{"id":108695,"date":"2019-01-15T05:59:27","date_gmt":"2019-01-15T11:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=108695"},"modified":"2019-01-15T13:51:31","modified_gmt":"2019-01-15T19:51:31","slug":"4-ways-improve-low-angle-shots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/4-ways-improve-low-angle-shots\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinematography Tips: Four Ways to Use a Low-Angle Shot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Low-angle shots are a common cinematography technique, but are you really getting all you can out of these shots? Find out with these 4 examples.<\/h2>\n

Low-angle shots are fundamental for any filmmaker. A perfectly executed low-angle shot can reveal key parts of a narrative, explain the emotional state of a character, and even build tension in the story \u2014 without using words. In this article, we’ll look at 4 cinematic examples of how you can make better use of low-angle shots.<\/p>\n

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The Classic Subtle Hero<\/h3>\n
\"Cinematography<\/a>

Image via Moonrise Kingdom<\/em><\/a> (Indian Paintbrush).<\/p><\/div>\n

Not all low-angle shots have to be extreme. Some of the most notable and classic low-angle shots sit just below the eye line of a character. In fact, you may not have even realized that they were low-angle shots, yet they are foundational filmmaking techniques. Even when they’re just slightly below the eye line, they force an audience member to look up at a character, providing a sense of admiration or heroism.<\/p>\n

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The Extreme Low-Angle<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Cinematography<\/a>

Image via Home Alone 2<\/a> (Twentieth Century Fox).<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

On the opposite end of the spectrum, an extreme low-angle shot is always a bold cinematic choice, usually used sparingly to get the full cinematic effect of its uniqueness. As you can see in this still from Home Alone 2<\/em>, it can often create the perspective of a child. Typically, with this extreme angle, it can either display a sense of grand heroism or a demeaning sense of fear.<\/p>\n

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The Low-Angle Dolly Push<\/h3>\n
\"Cinematography<\/a>

Image via Godless<\/a><\/em> (Netflix).<\/p><\/div>\n

If you want to elevate your low-angle shots, a dolly push in is a great starting point. Countless films have employed a low-angle dolly push to introduce a key character, build dramatic tension, or create a cinematic picture. The low-angle dolly push is perfect for when your character may have some dialogue that you\u2019d like to add some weight to. By adding a slight dolly push, you can dramatically build the tension of the scene, through the angle, for the length of the shot. We see a perfect example of this technique in season 1 episode 1 of Godless<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Low-Angle Establishing Shots<\/h3>\n

One of the most common low-angle shots is the classic establishing shot. You can use this shot to establish a location or a building.<\/p>\n

The history of low-angle shots is long, as you can see in this educational video from the team over at StudioBinder.<\/p>\n