Fed up with tv commercials and camera people very irritating!!!?

Question

A day does not go buy when a camera person on tv, zooms up so close on a person who's talking, and all we see is the face.  Sometimes, you can't even see the hair or their ears, it is so annoying!  I understand that camera people have to zoom up to a certain distance, but sometimes, it just doesn't need to be that way.

Why do camera people on tv think that we need to see someone's face up so close, that we can see nose hairs?  And when two people are talking, why does the camera person have to keep switing back and forth, instead of just showing both people?

So my question is, why do camera crews have to zoom up close on a person's face, that we don't see anything elese?

Jim A · Accepted Answer

I did a career in television news / sports photography.  When ever I shot an interview I did it head and shoulders so you can actually see the person talking.  I never did like the extreme close shots you're talking about.

But what's happened, and this very common in the news business, all these stations you see are playing to the choir.  That means that if one does it they all do it so they won't look different or out of place.

It's become a very bad habit among news photographers I'm afraid.  The only thing that's going to change it is people like writing to your various news outlets to tell them how you feel.  One email or letter won't do it of course, you'll be written off.  But if thousands do it, things may change.

Anonymous · Answer

Don't blame the people behind the cameras like you would if cameraman was taking a still photo(snap-shot). They wear headsets, and directors tell them what type of shot they want. Unfortunately  being a TV cameraman does not lend itself to creativity as does still photography. 

I agree with you, some of TV work done today is really laking in good sense.

B.E.I. · Answer

Wow....with all of the other pressing issues in the world today (like "are my socks on the right feet?"), I never gave commercials much thought.

It must be a UK thing. I just watched 8 commercials here, and not one of them was a close-up. I don't watch commercials, that is the time I can get up and do/get something.

whiten · Answer

McDonalds categorised commercials. They annoy me. Geico a close-by one for attorneys who cope with proceedings merely Wal-Mart The speaking babies categorised commercials...bleh i think of my prominent one authentic now's the place the baby comes living house overdue and steps on each and all of the squeaky toys and his mum and dad are sitting on the settee with their blackberries....the baby cracks me up. extraordinarily while he says his telephone is off and it rings.

? · Answer

I think that your TV has zoomed in.

kazandrew2 · Answer

It could be because there are other cameras to compete with & they don't want free advertising for another station.

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Fed up with tv commercials and camera people very irritating!!!?

6 Answers