1. Introduction to Film
Cinematography

2. Cinematography Cinematography: "writing in movement”
Everything that has to do with cameras and lenses, with film/film stock (and its digital equivalents), exposure and processing of film/digital images.

3. Cinematography Mise-en-scene Cinematography What is filmed Set Design
Color
Lighting
Actor’s Performances
Diegetic Sound
How it is filmed
Framing
Aspect Ratio
Film Stock
Camera Elements
Camera Angle
Camera Movement
Camera Position
Camera Lens
Exposure

4. Cinematography Other Issues Digital Cinematography
Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) has brought changes in Cinematography, which was traditionally based on chemical/photographic images and effects.
Visual Special Effects
Often done in post-production (esp. digital effects).
Lighting
Since it is part of “what is filmed,” it is often seen as part of a film’s mise-en-scene. However, the cinematographer has significant input into lighting decisions.
Framing
As with lighting, framing involves the director and cinematographer.

5. Framing Angle, level, and distance of framing each shot
Offscreen space versus onsceen space

6. Framing
Extreme Wide Shot
Very Wide Shot

7. Framing
Wide Shot
Mid Shot

8. Framing
Medium Close Up
Close Up

9. Framing
Extreme Close Up
Cut-In

10. Camera Angle
The angle between the camera and the subject.

11. Straight-on (Eye-level) angle

12. High-angle

13. Low-angle

14. Low-angle

15. Bird’s Eye

16. Point of View

17. The Lady in the Lake 1947 Detective film Shot entirely from main character's point of view

18. Slanted or Canted angle (Dutch tilt)

19. Slanted or Canted angle (Dutch tilt)

20. Slanted or Canted angle (Dutch tilt)

21. Height of Camera
Tokyo Story (1953) Yasujiro Ozu

22. Aspect Ratio Ratio of screen width to height
Classical Hollywood ratio (1.33:1)
Widescreen ratios (1.85:1, 2.35:1)
Video conversion
Pan-and-scan
Letterbox

23. Aspect Ratio Rules of the Game, Jean Renoir, 1939 1.33:1 (4 to 3)
Aliens, James Cameron, 1986
1.85:1
Rebel Without A Cause, Nicholas Ray, 1955
2.35:1 (Cinemascope)

24. Aspect Ratio Converting from film to TV. 2.2 to 1
Pan & Scan; 1.33 to 1

25. Film Stock Selection enables cinematographer to control:
Color reproduction
Light sensitivity
Contrast levels
Sharpness
Grain and resolution

26. Singin’ in the Rain Technicolor Film Stock

27. Film Stock Other Types Film stock deteriorates over time Kodachrome
Kinemacolor
Cinecolor
35mm
70mm
IMAX
Film stock deteriorates over time

28. 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.

29. Normal lens: 35-50mm

30. Camera Lens
Wide Angle
Short focal length (35 mm or less) which produces a wider angle of view
Effect: distorting straight lines, exaggerating depth

35. Camera 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.

40. Camera Lens
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.

44. Depth of Field
The range of distance within which objects can be photographed and remain in sharp focus.
Short focal length has greater depth of field.
Long focal length reduces depth of field.

51. Camera Movement Pan Tilt Dolly, tracking, or traveling shots
Rotates horizontally, side to side
Tilt
Vertical pivot, up and down
Dolly, tracking, or traveling shots
Crane (and boom or jib) shots
Hand-held and steadicam shots

59. Camera Movement
Dolly, Tracking, Traveling shots: all basically the same.
“Tracking shot” came from the “tracks” that dollies moved on.
Traveling shot is generally reserved for movements taken from a vehicle.

60. Camera Movement Boom/jib shots Crane shots
Camera mounted on counterweighted boom; some booms can also telescope in or out.
Can use for combinations of pans & tilts, horizontal, vertical or diagonal moves.
Crane shots
Shots look the same as boom shot, but often motorized or with hydraulics for movement.

61. Camera Movement Hand-held shots Steadicam Can pan or tilt or track
Hand-held movement is obviously “unsteady”--which is how we know it’s a hand-held shot.
Steadicam
A device which dampens unsteadiness, producing a relatively smooth movement, even when walking or running.
Steadicam first used in Rocky (1976)

62. Cinematography Putting it all together with story boarding.
Example: The Lord of the Rings
Andrew Lesnie Oscar for LOTR