#lowangleshots

Tip #261: Try a Low-angle Shot in a Documentary The low-angle shot—looking up at the subject—is a staple among fiction directors such such as Orson Welles and George Lucas. But angling up at the subject can work equally well in documentaries and other non-fiction genres. The nice thing is that the technique doesn’t require fancy equipment. The example here is from “The Secret Love Project,” a visually arresting mini-doc directed by @sjvanbreda. This inspiring short—featuring Cape Town artist @MichaelElion—is the current Mobile Movie of the Week. You can see it at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #mobilemoviemaking #mini-doc #lowangleshots https://www.instagram.com/p/CChWfgmpo9m/?igshid=y41p6u1q5vbo

Tip #215: USE LOW-ANGLE SHOTS WHEN FILMING STRUCTURES. A low-angle shot requires shooting up at a subject rather than straight on. Earlier tips have recommended low-angle shots to create unusual images of people. But the same technique works with buildings and other objects. The examples here are from Steve Wright’s “10 Gimbal Moves for Beginners”—a tutorial in the @learnonlinevideo series. You can find it on YouTube. If you’ve taken low-angle shots of structures, tell us about them in the comments and post them with the hashtag lowangleshots. #mobilemoviemakingtips #lowangleshots #cinematography https://www.instagram.com/p/B9CkyCIphVt/?igshid=135t65ckuz5v8

Tip #181. USE LOW-ANGLE SHOTS TO CREATE NOVEL IMAGES. One challenge for filmmakers is to take something familiar and make it new or even strange. So, for example, we all know something about robots. But the Terminator’s relentlessness gives us a novel perspective on artificial human-like entities. Another way to put a twist on the familiar is to shoot your movie from an extreme low angle. That’s what George Nolfi did in his short soccer comedy “Tough Crowd.” The director allows us to see the action in a way that’s totally different from the sidelines. While taking low-angle shots is a lot easier than constructing a robot, it does require effort. It might even involve getting your knees dirty, but that’s a small price to pay for wowing your viewers. Speaking of novel images: You might want to include one or a few when entering our Preview 2020 Video Contest. Deadline is December 31, 2019. You’ll find all the rules at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). Just click the crystal ball in the home page slide show. #mobilemoviemakingtips #lowangleshots #soccerfilm #shortcomedy #iPhonefilmmaking #shotoniPhone https://www.instagram.com/p/B45eR5Gh4zb/?igshid=unok2jpqnk72

ANOTHER LOW-ANGLE SHOT. Movies are dominated by straight-on, eye-level shots. But occasionally shooting up at subjects can add visual variety. Such “low-angle” shots almost always grab your viewers attention. We discuss this technique in more detail at Tip #33: Angle Up & Down. The example here is from “Paris 9/19,” a travelogue shot by @RianJohnson. He’s the director of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” #mobilemoviemakingtips #lowangleshots #cinematography https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ijoghgkgA/?igshid=1spre19vrxdik