Cinematography
What Is Cinematography?
Cinematography refers to the process of capturing moving images. This means that it focuses on how a film is shot, and the role that the camera plays in regard to action being captured. When analysing cinematography, we can consider the aspects listed below. Click the images to learn more.
Key Points
Analysing Cinematography
Cinematography is a structural aspect of film. As such, we need look for harmony or dissonance between the content and camerawork.
Ask yourself:
1. What is the camera doing?
2. What is being filmed?
3. Is there harmony between these two things?
4. What is the effect of this harmony or disharmony?
How Do We Read Cinematography?
(Media Insider)
(Media Insider)
This is a good introduction to thinking about cinematography. As well as offering some examples of shots and analysis, it does a good job at reminding you that there isn't a definitive meaning between each type of shot. As with other authorial choices, meaning is dependent on the context ins which the choice occurs.
Click the image to follow access some extra material related to analysing cinematography. Use these resources to deepen your understanding of the different ways in which authors develop meaning in movies.