Cinematography

One Point Perspective: when all horizontal lines, if you were to extend them they would come to a point usually in the centre of the frame. (Source: https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/stanley-kubrick-one-point-perspactive/#:~:text=A%20one%2Dpoint%20perspective%20shot,track%20disappearing%20in%20the%20distance.)

Stanley Kubrick & One-Point Perspactive | Student Resources
(The Shining – Stanley Kubrick)

Symmetry: the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis (Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=symmetry+definition+&safe=active&bih=937&biw=1920&rlz=1C1GCEA_enJE970JE970&hl=en&sxsrf=AOaemvLIXSgqhoYKxRnN8GfcBSN3bkD0ZA%3A1633510454267&ei=NmRdYYrUD9SD8gL3loC4DQ&ved=0ahUKEwiKx_PStLXzAhXUg)

Exploring the wonderful symmetry of Wes Anderson's films
(Moonrise Kingdom – Wes Anderson)

Deep Focus: In filmmaking, deep focus refers to a technique where all elements of an image—foreground, middle ground, and background—are all in sharp focus. (Source:https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-a-deep-focus-shot-when-making-a-film#:~:text=In%20filmmaking%2C%20deep%20focus%20refers,imbue%20their%20shots%20with%20detail.)

Deep Focus | The Film Guide
(Citizen Kane – Orson Welles)

Steadicam: A Steadicam is a camera stabilizing system used to capture tracking shots with motion picture cameras. It isolates the camera operator’s movement and makes the shot look smooth and controlled, capturing the action without any wobbles. (Source: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-exactly-is-a-steadicam-understanding-the-groundbreaking-camera-stabilizer-that-changed-hollywood)

FSLC announces Going Steadi: 40 Years of Steadicam, December 16 – January 3  | Film at Lincoln Center
(The Shining – Stanley Kubrick)

Cinematography, techniques.

One Point Perspective:

One point perspective is the horizon of the shot and how it directs the viewers attention using the horizon and framing. An example of this would be a famous shot from The Shining(1980, Kubrick) He used One point perspective in a scene where a tracking steadicam shot follows Danny through the house and he eventually runs into the Grady twins at the end of a corridor, this narrow corridor creates a very vivid framing for the scene which acts as a guide for the viewers attention, this guide directs the observers attention towards the Grady twins and because of the One Point perspective the viewer is almost forced to keep looking at the twins almost as if there is no where else for them to look. This scene can be seen to imply a sense of no escape, as if the family is trapped in this house for the winter and the ‘Exit’ sign on the right side of the shot creates a sense of irony while also hinting to the idea of the family being trapped.

The Shining(1980, Kubrick)

Symmetry:

Symmetry is a technique which makes a shot seem unnatural, it reduces the verisimilitude within the narrative. But a shot which uses symmetry can be visually stunning and done right can attract the viewers attention more and get the observer more interested in the film. A symmetrical shot can be used to imply an idea, such as a mundane routine, A director/cinematographer could use symmetry to emphasise the idea and concept of a mundane routine which a character may follow. Furthermore, another example of where a film COULD use symmetry is if a character is lost, whether that be a maze or not, a good example of this is scene in The Shining(1980, Kubrick)

Deep Focus:

Deep focus is where everything in the shot is in focus, the background, foreground e.tc. In Citizen Kane(1941, Orson Welles) deep focus is used to display to the viewer all the context and information about the argument/discussion that they’re having. To further explain- the parents are the closest and therefore the biggest in the shot, this is because they have the most power in this situation since they’re arguing about their son. The other person, who’s trying to persuade the parents to sign over their son is further from the camera than the parents because he has less control/power in the situation. In the far background, through the window in shot, the boy is playing outside in the snow – this would make him the furthest from the camera and this has obviously been done to convey the message that the boy is oblivious to what’s happening inside.

What is Deep Depth of Field? (Definition & Examples)
Citizen Kane(1941, Orson Welles)

Steadicam Tracking:

Steadicam tracking is when a cameraman uses a steadicam while tracking the character or object. This is commonly used when the camera is following a characters who’s running away from something, and this can be seen to convey the message that the thing that’s chasing them(if anything chasing them) is getting closer, this technique builds huge suspense, tension and anxiety for the viewers especially in horror films where that’s the goal. In The Shining(1980, Kubrick) this was used brilliantly is one of the ending scenes where Danny is running away from Jack in a maze, The tracking shot is accompanied with a eye-level shot from behind Danny, which creates more tension on top of the tracking shot because is could emphasise to the viewer that Danny is only a small kid, which would create more sympathy/empathy within the viewer for Danny.

Photographing Stanley Kubrick's The Shining - The American Society of  Cinematographers

Cinematography Technique Examples

One Point Perspective – All focus goes to one vanishing point on the horizon. The easiest example to visualise would be a corridor.

The 10 Best Shots of Roger Deakins' Career — World of Reel

Symmetry – The set reflects itself along the centre axis which the camera is aligned on as if through a mirror.

تويتر \ Lost In Film على تويتر: "Symmetry. 'There Will Be Blood' (2007,  Paul Thomas Anderson). Cinematography: Robert Elswit.  https://t.co/kTzI6A1JSC"

Deep Focus – The focus is on the foreground, midground and background.

Deep Focus - Citizen Kane - YouTube

Steadicam Tracking Shots – The camera tracks a character or object through a scene but the camera is suspended between axes such that the movement of the camera is independent of the stabilizer or cinematographer

What is a Steadicam Shot & How Did it Change Cinema?

Cinematography masterclass

One point perspective:

The art of crafting shots in film with complete or near symmetry. The technique is used to build tension or represent a characters mental/emotional state state. The composition of these shots draws the viewer to a specific focal point within the frame (i.e, the centre).

Stanley Kubrick & One-Point Perspactive | Student Resources

Symmetry:

Symmetry is the organised composition in where the material/environment/subject is mirrored within the frame. The shot is meant to make the audience feel as if they are being dragged into the shot itself.

The Art of Perspective and Symmetry in Cinematography

Deep focus:

Deep focus refers to a technique where all elements of an image- foreground, middleground, and background- are all in sharp focus.

Steadicam tracking shots:

Shots where the camera follows a subject forward or alongside the subject. The camera is mounted onto a dolly and placed onto rails.

cinematography definitions

One Point Perspective- the craft of shots with some form of symmetry. Also the main focus is placed in the middle.

Filmmaker's Handbook: What is one-point perspective? | Watch | The Take
main focus is at the centre

Symmetry- Balanced proportions. Usually used to refer to an object that is invariant under some transformations; including translation, reflection, rotation or scaling. (WIKIPEDIA)

Three different type of symmetry in organisms from left to right:... |  Download Scientific Diagram
concept of symmetry

Deep Focus- Deep focus is a style or technique of cinematography and staging with great depth of field. A deep-focus shot includes foreground, middle-ground, and extreme-background objects, all in focus. (COLUMBIA FILM LANGUAGE GLOSSERY)

Manu on Twitter: "Hitchcock and cinematographer George Barnes used Deep  Focus Photography in Rebecca. And this is one of the few films to use Deep  Focus Photography before Citizen Kane.… https://t.co/DhdtDvV3Ln"
focuses on the room outside of the room.

Steady cam tracking shots- When the camera is either handheld or on a track and follows the character or moves around the scene backwards/forwards/side to side.

How to Utilize Dynamic Tracking Shots
The Shining

Kubrick Cinematography

One Point Perspective- One-point perspective is a way of crafting cinematic shots with near-perfect symmetry. The composition of these shots draws the viewer’s eye to a specific focal point within the frame, absorbing them into the dimension of the shot and manipulating the experience by telling them exactly where to look

Stanley Kubrick & One-Point Perspactive | Student Resources

Symmetry- Symmetry refers to material being organized in such a way that it conveys a sense of unity through the repetition of one or more elements.

Fall Movies 2019: Here's What's Coming Soon to Theaters - The New York Times

Deep Focus -In filmmaking, deep focus refers to a technique where all elements of an image—foreground, middleground, and background—are all in sharp focus.

What is Deep Depth of Field? (Definition & Examples)

Steadicam Tracking Shots- In cinematography, a tracking shot is any shot in which the camera physically moves sideways, forward, or backward through the scene. Tracking shots usually last longer than other shots, follow one or more moving subjects, and immerse the audience in a particular setting

How to Utilize Dynamic Tracking Shots

Shot Distances, Examples In Film.

Extreme Close-Up (XCU)

In Kill Bill: Vol 1(2003, Tarantino) an XCU is used to convey The Bride’s thought process in a crucial fight scene… As enemies are flooding through the exits and entrances, she analyses all of them before they are all ready to fight. Using the XCU in this situation could also be seen to emphasise the tension and sense of urgency in this scene, giving that message to the observer can make it much easier for the observer to emphasise with The Bride or put themselves in The Brides situation, whether that be hypothetically or not.

Kill Bill: Vol 1

Establishing Shot (XLS):

In Bladerunner 2049(2017, Denis Villeneuve) An establishing shot (also known as an extreme long shot) is used at the start of the movie to establish the scenery and the setting of the movie or at least the setting of the majority of the movie, This shot is very large and contains no characters just scenery, this can be seen to help the verisimilitude towards the viewer as seeing this fiction, dystopian world would be hard to see as real and will there for make the movie worse for the observer since they probably won’t be fully invested into the story because they don’t yet believe this world and its construct.

Bladerunner 2049

Bladerunner 2049

Medium Close-up(MCU):

In Avengers: Endgame (2019, Anthony and Joe Russo) a MCU shot is used as the past Thanos believes he still has the stones and is about to snap his fingers in order to wipe all life from the universe in the timeline(present) the movie is set in, but is unaware that Tony Stark swiftly stole the stones as he acted out he was just trying to take the gauntlet. So the MCU is used to see a few of Thanos’ emotions, him being complacent as he’s about to ssnap and snapping, his initial turmoil as he realises he isn’t feeling any pain and there has been no affect on the surroundings yet and of course the surprise when he realises what Stark actually did. this technique is also used as a tension builder to indicate to the audience that something huge is about to happen, there are left uncertain on whether it’s going to be good for the avengers or bad but there anticipation rises quickly.

Diegesis examples

Diegetic- The audience is being presented certain information chosen by the director.

Still blown away by Spirited Away | Financial Times
Spirited Away (2001)

Intra-diegetic- the audience is placed in the world as a character and seeing things from their point of view.

Blair Witch Project : Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, Joshua Leonard,  Joshua Leonard, Bob Griffith, Jim King, Daniel Myrick: Amazon.de: Prime  Video
The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Extra-diegetic- the audience is directly addressed by, breaking the fourth wall.

How Movies Break The Fourth Wall And Why They Do It
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Camera angles

Low Angle- A low angle shot is used to show the subject/character as powerful.

Breaking Down Quentin Tarantino's Iconic Trunk Shot

Eye Level- An eye level shot is just at the same level as the characters eye.

Camera Angles and Music/Sound Flashcards | Quizlet

Dutch angle shots- A Dutch angle shot is used to make the scene fell uneasy/distorted and unsettling.

Inception

Shot type table

Name of Shot (Abbreviation)Description of Shot in Relation to SubjectUse in Storytelling 
Extreme Close-up ( ECU ) Part of the face e.g. eyes takes up the frameGets inside the head of a character
Close up (CU)Whole face takes up the frameReveals character’s emotional state
Medium Close- up (MCU)Head and Shoulders in frameAllows the audience to see characters face and body. It shows there emotional state and their behavior. It also show the background and setting
Low Angle Shot (LA)/ High Angle Shot (HA)Low angle: looking up at someone/something High angle: Looking down at something/someoneLow angle: Show the character as powerful High angle: Shows the character as weak and vulnerable
Extreme Long Shot (ELS ) Only scenery visible can’t make out individual peopleUsed as an establishing shot
Medium Shot (MS)One or two subjects in frame from waist height sometimes taken from “over the shoulder” of one of the characters (OSS)Often used as a Master Shot/ Two Shot/Shot-Reverse for conversations
Pan/ TiltPan – the camera only moves horizontally (left/right) Tilt – the camera on moves vertical (up/downMimics a static character looking round a scene
Track (on a dolly, Steadicam or handheld)Camera follows a subject by moving along with themUsed to make the audience fell as if they are following the character