worldwide, proving to be Richie's most successful film to date.

I really enjoyed the film. I felt like the story of Sherlock Holmes had always been told in a very mundane and boring way, and that this rendition of his story was a breath of fresh air. However I did find the plot to be confusing at times.

The costumes and settings in the film helped to convey the era the film is set in, whilst also giving it a modern feel. Each character was perfectly suited to this costumes and make-up, hence further allowing us to relate to them. Props were also used to convey different emotions of the characters and helped the audience to learn more about them.

Overall I enjoyed the film and felt this was mainly due to Richie's imaginative and clever direction. I would definitely recommend the film and would enjoy seeing a sequel.