Shows With The Best Cinematography
As we have seen, great show cinematography is always accompanied by great sound design, creative camera moves, and overall lush filming styles. These are all integral parts to creating an immersive experience for the viewer.
But what makes a good show look even better? What makes something “sexy” or interesting to watch is usually just enough of a departure from the average movie. A lot of times, people use the term “lush” to describe scenes that feature lots of flashy lights and cool movements.
However, not every scene needs to be like this! Sometimes, silence can make a much more powerful statement than a loud explosion. An example of this was in the recent TV movie The Disappearance of Alice Drake, where there were very few sounds aside from some footsteps and whispers.
This gave off a mysterious feeling which made the audience feel as if they needed to work extra hard to figure out what was going on. It also helped emphasize how serious the situation was since you could barely tell anything apart due to the darkness.
Another way to achieve this is to focus less on having elaborate settings and backgrounds and instead try keeping things simple and straightforward. This will eliminate unnecessary distractions that may take away attention from the main characters or story.
Overall, these are just some of many ways to improve your show cinematography skills.
Mad Max: Fury Road
As mentioned earlier, one of the most important parts of show cinematography is establishing a sense of place. For Mad Max: Fury Road, they mostly shot in or around Australia. This includes locations such as Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock), Palm Beach, and Kakadu National Park.
Not only did these locales look beautiful, but they gave the movie its unique feel. The desert setting was very stark and moody which helped convey the intensity of the film.
The use of natural light also played an integral part in this. A lot of the scenes were filmed during early morning or late night hours to achieve that perfect golden hue.
Overall, the best way to describe the camera work for Mad Max is bold. It conveys a strong message without getting too flashy.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Speaking of which, one of my favorite show cinematographers is Jon Kamen from The Grand Budapest Hotel! He has done some incredible work in both large and small scale projects.
He has shot documentaries like The Ballad of Johnny Bullet and How to Make Money Selling Pictures Online (both very successful movies!), feature length films such as The Happiest Day in the Life of Moses and This Is All My Living I Have To Look Forward To (two incredible short movie videos), and TV series including Mozart In The Jungle and Mr. Robot.
His beautiful style can be seen all across his various projects, but he really shines when working with Wes Anderson - you see that influence throughout many of his works.
Kamen’s artistic eye comes together beautifully in his work, creating striking images that leave an impression. His use of light and shadows are integral parts of his filming styles, and they always look polished and professional.
Overall, his creativity never stops flowing through every frame he shoots, making him stand out among other great cinematographers.
The Wizard of Oz
When it comes to The Wizard of Oz, there’s no denying that its incredible cinematography made a strong case for itself. Director George Melford infused every frame with rich colors and beautiful backdrops. He also paid special attention to creating moody scenes and establishing intimate settings.
In fact, some critics have said that his use of color is what makes the movie so memorable. After all, The Wizard of Oz is known for its bright green lizards, ruby red slippers, and yellow brick road.
But aside from being aesthetically pleasing, these shades play an important role in the film. For example, one of the main themes of the story is hope. Throughout the movie, we are constantly given small glimmers of hope - things like Dorothy finding her way home after escaping death at the hands of the wicked witch or Glinda the good wizard saving the day by helping her find the place she was looking for.
These little bursts of hope help us feel hopeful about our own lives. They inspire us to keep working hard and believing in ourselves because even if we don’t see much success immediately, we can still achieve something meaningful.
The Shawshank Redemption
As much as it may sound like an easy challenge, creating aesthetically pleasing shots can be quite difficult. It is not just about having fun with the camera, but also understanding how to use your settings and modes effectively!
The best show cinematographers typically have at least five or six different shooting styles they use frequently. These are usually organized into groups such as Steady-Shot (or handheld), Telephoto, Wide Angle, Macro, and Lancer Settings.
Each of these types of photos is one style that most show cinematogs know well. Others may mix and match between various ones, but none of them truly excel without some mastery of all of them.
A lancer setting is when the photographer/director holds their camera very close to their face for length of time. A macro setting is where you zoom in really close to get a nice intimate picture or detail shot. A telephoto lens is one that gives you longer range than a normal lens.
A steady-shot photo is one where the photographer has complete control over both the camera and the subject. This takes practice but can look incredible if done right.
There are many ways to take advantage of shutter speed to create interesting photographs, but few achieve success without using a neutral background. An example of this would be taking a photograph of someone against a white wall. You could try holding a pen up next to the wall, but it would probably look weird.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
As we discussed earlier, The Empire Strikes Back is considered by many to be the best movie in the franchise. It’s also one of the highest grossing movies ever made!
If you look at just the cinematography alone though, there are some very interesting things that can be said about this film.
Firstly, let’s talk about the train station setting. This was an incredible use of space as they had large expanses with no interior walls or barriers. There were only a few small pieces of furniture which helped create the sense of isolation.
The next thing we need to discuss is how these settings were used. Many parts of the movie take place almost entirely inside buildings or rooms, making it feel more intimate than most films.
Another important part of the movie is the use of light. When scenes are set during night time, the filmmakers would often use natural lighting. Some lights may even have been left on for effect.
Overall, The Empire Strikes Back has some great looking shots that contribute well to its storytelling.
The Godfather
One of my favorite show cinematographers is Robert Richardson. He has done some incredible work in television, feature films, and even theater! While his style is very rich and lush, he also possesses a beautiful simplicity when needed.
He mostly shoots with natural light or ambient lighting, using large soft-boxes or other sources to create beautifully lit scenes. There are sometimes additional gels or bulbs used for extra contrast or texture.
The one thing I love about his style is that it never feels too flashy. Even during action sequences, there is an emphasis on keeping it simple and elegant. It adds a sense of calm and sophistication to the film which makes it feel more professional.
His best known works include the Oscar winning movie The Godfather as well as the recent biographical drama film All The Money In The World. Both of these movies were able to use his artistic talents to tell powerful stories that left audience members feeling inspired, informed, and/or entertained.
Pootie Tang
As discussed earlier, great show cinematographers use of light is integral to their styles. They manage all lighting either directly or indirectly through gels, filters, or computer programs. A very popular way to add light in movies now is using strobes!
Strobes are basically a source of light that can be triggered at any time. When they are used correctly, they create incredible effects. For example, when you shoot close up shots of someone, adding a bright flash right before taking the shot creates an interesting effect.
This effect is called high key, which means there is a strong emphasis on the color white. In low key pictures, shades of blue and black are emphasized instead. High-key photos often look very polished and beautiful, just like people who use heavy amounts of cream in cooking! That’s why it is sometimes referred to as ‘sunlight with a tan line.’
The opposite of high key is what we refer to as low key. Low key pictures emphasize shadows and darkness so that the image looks more dramatic and stylized. This was important for our discussion about silhouettes yesterday!
Another term related to this is deep focus. Deep focus happens when something far away becomes proportionally bigger than something closer. This makes your viewer feel relaxed and comfortable, much like looking into a window and seeing everything going smoothly outside.
The Usual Suspects
As we have already discussed, great show cinematography is totally dependent upon having good lighting, excellent contrast, and beautiful shapes. These are some of the most important things to look for when watching TV shows!
But there’s something more than just those three qualities that make an incredible shot. Beyond that, great show photography needs interesting compositions, fluid motion, and overall quality across all aspects of the image.
It also takes time to master the art of filming a television show. Some people may never be able to create truly memorable shots, but by investing in the field through education or experience, you will at least know what looks good and can thus contribute to the success of another artist’s work.
That being said, let’s take a closer look at our five favorite show cinematographers.