Cinematography 101

Visual Storytelling

In past times the usual way to tell a story was to sing, scribe, or write it. Nowadays, it's through images like film or video commonly referred to as cinematography. 

Cinematography focuses on techniques like the general composition of a scene; the lighting of the set or location; the choice of cameras, lenses, filters, and film stock; the camera angle and movements; and the integration of any special effects. 

What is Cinematography?

A film or video is actually made up of a series of still images—called frames—usually captured and played back so fast that we perceive it as one continuous moving image. The frame is defined by the field of view. The settings on the camera and its lens determine this field of view. Later, you present your piece back to the audience within a different frame, the screen. Cinematography is the science and art of capturing those moving images and playing them back within the frame.

You can be subtle or cryptic to your heart’s content. If it didn’t take place within that frame, then as far as the viewer is concerned, it never happened.

Cinematography Motion

Every frame should have a purpose.Think to yourself: what do I want to convey in this frame and how will I get the audience to understand what I am portraying? When all the information is provided in the frame that's when the next shot happens. 

Visualization through the visionary

Director of Photography(DP) or cinematographer is in between the director's creative vision and the producer's technical side of production. Composition refers to the director and DP organizing the things in the shot and the different camera angles that will be used to best capture the details and mood. Examples like low angles make people seem powerful while high makes people look small or weak.

Other techniques like camera movement, which changes the shot based on the altering of the camera and drone photography which allows the frame to be shot in larger spaces and  gives full view of action. 

When shooting, think what would an editor need to do to get the story up and ready which dictates where and how the director and DP will be shooting.

Cinematography and Technology

The DP has to come up with solutions to deal with the limits of equipment.

Lighting- Using light sources in order to see the action, assist in defining the location, and enhancing mood. Use white balance to view true white and help with different colors in frame.

Depth of Field- Achieves a certain look or effect by changing the focus. 

Exposure and focal length- Exposure decides how much light enters the lens and focal length is the distance needed for the subject so the pictures will appear sharp and clear.

File Formats- The type of data file and storage system that stores in equipment the recordings and data.

Art and Technology

Playing with time- Example would be slow motion which adds more frames to normal speed content. Gives the audience time to focus on the detail of the shot. Another example is timelapse which is a series of single still images at set intervals being played at absolute speed. 

Special Effects- Mainly used is green screen allowing a different background to be placed in the shot. 

It Takes A Village

Artistic and technical aspects must be evaluated and supported by hardware and software. This helps with the preview of the production

From Design to Implementation

Strict should include the usual dialog, names, locations, and necessary action but also convey the mood. Once the script is complete, each scene is put on a storyboard. Storyboard is a final product before anything has been filmed. The director and DP will have a checklist of every shot and maxed budget and time to see which equipment is necessary for production. Basically the holy grail and maintained so nothing is forgotten. 

Thinking like a Cinematographer 

Understand the technical and artistic process involved, foresee the final product within the mind, and know the equipment meant to achieve this product. Observe movies and television and why they shot their frames the way they did.