How To Analyze Cinematography

A good cinematographer is someone who cares about the overall look of a film- they are invested in creating an aesthetic that other people will recognize as beautiful.

A good cinematographer will gather materialistic things such as stills, videos, and paintings to get inspiration from, but beyond that, they will study how different filmmakers use light, focus on learning their styles, and develop their own.

Cinematography is a medium that communicates a lot about a person or situation, so having something you can call your own is important. Having yours recognized as very special is even better!

Having a strong understanding of lighting, color theory, proportion, and composition helps make sure your style stays focused but also adds some diversity to it.

And while being able to shoot efficiently and quickly is certainly helpful, taking time to hone your craft by studying others’ work is what really sets great DP’s apart.

Watch for smoothness of movement

A key part of cinematographic analysis is looking at how quickly and smoothly each shot was accomplished. If the camera moves too slowly, then it becomes clear that the director or photographer had to take their time in filming this sequence.

This can sometimes be because there’s no action happening or the scene takes longer than expected to film. It may also be due to the fact that they have to show something beyond the screen, so they cover the whole frame with nothing but background.

A slow moving shot therefore makes the image look very deliberate and took more effort to achieve, which some people may find boring.

However, not every movie has to be full of adrenaline and action! Some stories are told through comedy, tragedy, adventure, etc., and having some lingering shots is okay.

Look for good and bad editing

A nice, fluid edit is something that can really add appeal to a scene or piece of film. There are many ways to analyze this element of filmmaking. Some people may refer to it as “editing” but that term seems very broad so we will stick with “edit” for now.

A lot of times, great edits are made by leaving out things. This cuts down on clutter and keeps the flow natural. For example, when watching a movie, watch to see what goes missing in each shot. Was there too much camera movement? Did the camera stay still for too long? Were there lots of cuts back and forth between close-up shots? All of these could be signs of an editor who was not interested in showing off their skills.

Other parts of the movie that seem out of place are often deleted or cut in during the filming process. For instance, you might notice that some scenes were filmed outside, while other ones took place inside. The reason for this is because the production team did not want to spend money to make sure everyone had adequate clothing protection, or they just did not like the look of the setting.

There is no real way to know if the person responsible for the cinematography left out certain pieces of equipment due to cost or personal preference, but chances are pretty high that it has nothing to do with either one of those.

Watch for patterns in lighting

A good way to analyze cinematographic style is by looking at the light sources in a movie. There are three main types of lights in most shots - direct, indirect, and reflected.

Direct lights are usually when the camera is directly facing a source of light, such as a lamp or sunlight. An example would be taking a picture outside during sunrise or sunset when there’s a strong sun overhead.

Indirect lights occur when the camera is not face-on to a source, but it creates an interesting effect nonetheless. For instance, if a person were walking under a bright streetlight with their back to the light, their shoulders and head would get lighter as they walk into the brighter area. Or if there was a large window next to them, then part of their body would disappear behind the glass!

Reflected lights happen when one object reflects off another, creating a third element that changes how the first two relate to each other. If you look at any well-lit painting you will see a lot of these elements going on together.

The way these different lighting styles combine is what makes some scenes more appealing than others.

Pay attention to composition

A good starting point when analyzing cinematographic styles is looking at the way the camera is composed. The rule of thumb is that longer lenses mean closer in, shorter lenses means farther away, wider shots are usually taking place from higher vantage points, and more overhead angles indicate a less intimate setting.

This is due to the fact that with longer lens setups, you have to go further back for an equivalent amount of coverage, thinner windows use up room that could be filled by something else, taller ceilings require a lower angle, and thicker walls take over as the background. All of these affect how well the film or video flows naturally.

With wider cameras, it is easier to fill the frame, and there are no limitations to what can be included in your shot. This also makes filming locations feel even bigger! On the other hand, however, some say this style leaves too much empty space, making the subject seem like they are standing in a vacuum.

Intermediate filmmakers may find themselves in a situation where they do not know which direction to go next. Having a basic understanding of the different types of compositions will help you determine which ones work best in your medium and genre.

Look for artistic choices

A good analyst will look at the overall aesthetic of the film. This includes things like how light is used, what styles are employed (realistic, stylized, etc.), whether or not there are special effects, and the composition of each shot.

It’s easy to get distracted by the flashy shots in a movie, but these distractions usually distract from the story. If you take the time to analyze the settings, backgrounds, and angles of each individual shot, then your analysis will go more in depth.

There are several sites that offer free quality critiques, so try looking through those if you are struggling to find the answers.

General tips: remember that most people use contrast for inspiration when creating their own style, so sometimes it can be helpful to study successful cinematographers to see how they convey messages.

Track down great cinematography

As we have seen, good storytelling is heavily influenced by your setting, characters, and tone. But one of the most important parts of any story is how it’s told - through its use of narrative techniques like establishing character relationships, developing events, and creating suspense or action.

A key part of telling these stories is the use of imagery and the way that image is framed and edited. This includes things such as using long takes, panning across the frame, tracking shots, and more.

All of these can be used for different reasons, but what they all share in common is that they add depth to the film. It adds new layers to tell us something about the scene or movie being filmed.

They also help create an immersive experience for the viewer, making them feel involved and connected with the material. And while not every shot has to be one of these, studying their use and effectiveness will definitely enhance your eye for visuals!

There are many ways to learn about this, so why don’t you take some time over the next few days to do just that? You could even make it a fun project by watching several short films and then analyzing what styles you know or recognize.

Watch for consistent lighting

A key part of analyzing cinematography is being aware of what equipment is used to light your screen. There are many types of lights, each with their own function!

For example, some use ultraviolet (UV) rays to illuminate close-up or background material. Some feature softboxes that produce more controlled shadows and ambient illumination.

Some use large panels or even grids of hard sources to create strong silhouettes or other interesting shapes. Others use powerful overhead lamps to completely wash out the lit area.

It’s important to know which type of light is being used in order to compare and analyze it.

By looking at several shots under different lights, you can determine how this film was put together and learn something about filmmaking technique.

Pay attention to detail

As we already mentioned, cinematographers spend a lot of time analyzing their own work. They look at every frame multiple times to find patterns and insights. This is how they develop their style and what makes them stand out from others.

In fact, many believe that great cinematogs are self-taught. Many have said that it is not so much about having natural talent as being able to spot potential talent and helping them hone their craft.

This is why it is important to watch some of their work. You can either do this by talking with them or through online videos.

You should also take notes and compare your personal styles with theirs. If you are ever hired as an assistant, you will be trained by other professionals!

I hope you enjoyed my article on how to analyze cinematic photography.