Reading Week

'Cinematography: theory and practice: image-making for cinematographers and directors.' - Language of the lens

-Lenses are one of the most important aspects of filmmaking for presenting important information and visuals in storytelling. The four aspects include; perspective, compression or expansion, soft/hard, and focus.

-Wide lenses change the composition and relationships in a shot by expanding what we see. -Typically used for establishing shots.

-These frames contribute to the overall cinematic technique (meaning/emotion/context layers in shots).

-Shot composition, the most predominant aspect of the video is chiefly built with the foreground, middle ground and background in mind.

-Lenses change the viewers' perspective drastically, each specific type is chosen with an effect/ feeling in mind. Typically a 50mm is seen as the most common 'normal lense' however. our typical vision is better represented with a 40mm.

-Wider lenses exaggerate the depth and perception of any movement. Often, filmmakers purposely use this object-shrinking lens to provide viewers with a sense of presence in the shot.

-By distorting these lenses directors are able to provide a psychological effect. This is seen in Citizen Kane frequently as he appears to loom in the foreground like a giant whilst dominating the others in the scene- reflective of his powerful position and controlling personality. His alienation is further emphasised through his separation from other characters due to the exaggerated distance in between.

Compression of space

-Telephoto lenses do the opposite of the above as they compress space and de-emphasise any movements towards or away from the camera. This perception can create a claustrophobic atmosphere which has less depth of field but tighten action and movement nearby. In today's films, we typically see this during stunts and fights making them feel more dangerous and dramatic through the uncomfortable vision.

-Lenses can have more aesthetic uses too, many long lenses are known to make makes more attractive and are typically seen in photoshoots to accentuate the beauty of the subject.

Focus

-Focus also aids in shifting the depth of field with it often happening during shots to leave viewers' attention on specific parts of the frame.

-The idea of blurring out elements in a frame never took off until the 80s after becoming popularised by fashion photographers, everything was considered to be important and in focus until the sixties. Most of these artistic decisions can also be argued to have taken off after technological developments with cameras getting progressively smaller and easier to move and control.

Angles

-Combinations of height and angles work together to make clear statements and ideas.

-Softer images are more common in modern lenses, again due to the consideration of beauty with less sharpness. These smoother pictures can translate to have a more romantic and dreamlike effect with a more apparent and considerable depth.

-Straight-on, eye-level shots are usually seen as born and avoided as a variation creates unique undertones for each character:

High angles are typically used to dominate a subject and make them appear less important or powerful. On the other hand, low-angle makes subjects more foreboding and ominous, visually letting viewers understand a character's position.

Dutch angles (uneven tilt of the camera) are avoided unless needed for a specific uncanny or mysterious purpose.

Finally, as Hitchock established, suspense is best served by letting the audience know what is going to happen in order to engage and suspend them for longer. The 'cheap shocks' do not play as effective especially when they are over so suddenly.

Short Film

https://vimeo.com/747342718

After watching, I found out I didn't enjoy the story as much as I originally expected to however, I loved the mix of the animation and real-life footage working together to develop the story. This I something I would definitely try out in future projects of mine. The lighting also was done shockingly professionally considering the dull atmosphere it was shot in.