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Cinematography Techniques

Cinematography, which refers to motion picture photography and the methods used within it, is a diverse and complex subject that is difficult to summarize: entire books have been written about cinematography. Although the subject is complex, any filmmaker and filmgoer should know a few cinematography basics know in order to better understand cinematography techniques.
  1. Shots Within the Field of View

    • A shot refers to how the subject or the character is framed within the field of view: the possible area of the camera shot. Filmmakers use different kinds of shots for different effects. An extreme long shot establishes a setting and puts any people or central figures as a small part of the larger scene. A long shot shows the full bodies of characters and can indicate activity and action among characters. A medium shot focuses on a few characters, but does not show the entire body, while a close-up generally focuses on faces.

    Transitions

    • When moving from scene to scene -- a scene referring to a related sequence of shots -- filmmakers often integrate some kind of transition to indicate that the film is moving to a new setting or series of events. A straight cut is an abrupt change in scene, though the filmmaker might choose to use a particular person or object to focus on when changing scenes to create some continuity. Filmmakers also use fading to indicate the change to a a new scene.

    Camera Angle

    • The camera angle refers to where the camera is placed in relation to the subjects. For example, an eye-level camera generally appears to be "natural" to viewers, since viewers see the world at eye level, while a shot from above or below the characters might imply a point of view from the ground or sky. The camera angle can also indicate whose point of view the camera is in. For example, if the camera has established that a character is hiding in a sewer grate below the action, a camera shot from below might indicate that you are seeing through that character's eyes.

    Camera Moves

    • Filmmakers must consider how to move the camera from shot to shot when thinking about cinematography. Panning is a common technique in which a stationary camera turns to capture a character in movement. A tracking shot similarly attempts to catch subjects in motion, but the camera is actually in movement to keep up with a subject. A crane or boom shot moves vertically -- as though the camera were moving on an actual crane -- and moves above or below the scene's action.

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