What Is a Dutch Angle? Definition & Examples Of This Technique

The Dutch Angle camera shot is a type of cinematography that uses a tilted camera to create an unusual and dynamic perspective on the film.

It can be used for various reasons, but typically it’s done to show something unsettling or off-kilter in order to add suspense or tension.

The term “Dutch” might come from the origins of this technique with German filmmakers who were influenced by Dutch painting techniques.

Dutch Angle Camera Shot Definition

The Dutch Angle camera shot has been around for decades, but it’s still one of the most widely used angles in film and photography today. It is also known as a canted angle or oblique angle.

A Dutch Angle creates an impression that forces viewers to see things from an unusual perspective, which engages them with the content.

The term “Dutch” comes from early German settlers called “Deutsch.” They’re referred to as “Dutch” because they spoke a form of Low German rather than High German (or Standard) German.

The Dutch angle camera shot is a technique often used in the film to make an audience feel uneasy or confused. It’s created by shooting the subject at an angle, rather than head-on.

The result is a sense of unease and confusion for the viewer, which can be enhanced by using close-ups and off-kilter framing. This technique was most famously used in Alfred Hitchcock films such as Vertigo (1958) and Psycho (1960).

What To Consider When Planning A Dutch Angle Shot

The first thing to think about when planning a Dutch angle shot is the tone of your film.

A dramatic or suspenseful film would lend itself well to using this kind of camera movement.

But if you’re shooting something like an interview, then it may not work as well because viewers will find it distracting and want to know why you chose this particular type of camera movement for the scene.

If you decide on going with this kind of camera technique, then there are a few things…

   

The most important is Direction.

The direction of the Dutch angle will depend on where the camera is positioned when filming starts.

For example, if you’re shooting from above then your subject might look small and powerless which could be good if you want to convey something like powerlessness or vulnerability.

Dutch Angles In Movies

Dutch angles are a type of camera shot that is often used in movies to create an interesting, off-balance look.

While they may seem like a recent phenomenon, the technique has actually been around for decades and can be seen in such classics as Vertigo and The Shining.

Photoshop doesn’t create the Dutch angles in movies, they are created by the cinematographer and director. Dutch angles can be used to create a sense of unease or tension.

They can also be used for artistic purposes such as creating an unusual perspective on an object or scene.

This technique has been used since Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo” (1958) to heighten suspense and in popular movies such as:

• Psycho (1960),
• The Shining (1980), and more recently films like,
• Memento (2000),
• Moonlight (2016).

Dutch Tilt

A Dutch angle is a camera technique that was popularized in the 1950s and 1960s by filmmakers like Roger Deakins. The Dutch angle has been used to create an eerie atmosphere or to convey disorientation.

The term originated from the use of this type of shot for creating shots intended to give a sense of dizziness or vertigo from looking down at low-angle shots with objects dropping away below.

The word ‘Dutch’ may have come about because it is often associated with images depicting

The Dutch tilt was originally used by Dutch painters to depict perspective and depth within their paintings.

In photography, the technique is often utilized when there are two subjects at different distances from the camera or if there’s an interest in capturing both vertical and horizontal lines in a single image.

It’s important that you maintain your balance while using this technique; otherwise, it may result in blurry photos.

It also helps to have a tripod so you don’t inadvertently shake your camera during an exposure which will blur out any details captured within the photograph.

   

What you need is a smartphone, a tripod, or any other stand, and the Dutch tilt lens attachment on your phone camera.

Camera Angles

One of the most important things in filmmaking is camera angles. The different types of camera angles allow directors to control how a viewer experiences a film.

There are many different types of camera angles that can be used to capture an image, including low-angle shots (from below), high-angle shots (from above), eye-level shots, and bird’s eye views.

In some cases, like in horror movies, the camera will be much lower to show more fear and tension because that’s what people are expecting from a horror movie.

However, if you were filming something funny for example like “Crazy Stupid Love” then you would want your audience to see where Steve Carell is at all times so that they can laugh with him as he makes his way through this crazy world.

It’s up to every director or filmmaker on how they want their story told and who they want their audience to feel connected with throughout it.

The following article will explore some of the most popular angles used by directors today.

Recapping The Dutch Angle

The term “Dutch” appears to have originated during the early 20th century from Hollywood’s Dutch film industry in California and was likely influenced by German expressionism of the era.

Since the dawn of time, a Dutch angle has been used in photography and film to create an unsettling feeling.

The Dutch angle is achieved by placing the camera at an oblique angle to the level ground or another horizontal surface so that it slopes up towards one corner of its frame, typically from left-to-right for a right-handed person.

Using this technique can be very useful if you want your audience to feel uneasy about what they are seeing.

It’s also helpful when building suspense in movies because it forces viewers to turn their heads and look around the scene as opposed to just looking straight ahead.