Research-Cinematography Ms B

What is cinematogrpahy ?

Cinematography is looking at the way the shot is framed,the angle it is taken in and the movement of the camera. All these things give the audience a different representation of the characters and all the audience  to respond in different ways. Its history includes aesthetic elements, such as the way a set or location may be lighted to bolster the drama.

When looking cinematography there are three elements you look at;

-shot sizes 

Extreme long shot- Everything , persons whole body and surroundings. 

Long shot- whole body

Medium close up- shoulders and above

Mid shot- waist and upwards

Close-up - To show facial expressions

Extreme close up- showing things/someone in details

Examples



CU

-This image from the thriller insidious is a close up shot , they choice this close up shot to show the fear in this woman's face so the audience know that shes scared ,she looks like shes about to cry ,and looks confused , all this we can tell about her facial expression.



LS



-Images also from the thriller insidious is a long shot , this is to show the audiences the setting and by them just looking at the setting , they can tell a lot of whats happening or whats going to happen!

XCU

- This image is from the film psycho ,its extreme close up. To show the details of her mouth and the water drops, we can tell that's shes screaming from the shape of her mouth.

MS

Image is from the film scream,its a mid-shot. This is used to show her body language gesture also allowing the audience to see enough to whats happening in the scene. 

-Camera angles
 High angle

Low angle

.

Low angle

Low angle is used when a character is looking down on something / someone to give them a high status.

High angle

High angle is used to me make the character look unimportant giving them low status.

-camera movement
Panning shot-camera  moved across showing whats in view.

Tilt shot-camera moves up and down

Crane shot-Basically, dolly-shots-in-the-air.

Zoom- used when needed to see emotions or things in more detail

Point of view-when it looks like its from the person's vie to create tension and suspense.

Hand held - moving with the camera

Dolly shot -The camera is placed on a moving vehicle and moves alongside the action

Camera angle -insidious trailer

In the video there's a part where the little boy drops in the attic when his standing on the ladder is a low angle as the boy is short this shows that his brave as his just a little boy , gives him a high status , fearless. there's another high angle where the woman is directly looking at baby monitor.She heard some sort of sound also she looks frighten , you can tell this by her facial expression and her body gesture.

Camera Movements-insidious trailer

There's a lot of camera movements but most of them are zoomed in.Where the mum walks in to her sons room the camera zooms in to her face this tells the audience her facial expression , they can straight away see that she got that shocked scared look in her face. Another camera movement i saw was point of view , when the dad is sitting with his eyes closed  and the camera slowly zooms in straight on his face this adds a bit mysterious to it.

Conclusion

The research of the cinematography has helped me a lot because now i can start thinking about what shots sizes,camera angle and camera movements i would want to have on my thriller when it comes to planning it&making it. Also what i can start thinking about what effects my choice of shot sizes ,camera angles and camera movements will have  on the audience and why it might be so effected. My research has made it a lot easier for me, i know what my teacher will expect from watching my thriller.