Cinematography is the art of visual storytelling through camera work and lighting. It's all about how filmmakers use angles, movements, and composition to guide our emotions and attention. These techniques shape our perception of characters and scenes.

Camera angles and movements create mood and tension, while shot composition directs our focus. Lighting and color grading set the tone and atmosphere. Together, these elements craft the film's visual language, immersing us in its world.

Camera angles and viewer perception

Impact of camera angles on viewer perception

• High angle shots make the subject appear smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable (looking down on a character in a moment of defeat)
• Low angle shots make the subject appear larger, more powerful, or intimidating (a hero shot of a character standing tall and strong)
• Eye level shots create a sense of equality and neutrality between the subject and the viewer (a normal conversation between two characters)
• Dutch angle shots, where the camera is tilted to one side, create a sense of disorientation, unease, or instability (a scene in a horror movie where the world feels off-kilter)
• Point-of-view (POV) shots simulate the perspective of a character and create a sense of intimacy and identification with the character (seeing through the eyes of the protagonist as they explore a new environment)
• Over-the-shoulder shots, with the camera positioned behind a character's shoulder, create a sense of conversation and interaction between characters (a dialogue scene between two people)

Differentiating between camera angles

• Camera angles are the positioning of the camera in relation to the subject being filmed
• Each angle influences the viewer's perception and emotional response to the scene in a different way
• High angles make subjects feel small, low angles make them feel large, and eye level shots create neutrality
• Dutch angles create unease, POV shots create intimacy, and over-the-shoulder shots create a sense of interaction
• Combining and contrasting different camera angles can create complex emotional dynamics within a scene (a low angle shot of an antagonist towering over a high angle shot of a cowering protagonist)

Camera movements and cinematic impact

Effect of camera movements on pacing and tension

• The speed and direction of camera movements can affect the pacing and tension of a scene
• Faster movements often create a sense of urgency or excitement (a quick pan to follow a character running from danger)
• Slower movements create a sense of calm or contemplation (a slow zoom in on a character's face as they process emotional news)
• Handheld camera movements, without a stabilizing device, create a sense of immediacy, intimacy, or chaos (a frantic scene of a character running through a crowded city street)
• Steadicam shots, with the camera mounted on a stabilizing device worn by the operator, create smooth, fluid movements that follow characters through complex spaces (a long take following characters through an intricately designed set)

Camera movements and spatial relationships

• Panning is a horizontal camera movement that pivots left or right on a fixed axis and is often used to follow action or reveal new information in a scene (panning across a landscape to reveal a hidden character)
• Tilting is a vertical camera movement that pivots up or down on a fixed axis and is often used to reveal the full scope of a subject or emphasize its height (tilting up a tall building to emphasize its scale)
• Zooming changes the focal length of the lens to make the subject appear closer or farther away and is often used to draw attention to a specific detail or create a sense of depth (zooming in on a key object in a scene)
• Tracking or dolly shots move the camera along a fixed path and are often used to follow characters in motion or create a sense of exploration and discovery (following a character as they walk through a new environment)
• The combination of different camera movements can create complex spatial relationships and guide the viewer's attention through a scene (a tracking shot that follows a character into a room, then pans to reveal another character waiting for them)

Shot composition and narrative guidance

Guiding viewer attention through shot composition

• The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline that suggests placing key elements along imaginary lines that divide the frame into thirds horizontally and vertically (placing a character's eyes along the top third line to create a sense of balance and focus)
• Selective focus manipulates depth of field to draw attention to a specific subject or element and create a sense of hierarchy within the frame (blurring the background to focus on a key object in the foreground)
• The placement of subjects within the frame, including headroom (space above a character's head), lead room (space in front of a character's face), and noseroom (space in front of a character's nose in profile), affects the balance and dynamics of the composition (leaving more lead room in front of a character's face to suggest forward motion or intention)

Conveying narrative information through framing and depth

• Framing defines the boundaries of the image, including open and closed framing (a wide shot of a character in an open landscape versus a tight shot of a character in a cramped room), off-screen space (action or sound happening beyond the frame), and the relationship between the subject and the frame (a character trapped by the edges of the frame versus a character with room to move)
• Depth of field is the range of distance within the frame that appears in focus, with a shallow depth of field creating a blurred background (isolating a subject from their environment) and a deep depth of field keeping both foreground and background elements in focus (showing a subject in context with their surroundings)
• The use of foreground and background elements can create a sense of depth and space within the frame, as well as provide contextual information about the setting and characters (a shot of a character through a window frame, with the background visible behind them)

Lighting and color grading in cinematography

Creating visual mood with lighting techniques

• Three-point lighting is a standard setup that uses a key light (main source), fill light (softens shadows), and backlight (separates subject from background) to create depth and dimensionality in the subject's face
• High-key lighting uses bright, even illumination and minimal shadows to create a sense of happiness, optimism, or clarity (a romantic comedy scene in a brightly lit park)
• Low-key lighting uses strong contrasts between light and dark areas and pronounced shadows to create a sense of mystery, danger, or drama (a film noir scene in a dimly lit alley)
• Chiaroscuro lighting uses extreme contrasts between light and dark areas to create a sense of intensity, emotion, or psychological depth (a dramatic scene in a Renaissance painting-inspired film)
• Practical lighting uses visible light sources within the frame, such as lamps, candles, or windows, to create a sense of realism and motivation for the lighting (a scene in a dimly lit room with a single lamp illuminating the characters)

Manipulating color for emotional effect

• Color temperature refers to the warmth or coolness of the light and can affect the emotional tone of a scene
• Warmer colors often create a sense of intimacy or comfort (a cozy scene in a candlelit room)
• Cooler colors create a sense of isolation or detachment (a lonely character in a blue-tinted room)
• Color grading is the process of digitally manipulating the colors in an image during post-production to enhance or alter the visual mood of a scene and create a specific aesthetic or stylistic effect
• Desaturating colors can create a sense of bleakness or emptiness (a post-apocalyptic landscape), while saturating colors can create a sense of vibrancy or intensity (a fantastical world filled with bright hues)
• Tinting a scene with a specific color can evoke a particular emotion or atmosphere (a green tint for a sickly or envious mood, a red tint for passion or danger)