CinematographyCinematographyThe manipulations of the film strip by the camera in the shooting phase and by the

laboratory in the developing phase.

What is involved?

Photographic aspects of the shot

Framing of the shot

Duration of the shot

• "writing in the movement”• the Cinematographer/ Director of

Photography is responsible the images we see on film

• manage and orchestrate the entire camera and lighting crew

• Traditionally - cinematography = film stock• Modern - cinematography = video and

computer modification

Photographic Aspects of Cinematography

• Film Stock: – Fast v slow film

– Black and White v. Color

• Exposure• Developing/printing • Speed of motion: Slow-motion, fast-motion

• Decisions made by the cinematographer affect the entire “look” of the film.

• Decisions are similar to that of a photographer

• controls the film itself, the lensing, aperture, exposure, focus and the distance of the shot.

• Cinematography is temporal whereas photography is captured in the still image.

• Where a photographer works on his/her own a cinematographer works with a team

• Even the director

Film Stock & The Cinematographer

• overall artistic effect of the movie

• Decisions made through the film.

• Pre-production - selection of film stock

• Film stock can adversely affect how your intended film looks.

Technicolour = rich & strong colours

Singin’ in the Rain- Technicolor film stock

Slower/Low speedSlower/Low speed • not as sensitive to light • Starker and more "contrasty" blacks and

whites with little range of grays in between. • On the other hand, a faster (or high-speed)

film stock will decrease contrast, giving a wider range of grays.

• Fast films are also grainier compared with slower ones.

The Camera Lens

• Focal Length: the distance from the center of the lens to the point at which the light rays meet in sharp focus. This length determines perspective relations and depth cues on the flat screen surface.

Normal lens: 35-50mm, presuming 35mm camera

Wide Angle: short focal length ( 35 mm or less) which produces a wider angle of view.

Effect: distorting straight lines, exaggerating depth

Wide-Angle Lens

Telephoto Lens: lens with a long focal length (75mm or more).Effect: collapse depth cues by enlarging distant planes and making

them seem close to the foreground planes.

Zoom lens

• Lens with a focal length that can be changed during a shot. – Shift to telephoto range magnifies the image

and flattens the space– Shift to wide-angle increases depth cues and

demagnifies the background.

Retro-zoom

• Tracking back and zooming in,or

• Tracking in and zooming out

• CLIP: Punch-Drunk Love (P.T. Anderson, 2002)

FRAMING

*aspect ratios

*offscreen space /onsceen spaces

* angle, level, height, distance of framing

* Mobile Framing

Depth of Field

• range of distance within which objects can be photographed and remain in sharp focus. – Shot focal length: greater depth of field– Long focal length, reduces depth of field.

Size of Shot

• The use of different shot sizes can influence the meaning which an audience will interpret.

• The size of the subject in frame depends on two things: the distance the camera is away from the subject and the focal length of the camera lens.

• Choice of shot size is also directly related to the size of the final display screen the audience will see.

Common shot sizes:• Extreme close-up: Focuses on a single facial feature, such

as lips and eyes. • Close-up: May be used to show tension. • Medium shot: Often used, but considered bad practice by

many directors, as it often denies setting establishment and is generally less effective than the Close-up.

• Long shot has much more dramatic power on a large theater screen, whereas the same shot would be powerless on a small TV or computer screen.

• Establishing shot: Mainly used at a new location to give the audience a sense of locality.

Extreme Long Shot (ELS)

Long shot, LS

Medium Long Shot (MLS) “plan américain”

Medium Shot (MS)

Close-up (CU)

Extreme Close-up (ECU)

TYPES OF ANGLES• Aerial shot • American shot • Bird's eye shot • Close up • Crane shot • Dolly zoom • Dutch angle • Establishing shot • Follow shot • Forced perspective • Freeze frame shot • High-angle shot • Long shot • Long take

• Low-angle shot • Master shot • Matte • Medium shot • Pan shot • Point of view shot • Reaction shot • Sequence shot • Shot • Shot reverse shot • SnorriCam • Tilt (camera) • Talking head • Tracking shot • Trunk shot • Two Shot • Video frame

Straight-on angle

High-angle

Low-angle

• Pan: camera is set on the tripod turning left or right. On the screen, the camera appears to scan the space horizontally.

• Tilt: camera is fixed on a tripod swivels up or down. This movement produces a vertical scan.

Lighting technique and aesthetics

• Light is necessary to create an image exposure on a frame of film or on a digital target (CCD, etc.). The art of lighting for cinematography goes far beyond basic exposure, however, into the essence of visual storytelling. Lighting contributes considerably to the emotional response an audience has watching a motion picture.

http://www.5min.com/Video/Video-Production-Lighting-To-Create-Emotion-82991777