Example Of Cinematography Essay

The art or the science of taking moving pictures by electromagnetic through materials such as film stock. It is the act of capturing objects in space by the use of controllable elements including the quality of fill stock, manipulating the camera lens, the framing scale and the movement. Duration may also be included in cinematography; the length of time taken to make a shot. Cinematography therefore is the functioning of the camera lens and the light source, length of the lens, the positioning of the camera and its capacity in relation.
Simon van Stamfer in 1830 contributed in cinematography development by capturing the images of disks and revolving drums in Austria. A Briton William Horner and Joseph Plateau from Belgium also attempted cinematography around this period. A patented machine by William Lincoln also showed animated images which he called the wheel of life. Through a slit, people viewed images and drawings using zoopraxiscope. In 1873 Eadweard Muybridge successfully took photos of a fast moving horse using the24 stereoscopic cameras. These are the developments that continued to increase after 1830. The cameras were positioned along a track parallel to the horse while the shutter of each camera was controlled by a tripwire that was triggered the hooves of a horse. This was the first attempt towards the motion pictures.
Camera angles affect how we perceive a film. The angle can be eyelevel, low, Dutch tilt or high. The low level angle capture images by placing the camera below the actor’s eyes looking up at the camera. The low angle makes the actors to appear dominant, aggressive and ominous.
The high angle makes to actor to appear submissive, weak and frightened. They are taken by placing the camera above the actor and positioned to look down.
The Dutch tilt is also called the canted angle. In this angle, the camera leans sideways, changing the horizon into a slope. The horizontal and the vertical lines change in this view into diagonals creating a more dynamic composition. The Dutch tilt is rare view but it disorients and disturbs the viewer
Camera distances are divided into two: the extreme long shot and the wide long shot. In the extreme long shot, the images are taken from a great distance and it shows the location pretty well. This view is used to show the expansiveness of the location
In the wide long shot, the focus is so much on the subjects and the surrounding is also clear. This shot is useful in a number of ways. To emphasize the size of an object in relation to the location environment that it is in that is how big or how small. And to enhance a humorous situation explaining that the viewer cannot get close to the subject or actor in the film.
The difference between movies and plays is that the filmmakers and directors try manipulating the view in which the audience gets it in the field. Unlike in films, the plays always use a long shot and are so observant of the whole actors and the stage too. On the other hand the cinema filmmakers always strive in enabling the audience to see how and why something happened the way it did. For instance, a long shot can show the peak of a very tall mountain like Mount Everest, an extreme close-up just shows the view of a child mourning their deceased mother.
The long shots are used to put emphasis on the location or scene of the actor for instance, sweeping land or a city or a family at a table eating dinner recorded in their living room.
The film All about My Mother, talks about Manuela a single hardworking mother. Her son is called Esteban. During Esteban’s 17th birthday he and his mother go to a film theater after watching it he gets the main actress’ autograph. In his attempt to get this autograph Esteban is run down on the street and dies. Manuela goes to Barcelona to tell his father Lola about this death and he does not find him.
The producer of this movie Almodovar is very adventurous. He is so prolific in his production. In this film for instance he manages to use a wide shot at the place where Estaban is being run down in order to have an autograph of the actress. Here we can see the clear view of Estaban and the surrounding. Though a sad capture, we enjoy the visibility of this material. He is also stylish in covering scenes such as the Cecilia Raths performance simple and great. The angle of taking these images depicts his calibrerity.
The film “Looking for Langston,” was produced in Britain in 1989. The director of the film was Isaac Julien. Isaac Julien in his work combined the Harlem’s newsreel footage. The scenes are scripted producing an impressionistic and non- linear plot. The storyline is celebrating the Identity of gays during the era of Harlem Renaissance.
In the 42 minute film, the director manages to make great camera shots and angles. Isaac Julien manages to capture a deep focus in the episodes on the frames. The foreground, middle and backgrounds are in good focus. The extended depth of this example gives the frame a 3- dimensional quality showing multiple locations at once. This allows the film maker to demonstrate the vastness of the location. Julien has managed to get the deep focus due to technological advancement and merging it with the film production.
The space representation affects the reading of a film. The proximity, depth, size and proportions are able to be manipulated through camera placement. Sequentially, it determines the effectiveness of mood and relationship between these elements.
The décor is an important element in putting in the scene. The décor placement is used to enhance the emotion of the characters and their mood. For instance, the low coloring and the furniture used in the film stresses the sterility and impersonality of the environment.
In all about my mother, the décor emphasizes the difference in society of Manuel’s life and the wealthy people around her. She finds the sons admiration for a wealth and luxurious life ruining after her son’s death. By speeding up the projected images, and changing of the camera angle as in when Rosa asks for a taxi to stop. Rosa dies when giving birth and at her funeral Manuela reunites with Lola reveals a rear danger. It is therefore useful to stunts for aesthetic and economic reasons.
The lighting intensity and its quality have a great impact in the way the coloring is done in hue and depth. This helps to give attention to specific elements in the film. Good lighting relies on the three point lighting where as other genres rely on natural light from the sun. In the for example the whole film is in black and white. This is a fantasy like recreation of gay men. The archived footage and photographs go in line with the story. When the mourners are gathering around the coffin, in the lower ground of the building with men dancing is focused on by the camera.
The role of lighting in cinematography is important (Bournival, Karakashev & Jameson 51). Lighting affects how a scene is captured on film or video in a number of different ways. The director of filming on a production works with both camera operators and the lighting crew to ensure an overall unity in vision is achieved. Lighting works in a number of different ways, usually reinforcing the action of a scene by demonstrating what is valuable and what does not have any impact. Notably, there are several ways lighting can be used to reinforce the narrative i.e. by visually reinforcing and strengthening the emotions in a film scene.
Binita et al. (90) notes that lighting in cinematography represents the use of a number lights on a location or set of locations ones captured in a film. Keating (12) also notes that even as lighting is done by a crew during production, it is the responsibility of the director of photography to guide the camera crew. The oversight allows the director to oversee lighting and ensure that it corresponds with the entire scene to be filmed. Arguably, lighting is fundamental to the feel of the film and the entire appearance on the screen.
Cinematography is like photographing a movie by using similar art aspects when filming and photographing although you just capture moving. The lighting, focal point, focus, mood, camera placement, tone, depth of field, color, and movement are all very key elements in film making. Therefore cinematography is the beauty of a motion picture film and what you see with your eyes (Binita et al. 90). A good done cinematography makes the audience to love the film and desire to see it again
Cinematography is important in that it can prove that an event actually happened for example landing of the moon. Cinematography also enables people to keep memories in film and you can wish to watch it again if the producer did an excellent job in production. With such great capturing people are able to know and see things that they cannot see ordinarily. You get to learn about the environment of other people in the films.

Works Cited

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