Cinematography

Cinematography by definition is described as ‘The art or technique of movie photography, including both the shooting and development of the film.’

Shot SizeThe shot size is how big the shot is taken from the camera and the different sized shots have been used specifically for an effect on whatever is trying to be conveyed. Shot size can vary greatly from extreme close-ups to extreme long shots, with possibly miles difference in what you can see in the shot.

Extreme long shot (establishing shot) – this type of shot size gives the viewer a full perspective of a place or event showing everything. Tends to be of a certain location or of buildings and can sometimes set the scene.[see picture 1]
Medium Shot – this type of shot will show a subject or actor and its setting take-up roughly equal spaces in the frame. Typically, the lower frame of a shot passes through the actor’s waist. This allows hand gestures to be seen but also some of the setting behind or in front of them.[see picture 2] 

Extreme Close-up – this type of shot focuses on what particular feature, usually on someone’s face like eyes, ears and lips, but sometimes can be of something else to draw attention and give clear detail to an object. Often this shot is used to show a characters emotion.[see picture 3] 

Camera AngleFor a low angle camera shot the camera will be placed near or actually on the floor (worms eye) looking up at the subject. The effect this gives is that whatever the camera is looking at is high and mighty, and quite superior. A low angled shot indicates a sense of power and authority or that the subject is untouchable.[see picture 4] 

Opposing to this type of shot there is a high angled shot which looks down on the subject suggesting its inferiority and it also connotes that the subject is weak and fragile. The camera will be placed slightly above or directly over the shot (birds’ eye view).[see picture 5] 

MovementPedding – pedding is where the camera will move up and down the subject or actor and it is not to be confused with tilting. This sometimes is done in film to introduce a character showing possibly how they dress, and their mannerisms.

Panning - panning refers to the horizontal movement or rotation of a still or video camera, or the scanning of a subject horizontally on video or a display device. This shot is done to show a subject from different sides and give different profiles of the subject or character.

Tracking and crabbing are very similar except for the direction that the camera moves.

Tracking – this is where the subject or actor will usually be stationary and the camera will gradually move in or out. This contrasts with zooming in and out. The purpose of this is so the viewer is drawn in closer and gets a more intense relationship with character and moving away tends to create emotional distance.

Crabbing – this is where the subject or actor is usually stationary and the camera will move either to the left or right of the camera. This could suggest the subject is changing or we are being drawn in to the subject.

Composition
The rule of thirds method in photography and film is a preferred method because it draws our attention off centre and looks much better to place the subject on one of four points near the centre.

Positioning

Subjective positioning – this is where the subject is being watched by the camera or from an objects perspective. This will never be of a characters perspective and this allows us to see what some of the characters can’t.

Objective positioning – this is where we are seeing what the actor or actress is seeing. This allows us to feel emotionally connected to what they are seeing and we feel like we are in their position.

In the film Let The Right One In there are various examples of both subjective and objective positioning. One interesting example of subjective position would be when Eli pretends to be ill underneath the bridge until Jocke comes over to offer her help. We witness Eli suck his blood from his neck and kill him, but this is from anybody’s perspective, yet gives us viewers the chance to see what actually happened under the bridge. It shows the audience that only we have witnessed the most horrific events that took place.