What Does a Cinematographer Do?

We probably notice and appreciate the cinematography of a film, without specifically knowing what that is. Let’s take a look at what cinematography is and what a cinematographer does.

What is Cinematography?

In short, cinematography is everything visual that you see in a film. The word actually comes from the Greek ‘kinema’ meaning movement and ‘graphein’ which is to write – so you can think of it as storytelling with movement! This could be through the camera, type of film (or digital colour grading), lenses, lighting, and shot composition.

What is a Cinematographer?

The cinematographer might also be called the Director of Photography (DP), and they’re responsible for translating what the director wants into the visual stuff you see on screen. Their job involves a lot of creative and technical skills, here are some of the things they’re responsible for:

Pre-Production Planning

The cinematographer plans and collaborates with the director to understand the visual style including storyboarding, location scouting, and choosing equipment.
Lighting Planning

Working out the placement of lights to achieve a particular style or effect – this involves working with the Gaffers, who are the electricians responsible for the lighting.
Overseeing Camera Operation

Thinking about things like framing (what is seen in shot), camera movements (pans, tilts, tracking etc), depth of field and so on, working with camera operators and the director to make sure that every shot is hitting the right standard.

How Do I Become a Cinematographer?

As with many film jobs it can be a mix of education, training, practical experience, and… luck! A lot of cinematographers start by getting a degree in film production or a related field. There are specific film schools and film degrees that cover a mix of film theory and technical skills. Here are some things they’d likely cover:

Film Theory and History

Understanding how cinema has evolved and the various styles and genres.

Camera Techniques

Learning how to operate different types of cameras and lenses.

Lighting Design

Becoming proficient in the art of lighting to get the right mood and environment.

Editing

Learning post-production skills to understand how shots fit together and what’s possible.

Building a Portfolio

A good portfolio can help to showcase work and demonstrate skills and abilities, so it’s wise to work on this as you’re gaining experience. Not all experience has to be formal, you can seek out or create stuff yourself, like making short films with friends.

Getting Experience

Practical experience is pretty important in cinematography. Established cinematographers usually start in entry-level positions like:

Camera Assistant: Assisting the camera operator with tasks like setting up equipment and managing lenses.
Gaffer or Grip: Working with the lighting and rigging crew to learn about lighting setups and equipment.
Internships: Interning with production companies or established cinematographers to get hands-on experience and industry connections (these can be particularly important).

What are the Skills Needed to be a Cinematographer?

We’ve got an idea of this already from looking at how to become one, but let’s break it down a bit more.

Technical Skills: Knowing camera equipment, lenses, lighting, and various filming techniques inside out!
Creativity: A strong sense of visual storytelling is really important, knowing the rules of composition, and being able to translate a script into powerful imagery.
Collaboration: Cinematographers need to be team players, working with directors, production designers, and other crew members.
Problem-Solving: Being able to quickly adapt to changing conditions and solve technical or logistical issues on set.
Attention to Detail: Every shot needs to be planned precisely, and executed consistently and well.
Networking and Learning: The film industry is changing all the time with new technology and different techniques emerging. Cinematographers should be attending workshops and seminars to keep up with new trends or tools, as well as networking to build new relationships, and of course… watching films. We like that part.

The Art of Cinematography: Techniques and Styles

Here are some things to brush up on if you’d like to get started with cinematography.

Composition

This is how everything is arranged in a frame, and how it guides the eye and helps to tell the story. Some of the key things to know about composition are:

Rule of Thirds: Dividing the frame into a 3×3 grid and putting key elements along the lines or where they intersect.
Leading Lines: Using lines (roads or tracks, for example) to draw the viewer’s eye towards a focal point.
Symmetry and Balance: Making sure placed elements are creating a nice balance

10 Rules for Better Shot Composition Framing in Photography and Film

Lighting

Three-point lighting: Using a fill light, a key light, and a back light to create a natural look.
High-key: Very bright and even light
Low-Key: Deliberately dark lighting with deep shadows.

How to Light Video Scenes on a Budget

Camera Movements

Dolly shots: the camera is moved on a track to follow movement, smoothly.
Crane shots: high shots using a crane for a dramatic perspective.
Handheld: holding the camera for a more raw feel with a little (but not too much!) juddering.

20 Types of Camera Movement and Shots to Master

Examples of Popular Cinematography

1. In the Mood for Love (2000)

Cinematographers: Christopher Doyle, Pun-Leung Kwan, Ping Bin Lee

In the Mood for Love is a romantic drama about spouses having an affair. The film’s cinematography has a lush, vibrant colour palette and very precise framing. The diffused lighting and camera angles create a sense of intimacy, and quite often the audience is made to feel like a voyeur, like they’re spying on the characters.

2. Moonlight (2016)

Cinematographer: James Laxton

James Laxton’s work on Moonlight has been praised its stunning use of natural light and colour. The film has a three-act structure, each one depicting a different stage in the protagonist’s life, and is visually distinguished through well-defined colour schemes and lighting styles.

3. The Revenant (2015)

Cinematographer: Emmanuel Lubezki (Morgenstern)

Emmanuel Lubezki (or ‘Chivo’), is known for his use of natural light and long, uninterrupted ‘Stedicam’ takes. In The Revenant, his cinematography works to immerse the audience in a harsh, unforgiving wilderness. His particular techniques and preference for naturalism help build the film’s raw, visceral aesthetic.

4. Pariah (2011)

Cinematographer: Bradford Young

Bradford Young was nominated for a slew of awards for another film of his, Arrival (2016), but it’s in Pariah where is style of shooting with available light really comes through. For one scene he shot with only Christmas lights and a lamp with a red shade from IKEA! He’s won the Cinematography Award from Sundance Film Festival twice, including for Pariah.

5. The Matrix (1999)

Cinematographer: Bill Pope

Pope had mostly worked on music videos until he shot The Matrix, where one of the biggest decisions was how to split the real world visuals with those of the Matrix. The budget was tight and much of Pope’s now signature look for the film was pushed by the restrictions on things like lenses; he had to shoot with spherical rather than anamorphic, and then crop the image.

6. Lost in Translation (2003)

Cinematographer: Lance Acord

Acord started out shooting documentaries, commercials and music videos, but eventually found his way to narrative filmmaking. His framing is particularly notable and manages to capture a sense both of alienation, and connection between the main characters. They really enhance the film’s themes of loneliness and displacement, particularly in contrast to the bright and bustling backdrop of Tokyo.

7. The Rider (2017)

Cinematographer: Joshua James Richards

Joshua James Richards’ cinematography in The Rider has been praised for its realistic and immersive style. His use of the wide open landscapes of the American West, combined with more intimate, handheld shots, creates a powerful contrast between the characters’ internal struggles and the external environment.

8. Mudbound (2017)

Cinematographer: Rachel Morrison

Rachel Morrison’s work on Mudbound made her the first woman to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. She favours handheld work, with a little natural shake to keep the scene grounded in reality. Her lighting and composition in Mudbound helped to convey the realities of life in the Mississippi Delta during the Jim Crow era.

9. Do the Right Thing (1989)

Cinematographer: Ernest Dickerson

Do the Right Thing, a comedy drama, has a vibrant colour palette and dynamic camera work. The use of saturated colours and the dramatic angles Dickerson makes use of help to emphasise the heat and rising tensions in the Brooklyn neighbourhood the film is set.

10. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Cinematographer: Claire Mathon

Mathon received the César Award for Best Cinematography for Portrait of a Lady on Fire. The film oozes ‘sensuality, grace, and warmth’ with a painterly quality brought about by use of light and colour, among other things. Mathon is meticulous in her compositions and manages to capture the subtleties of human expression, particularly when it comes to the character of Héloïse.

Conclusion: What is a Cinematographer?

The work of a cinematographer is essential to creating the whole visual language of a film, pushing the viewer in the right direction emotionally, and helping to bring the director’s vision to life. Cinematographers (or directors of photography) are spread across each part of the film production process, from pre-planning, to collaborating on set, even to post-production and how the colour grading is done. They shape the look and feel of each frame. Becoming a cinematographer means getting to grips with how filmmaking works as a whole, and this includes a good working knowledge of both theory and of the technical, practical aspects of the process.

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About This Page

This page was written by Marie Gardiner. Marie is a writer, author, and photographer. It was edited by Andrew Blackman. Andrew is a freelance writer and editor, and is a copy editor for Envato Tuts+.

Post date June 11, 2024

This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Marie Gardiner

We probably notice and appreciate the cinematography of a film, without specifically knowing what that is. Let’s take a look at what cinematography is and what a cinematographer does.

What is Cinematography?

What is a Cinematographer?

Pre-Production Planning
The cinematographer plans and collaborates with the director to understand the visual style including storyboarding, location scouting, and choosing equipment.
Lighting Planning
Working out the placement of lights to achieve a particular style or effect – this involves working with the Gaffers, who are the electricians responsible for the lighting.
Overseeing Camera Operation
Thinking about things like framing (what is seen in shot), camera movements (pans, tilts, tracking etc), depth of field and so on, working with camera operators and the director to make sure that every shot is hitting the right standard.