Analysing Pop Genre Music Videos: Camera Shots & Angle

Music videos features a number of shots for various reasons, to relate with the audience by expressing thoughts and feelings, but also to show the viewer what is happening.

Camera Shots

Very Wide Shot-

This is where the artist is shown visible (barely) but the emphasis is still on placing the artist in the location or setting.

Wide shot-

This is where the artist is shown taking up most of the shot but the location or setting is still established in relationship to the performer.

Mid Shot-

This shows the artist from their waist line to head, and focuses mainly on the location or setting.

Medium Close Up Shot- 

This shot is half way between a mid-shot and a close up, showing the artist from chest to head.

Close Up Shot- 

This shot shows the artists face or can show an object that the artist is holding or looking at. It is whatever the camera is focusing on up close and in focus.

Extreme Close Up Shot-

This shows the artists face extremely close, for example eyes, mouth to identify something it can have the effect of showing the audience the artists thoughts and feelings or even showing a lip sync commonly used in music videos.

Over the Shoulder Shot-

This shot is a good shot used, specifically in narrative based music videos usually when the artist is acting and speaking to another person you tend to see an over the shoulder shot to display the conversation, or to show something the character is looking at.

Cut In Shot-

This shot can be used in music videos to show something that the lyrics might be saying for example I will shoot you with

 my gun 'and a gun comes in'. It shows the object that relates to the subject or narrative.

These shots are the basic shots you expect to see in most music videos, however there can be some more creative ways of displaying a scene through different camera angles. 

Camera Angles

The way the camera is positioned determines the angle of the shot. There are many different camera angles used in the production of music videos to convey different images.

Eye level- 

This is a very common view being the real world angle that we are all use to seeing, it shows subjects as we would angle that we are all use to seeing, it shows subjects as we would expect to see them in real life.

High Angle-

This is were the Camera shows the subject from above, and the camera is angled down towards the subject, which has the effect of making them appear less powerful, smaller, weaker, and submissive.

Low Angle-

This is were the subject is shown from below, giving the impression of being more powerful or dominant.

Bird's Eye-

This angle is showing the subject or scene directly above, and can be from an unnatural point of view which can be used to add a dramatic effect or showing a different spatial perspective. It can also show the positions and motions of different characters and objects, enabling the viewer to see things the character might not be able to see.

Slanted-

This is when the camera is slanted also known as a Dutch tilt/ angle were the camera is purposely tilted to one side so the horizon is on an angle, this is creative in making interesting dramatic effects. Dutch tilts are also popular in MTV- style video production, where unusual angles and lots of camera movement play a big part.

Camera angles play a huge part in emphasizing the artist or to show emotions and expressions. Other camera angles that are simply most common in music videos, are close ups, showing the artist lip syncing, and extreme close ups were lyrics can be linked to visuals. The Camera never stays on one shot for longer than 5 seconds.