The Shot:

Cinematography

The Cinematographer’s Raw Materials

• Critical flicker fusion (phi phenomenon,

persistence of vision – 24 fps)

• Film stock, gauge, format – color vs. BW,

35mm, IMAX, etc.

• Frame – what’s viewable

• Shot – what’s captured by a run of the camera

• Exposure - filters & gels to manipulate light &

color

Film Stocks

Exposure, Filters

Areas of Cinematographic Control

1. Photographic aspects of the shot

2. Framing of the shot

3. Duration of the shot

Photographic Aspects of the Shot

Composition• Symmetry vs. asymmetry (rule of thirds)• Glass shot – shooting through painted glass• Superimposition – laying one shot over another• Projection composite work (rear, front) –

green-screen work• Matte composite work – high-tech copy/paste• Deep focus – several planes in sharp focus• Racking focus – pull focus from background to

foreground or vise versa

Symmetry, Asymmetry

Superimposition

Projection Composite Work

Matte Composite Work

Deep Focus, Racking Focus

Photographic Aspects of the Shot

Light and Color• Color timer or grader – person who

oversees color in development of film

• Contrast – relations between dark/light

• Tinting – dipping developed film into dye, colors light areas

• Toning – developing film in dye, colors dark areas

• Hand-coloring – painting individual elements within the frame

Tinting, Toning

Hand Coloring

Framing the Shot

The Effects of Framing

A. Size/shape of frame

B. Onscreen/offscreen space

C. Vantage point

D. Movement (mobile framing)

Framing the ShotA. Size/Shape of Frame

• Aspect ratio (Academy, widescreen, etc.)

• Depth of field (degree of focus available with the camera)

• Focal lengthWide angle (captures great width, distorts

edges)Normal (captures “normal” width, edges have

straight lines)Telephoto (captures great distance, flattens

planes)Zoom (focal length of lens varies)

Depth of Field/Degree of Focus

Wide Angle Shot

Telephoto Shot

Framing the ShotB. Onscreen/Offscreen Space

• Onscreen space

• Six zones of offscreen space:AboveBelowLeftRightIn frontBehind

Awareness of Offscreen Space

Framing the Shot C. Vantage Point: Distance of the Shot

• Seven gradations of camera distance:Extreme long shot - landscapeLong shot – full human figure, head to toeFull shot (medium-long or Plan Americain)

– human figure from the knees upMedium shot – human figure, waist upMedium close-up – shoulders upClose-up - faceExtreme close-up – single feature (e.g. eye)

Extreme Long Shot

Long Shot

Full Shot (Medium-Long, P.A.)

Medium Shot

Medium Close-Up

Close-Up

Extreme Close-Up

Framing the Shot C. Vantage Point: Angle of the Shot

• POV shot – camera “sees” exactly what the character sees

• Upward angle – camera is pivoted vertically on a horizontal axis to “look” up at its subject

• Head-on angle – camera “looks” neither up nor down at its subject

• Downward angle – camera is pivoted vertically on a horizontal axis to “look” down at its subject

• Canted angle – camera “leans” right or left to upset the horizon line

Upward Angle

Head-On Angle

Downward Angle

Canted Angle

Framing the ShotD. Movement or Mobile Framing

• Pan shot – camera moves horizontally on a vertical axis

• Tilt shot – camera moves vertically on a horizontal axis

• Crane shot – camera is mounted on a crane to shoot from high above the subject

• Tracking shot – camera is mounted on a moving vehicle that follows the subject

• Hand-held/Steadicam – maximum flexibility in the shot

Pan Shot(Hyperlink)

Tilt Shot(Hyperlink)

Tracking Shot(Hyperlink)

Crane Shot(Hyperlink)

Handheld/Steadicam(Hyperlink)

Duration of the ShotThe Properties of Time

A.The take

B.Speed of motion

C.Punctuation shots

Duration of the Shot

A. The Take

• Length of take – short, medium, long

• Sequence shot – a single, long take comprising multiple beats and camera movements

Sequence Shot(Hyperlink)

Duration of the ShotB. Speed of Motion

• Slow motion – shot at more fps than projected to slow down the movement

• High speed photography – shot at much more fps than projected to achieve an exaggerated slowdown

• Time lapse photography – shot at much fewer fps than projected to speed up the movement

• Ramping – alternating among slow, high and normal speeds

Slow Motion(Hyperlink)

High-Speed(Hyperlink)

Time Lapse(Hyperlink)

Ramping(Hyperlink)

Duration of the ShotC. Punctuation Shots

• Fade out – from shot to black

• Fade in – from black to shot

• Dissolve – Shot A fades in as Shot B fades out

• Freeze frame – film becomes still photo