What Makes Great Cinematography

As we already discussed, great cinematographers are very talented artists. They spend lots of time developing their craft by studying the art form and filming different types of scenes.

However, beyond all that technical knowledge, what really sets great DP’s apart is an eye for creativity. These filmmakers often create unique styles that suit the story they are telling and the genre of film they are working with.

They also develop close relationships with other creative people in the movie, encouraging collaboration and sharing of ideas. This includes offering feedback to both other DPs and writers to help bring out the best possible version of the script.

Great DP’s usually have personal styles that influence the way they approach shooting a scene. A common element of these styles is using natural light or ambient lighting to illuminate the space.

This makes sense because most outdoor or indoor settings are mostly illuminated by daylight or artificial light sources. So, changing the light source can totally change how the shot feels and looks.

Good camera movement

A good amount of movie making depends heavily on how well the cinematographer is able to use motion, speed, rhythm, and silence to tell their story.

A still photo can be very powerful, but only for a short time!

The eye always wants something to do, so it moves. Taking your picture after someone has said goodbye or left you does not work. The audience wants to know what will happen next, and the eye keeps waiting and wanting.

To make an interesting photo, there must be a reason that we want to hold our gaze. Sometimes this takes minutes, sometimes hours, but it is always important.

In cinema, this effect can last much longer than in photography. This is because films are usually longer than one minute!

Many filmmakers agree that the best way to ensure engaging visuals is to keep up momentum. Something happening now needs your attention just as much as something that has been going on for a while.

This could be due to contentment or dissatisfaction, curiosity or indifference, etc. It doesn’t really matter as long as there is a discernible trend.

Compelling camera movement

A great deal of what makes a movie look interesting is its use of rhythm and balance in how it moves the viewer through space and time. When a scene has lots of fast, tight shots with little to no depth or distance, there can be a feeling that the filmmaker is too focused on getting more takes done instead of creating an engaging watch.

The other thing that can hurt a film’s overall feel is when nothing happens for long stretches of time. There are many ways to achieve this, but none as effective as keeping things slow in order to add tension and interest.

A well-shot sequence will always hold your attention longer than one where everything looks clean and perfect. That is why some of the best films ever made feature very few flashy, action-packed scenes - they are often much more powerful.

Great cinematographers understand how to create moody, intimate settings that leave you hanging on every detail for several minutes at a time. And they do so without using overly dramatic lighting or graphic editing.

These qualities go beyond looking good, however. They also contribute significantly to the storytelling process by helping us connect with the characters and setting.

Excellent camera angles

A great shot is not taken randomly, it’s planned out in advance. An excellent camera angle is one that leaves something to your imagination, creating intrigue or motivating you to explore more of the setting or scene.

Many cinematographers start with establishing shots, which are usually wide lenses that show off the surroundings, or at least part of the surrounding area and the main character. These are used to give context to the setting and establish plot points about the location or person.

After an initial engagement, the characters will often shift focus onto each other, leading to some interesting close-up or medium lens photos or even handheld filming if appropriate!

In film no matter what genre being mixed, there is always a sense of urgency caused by the story developing.

Good camera angles

As we have seen, good acting is important for successful filming, but having great camerawork is just as crucial. There are many ways to achieve this, and it can easily win or lose a scene’s success.

One of the first things people notice about cinematographic shots is their angle. We look forward more than we look up, so most scenes begin with our eyes looking down or at least level. When they don’t, like in a staircase or ladder shot, then we get some unique eye-level views that add depth to the picture.

Another very popular way to use an angled view is a reverse parallel cut. This happens when one person leaves, another enters, both go somewhere together, and then you see only part of them before cutting back to show the whole thing. A famous example of this is when Katniss leaves District 12 after Rue’s death and travels through the jungle alone.

Excellent compositing

When editing or filming a movie, great cinematographers spend a lot of time doing something that is not always appreciated the most- enhancing textures and shapes. They add layers to scenes by using light as a catalyst to create interesting patterns and structures.

By adding contrast to an otherwise dull background or area, they create visual interest. This is called “compositing”.

Excellent compositors also use ambient light in creative ways to give depth to a scene. By introducing shadows into a picture, even more detail can be conveyed.

Furthermore, since we are talking about photography here, good cameramen pay attention to fine details. Lighting effects, backlighting, reflections, etc., all contribute to making pictures look better and more realistic.

Excellent lighting

Lighting is one of the most important things to look into when it comes to great cinematographic styles. While not everyone has an artistic eye for light, many people do! Having good lighting can really make or break a movie’s appeal.

It makes scenes more engagingly aesthetic. It helps convey mood, tone, and emotion. And it contributes heavily to the overall cinematic feel of the film.

When it’s done well, lighting even becomes a major narrative tool in its own right. For example, during the climax of a movie, as the hero tries to escape from the villain, there are usually only two types of lights used: those that illuminate the way out, and those that expose the true nature of the situation.

The first type of light is typically a bright, white flash of light (like from a lightning bolt) or a very strong natural sunlight source. This kind of light clearly defines an area of the screen, creating a sense of urgency. It also gives off a powerful energy which elicits reactions such as fear or excitement.

The second type of light is totally opposite-it creates darkness. A classic example of this was the use of night vision goggles by soldiers in war movies. These dark sunglasses let in just enough light so the wearer can see her/his surroundings, but nothing beyond that.

This style of shooting is extremely effective because it forces your viewer to be part of the scene.

Good editing

As we have seen, great cinematographic storytelling is made up of several key components that work together to tell your story. But what makes good editing special is how it builds upon the previous piece.

The way in which shots are connected with each other gives weight to the scene or narrative being told. For instance, if one moment has an important event then the next few scenes will build up towards it until it happens. This creates anticipation for the coming scene while also establishing rhythm as the passage of time is part of the setting.

Another way to do this is by using reverse-angle lenses or POVs (point-of-view) so that the audience feels like they are inside the character’s head. This adds depth to the film because you get a sense of who this person is and their inner thoughts!

Good editors keep these rules in mind when assembling pieces into a continuous flow.

Good sound

When watching a movie, what people notice first is usually the sound. Many will comment on how great the sound quality is or whether there was anything particularly impressive about it.

However, what most people forget is that good sound design really does make a difference in the film!

The way the sounds are mixed and layered together makes a big impact to the overall feel of the movie. For example, if the sound is too loud, then it can distract from the story. If the sound is very quiet, then you have to work harder to hear things which may not be pleasant.

Good cinematic sound includes all three of these qualities - volume, tone and texture. All three of these factors should be balanced properly so that you get the right feeling for the scene being filmed.

Volume is clearly heard, but is not overbearing. A common mistake that cinematographers make when filming is having too much silence between dialogue scenes. This removes some of the needed intensity for the scene and sometimes needs changing.

Tone matches the mood of the scene and is typically one of the main ingredients used to mix the sound. A soft voice with no edge sounds more intimate than a clear voice that lacks depth.

Texture adds another layer to the sound by determining how many direct lines of conversation are included. A short sentence such as “What do you want me to say?” would create a smoother sound due to the shorter length.