Style and the Camera (Discussion)
From Screenpedia
Group 3
- Explain what depth of field is -- using the textbook illustrations.
- What is the difference between deep focus and deep space (as in mise-en-scene)?
- What type of focus is evident in these Lytro examples?
- How can depth of field be manipulated by the CameraSim Camera Simulator?
Group 4
- Explain what focal length is -- using the textbook illustrations.
- How does a zoom in/out look different from a track in/out?
- How does the Vertigo effect illustrate the impact of focal length on the illusion of depth in an image? View clip (starting at 35 seconds)
Group 1
- Explain what aspect ratio is -- using the textbook illustrations.
- Also explain letterbox and pan-and-scan.
Group 2
- Explain the significance of camera framing, height, and movement -- using the textbook illustrations.
- When might movement be used that does not follow a character?
- How is a Steadicam shot different from a handheld shot?
- See Steadicam examples from ER: behind-the-scenes and the resulting shot.
DP exercise
If you were a DP reshooting the Northern Exposure and New Girl shots (below), how might you change these cinematographic aspects?
- Using your group's cinematographic aspect from above, describe its use in these two frame captures. I.e., start by describing the frame's focal length (G4), depth of field (G3), aspect ratio (G1), and framing/height (G2).
- Imagine changing that aspect's use in this frame. (G1: these frames use different aspect ratios. What if they were swapped?)
- How would such a change affect the scene's impact or the viewer's understanding of it?
Bibliography
- Butler, Jeremy G. Television: Critical Methods and Applications. New York: Routledge, 2012.
