Type of shots: An enabler in making picture tells a thousand words

The phrase "a photo speaks a thousand words" is a common phrase used when it comes to photography. But have you ever wondered how a single picture could convey a lot of meaning? What are the mechanisms behind a piece of a photograph that able them to "speak" thousands of words? This is where the role of a photography shot came in. 

Just like when an artist draws a drawing, they need to choose what to focus on in their drawing that will later be the main subject of their artwork. The same rule applies to photography. The photographer needs to choose what they want to focus on as the main subject of the picture that would later help to convey a message to the audience. A variety of shots plays an important in emphasising and showcasing the message the photographer tries to convey through their works.

To showcase the variety of shots, I have decided to use Kedai Jalanan at Medan Tuanku as the subject for this assignment.

Kedai Jalanan is a unique a pop-up store that serves the homeless and urban poor as their customers. Kedai Jalanan gives out free clothes and toiletries to the homeless and urban poor in a set up of a retail store. Dr Rusaslina Idrus first initiated this project together with the help from students of the University of Malaya as volunteers. Using the same concept of a retail shop complete with racks to hang the clothes, Kedai Jalanan gives the chance to those in need the freedom to choose the items that they want.

(Hariati Azizan, 2016) 

An establishing shot is used to showcase the subject’s surrounding (Stovall, 2005). It is used to showcase a general overview of the subject without focusing solely on them (MediaCollege, n.d). It gives the audience/reader a better visual understanding of the scale and magnitude of the event. It also helps to showcase the motions that are happening during the event. 

Hectic preparation at Medan Tunku

The preparation for the store opening

These pictures showcase what is going on during the event. It depicts the scenarios of the event. It also gives the audience/reader a better visual understanding of the set up of Kedai Jalanan. 

Midrange shot is used to put a subject in a context (Stovall, 2005). Compare to establishing shot that showcases a general shot of the whole event, midrange shot focuses on the subject during the event. It still showcases the event but with a little more emphasis on the subject (Stovall, 2005). 

A welcoming sign for those in need

The picture puts the store sign as the subject. The store sign is the indication that Kedai Jalanan is open for their customers and that they are welcome. It also acts as the project’s identifier.

The male section of Kedai Jalanan

This picture puts the racks of shirts as the subject. It is to showcases the options Kedai Jalanan has to offer for their customer. It also gives a closer view of the set up of Kedai Jalanan. 

In short, there are a different kind of shots in photography that able the pictures to tell stories without words.

References

Stovall, J. G. (2005). Journalism: Who,what,when,where,why and how. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

MediaCollege. (n.d). Shot types. Retrieved 3 March 2017 from http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/

Hariati Azizan. (2016). More than just a kerb store. Retrieved 3 March 2017 from http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/05/15/more-than-just-akerb-store-it-is-not-just-provisions-that-student-initiative-kedai-jalanan-bring-to/