The Psychological Effects of Video Composition: Learning from the NHK News Footage Controversy and the Power of Camera Work

Introduction: Slanted Footage Causes Controversy

On October 24, 2025, Sankei News posted a tweet. NHK's "News 7" featured footage of Prime Minister Takaichi and the National Diet Building shot at a slanted angle, which became a hot topic on social media.

Voices were raised asking, "Isn't this intentionally meant to make viewers feel uneasy?," and NHK responded that "there was no intention to create a negative image."

However, this debate raises an important question: Do video composition and camera work really affect our psychology?

I actually created a tilted video using Sora 2, and it certainly feels unsettling.

Thinking with "Soukana": Separating Fact from Impression

When encountering information online, it is important to adopt a "Soukana" mindset.

• So (Soku-dan shinai): Do not jump to conclusions (do not make snap judgments)

• U (Unomi ni shinai): Do not take things at face value (separate facts from impressions)

In this case:

• Fact: A slanted composition (Dutch angle) was used in the NHK news report

• Impression: Did NHK intentionally stir up anxiety?

While it is appropriate to reserve judgment for now, it is a fact that composition and camera work can change impressions.

So, in this article, I will explain in an easy-to-understand way the "compositions and camera work that create a sense of instability" used in movies, dramas, and news footage.

🎬 8 Compositions and Camera Techniques That Create Instability

1. Dutch Angle (Tilted Composition)

Feature
A composition where the camera is tilted to the left or right, making the horizon diagonal. By breaking the horizontal line, it creates visual instability.

Psychological Effect

• Symbolizes the psychological turmoil, confusion, and anxiety of the characters

• Gives the audience a sense of tension or unease

• Expressing a sense of the extraordinary or abnormality, as if reality is distorted

Examples of use

• The Third Man (1949): Symbolizing the chaos of postwar society and the unstable psychology of the characters

• Thor: Creating the sense of wonder of an otherworldly realm

• Foreshadowing that 'something is about to happen' in horror films

2. Low Angle (Looking-up composition)

Characteristics
A composition where the camera is placed at a low position, shooting the subject from below.

Psychological effects

• Makes the subject appear intimidating, dominant, or powerful

• Makes the audience feel a sense of pressure or fear

• Emphasizes strength and a sense of victory in superhero works

Examples of use

• Shots looking up at enemies or figures of authority

• A majestic composition of a hero at the moment they stand up

3. High Angle (Looking-down composition)

Characteristics
Shooting the subject from a high position, looking down.

Psychological effects

• Makes the subject appear weak, lonely, or helpless

• Provides a bird's-eye or god's-eye view, as if detached from reality

Examples of use

• A shot looking down at a defeated person or an isolated child

• Scenes in dramas depicting despair or defeat

4. Close-up (Extreme zoom)

Characteristics
Filling the screen with a person's face, eyes, or hands.

Psychological effect

• Directly conveying the tension, fear, or agitation of a character

• Giving the audience a sense of suffocation or an overly close proximity

Usage examples

• Close-up of eyes in suspense

• Directing moments of emotional outbursts or terror

5. Unbalanced composition (Asymmetrical screen)

Characteristics
Placing the subject at the edge of the frame and intentionally leaving empty space.

Psychological effect

• Evoking anxiety or tension

• Creating a premonition that 'something is about to happen' in the empty space

Usage examples

• The 'calm before the storm' in quiet horror or suspense

• Creating a sense of unease within everyday life

6. Extreme perspective (Wide-angle/Fisheye lens)

Characteristics
Exaggerating space and extreme depth perception using ultra-wide or fisheye lenses.

Psychological effect

• Suggests reality is distorted, implying confusion, hallucinations, or madness

• Emphasizes the isolation of the subject or an abnormal situation

Examples of use

• Works depicting mental breakdown, such as 'Black Swan' and 'Requiem for a Dream'

• Artistic direction in music videos and similar media

7. Unstable Camera (Handheld Shooting)

Characteristics
Intentionally leaving shakes and blur by using a handheld camera.

Psychological effect

• Conveys the tension and raw feel of the scene

• Emphasizes anxiety, confusion, and agitation through unstable footage

Examples of use

• 'The Blair Witch Project', 'The Bourne Identity'

• Direction aiming for documentary-style realism

8. Oppressive Composition via Foreground (Expression of Confinement/Obstruction)

Characteristics
Placing pillars, shadows, or objects in the foreground while positioning the subject small in the background.

Psychological effect

• Creates the impression that the subject is trapped or cornered

• Makes the viewer feel unseen threats or suffocation due to the foreground obstruction

Examples of use

• A cut right before an enemy approaches in a thriller

• A scene using buildings or shadows to create a sense of unease

Summary: Let's improve our visual literacy

Composition and camera work in video production are not just techniques, but powerful tools that significantly influence the viewer's emotions and impressions.

The recent NHK news footage controversy teaches us something important. That is:

✅ There is always 'direction' in video
✅ A single composition can drastically change an impression
✅ That is why we need to cultivate a critical eye when watching video

From news, movies, and dramas to YouTube videos—every piece of footage contains the creator's intent.

From now on, instead of just watching videos, why not try viewing them while thinking, 'Why this composition?' and 'What is this camera work trying to convey?'?

By doing so, we should be able to become smarter viewers and more critical media consumers.

Reference: The composition analysis in this article was created using ChatGPT-5.