How To Read Cinematography Shot Analysis

Many people get stuck when it comes to reading shot analysis because they cannot decipher the terms used for describing each part of a cinematographic (or, as some refer to it, photographic) cut. Some of these terms include: establishing shots, medium long shots, mid-shots, close ups, reverse angles, key lines, and so forth.

Some even go as far as using very specific terminology like “dominant” or “submissive” angle. This can sometimes be confusing for readers who are not familiar with such jargon.

Fortunately, you no longer have to worry about this! We have compiled an easy to follow article that will take you through all of the important parts of a cinematic cut in depth. From what camera position the subject is placed in, to how much time is spent at each one, we got everything covered.

Look for visual clues

There are three main things that play into how we interpret what you see in a movie, naturally occurring light, man-made lighting, and use of color.

Light is an integral part of most filmed scenes. A good amount of coverage and diversity of lights can add depth and weight to a scene while also helping convey the setting.

The intensity, direction, and type of light needed in a scene will determine what colors look best and which tones of gray feel strongest. For example, brighter lights typically result in bolder colors because they overbear other areas of the image.

A common rule of thumb is when there’s nothing happening, darker is better. When something significant is taking place, lighter is usually better unless it creates an uncomfortable or distracting effect on you as the viewer.

There are many tools available now that can analyze shots and give some helpful information about the types of lights being used and how well those lights work with each other.

Analyze the composition

As we discussed, one of the first things to do when analyzing a new piece is to analyze the composition. With a still image, this means deciding if the picture is too tall or short, whether there are enough empty spaces in the frame, and how much of the frame is covered. For a movie, it’s similar but slightly different.

When watching a film, you will want to be conscious of what kind of shapes the camera creates. A direct parallel shape (like a ladder) or an off-centered square can create some strong images. An example of this would be where the person being talked about stands next to a wall with their back to it, creating a diagonal line from top left corner to bottom right. Or someone sitting at a table with their legs extended, making an oblong box around them.

These types of compositions can effectively emphasize the space surrounding the subject. It also gives us a sense of depth, emphasizing that the viewer should feel as though they are outside looking into the space, not just the individual.

Look for storytelling clues

As with any form of reading, understanding how to read cinematographic books or film stories requires learning when and what to look for. Just like with plain old novels, you will learn that there are certain tools used to tell your story.

In filmed media such as movies, TV shows, and documentaries, these tools include: shots, cuts, edits, and compositions.

Shots are discrete sections of the movie or show broken down into either a close up (“medium shot”) or wide angle (“lens-up”). A cut is when one scene ends and another begins; this is usually done by changing the camera position or moving the camera. An edit is when someone (usually the writer) breaks off part of a conversation and adds in a short comment or question to create a sense of continuity. A composition is the overall arrangement of elements in a frame; whole frames can be considered a composition if they emphasize specific details.

It is very important to recognize those components when watching films to understand how the filmmaker told their story. When considering whether or not a particular shot, cut, or composition was effective, remember that the entire movie should be considered.

Watch for visual effects

A significant part of reading cinematic shot analysis is looking at the overall theme or narrative of each shot. What mood does this piece create?

A good way to identify this is by noting how much of the screen time is spent in close-up, medium length shots as opposed to longer ones. These shorter shots are typically used to establish scene setting, add depth to the characters, or show off some aspect of the surroundings.

By analyzing the qualities of these individual shots, you can determine what parts of the story they tell us about the film’s protagonists and/or antagonists.

For example, if a long panning shot is taken during the opening minutes of the movie, then we know that the protagonist has set his or her goal high. If a short cut sequence shows only their feet moving while staying within the confines of the room, then we know that the person is not sure whether they should try to put more effort into this challenge or give up.

If there are no long pans or cuts away from the main character, then we may learn that they have accepted the limitations placed upon them and are now resigned to failure.

Analyze the lighting

The second major element in cinematography is light. Lighting can be natural, artificial, or both. When shooting close up shots with no background, there are two types of lights you use- either direct sunlight or flash.

When using flashes, every object in the frame needs to have reflective material for it to work. This could be hair, clothes, etc. Even the skin of the subject must be able to reflect some light, otherwise the light will not show on them.

For example, if a person was wearing all black clothing and had their face covered with a scarf, their exposed skin would not be seen because it does not reflect any light. If this were done during filming, then additional layers of makeup would need to be used to cover your subjects’ faces so that they do! [1]

Another way to create indirect light is by having heavy curtains or other materials between you and the sun. This creates shadowed areas which give shape to the image.

Watch for artistic decisions

The second part of analyzing a cinematographic shot is looking at the art behind the shot. What are the factors that influenced the design?

This includes things like how the camera was positioned, what lighting was used, whether or not props were in use, etc. All of these elements play an integral role in enhancing the visual style of the movie.

The more you pay attention to such details, the better your eye will get - and thus, helping you identify potential photographic styles.

Pay attention to detail

When reading a cinematographer’s shot analysis, there are two main things you should be looking at, aside from the overall tone of the scene. These are specific details in the frame and eye contact between characters.

Both of these play major roles in how effectively the writer is able to convey their message or idea for the story.

Look for patterns

The most important part of reading a cinematographer’s shot list is looking at the shots and determining what patterns they use to tell their story.

A pattern can be anything from using a long lens or wide-angle lens to create a sense of scale, to having someone enter the frame, to showing off a specific element of the setting or scene.