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Cinematographer= also
known as Director of
Photography (DP)
Responsible for artistic
and technical decisions
related to images
captured on screen
In charge of camera
crews, lighting crews,
etc.
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Every shot the cinematographer makes must be
designed with the goals of cinematic
composition in mind.
Especially attendant to the Mise-en-Scene!
Sunset Boulevard - Billy Wilder (1950)
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Goal 1: Directing attention to the object of
greatest significance
Road to Perdition
– Sam Mendes
(2002)
American Beauty,
Revolutionary Road,
Skyfall
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Goal 2: Keeping the image in constant motion
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – Stephen Spielberg (2008)
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Goal 3: Creating an illusion of depth
Hugo –
Martin
Scorsese
(2011)
Taxi Driver,
Raging Bull,
Goodfellas,
Casino, The
Departed,
Shutter Island,
Gangs of New
York…
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Normally the eye is directed toward larger and
closer objects rather than smaller and distant
objects.
Foreground= closer to the camera, thus larger
Background= further from the camera, thus
smaller
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The eye is drawn to what it can see best
Sharp Focus= image that is clear
Soft Focus= image that is blurry
Pan’s Labyrinth
(2006 – Guillermo del Toro,
Hellboy)
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May overrule foreground/background rule
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Objects in motion draw the eye
A moving object can divert our attention from a
static one
Constant movement in the background may not
divert our attention from the still but more
Chariots ofobjects
Fire in the foreground
important
(1981 – Hugh Hudson)
Objects featured in extreme close-up give the
audience nothing else to see!
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There are no specific positioning formulas, but
a director will arrange people and objects in
relation to each other.
Possibilities:
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Symmetry
Pyramid
Balance
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Stanley Kubrick
2001, Dr. Strangelove, Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, A
Clockwork Orange
Reservoir Dogs (1992– Quentin Tarrantino)
The Hunger Games (2012) (Gary Ross)
Seabiscuit, Pleasantville
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Think of a picture frame.
Draws attention to the object of greatest
significance, the object being framed
May add symbolism
Used for focus, symbolism, emphasis, etc.
 Light versus Darkness
Establishes Contrast
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Schindler’s List (1993 – Spielberg)
Citizen Kane