5 Basic Cinematography Techniques

Do you aspire to join the filmmaking industry or shoot your music videos? Then this article is for you. You will have to understand and equip yourself with different basic techniques before getting started.Being a professional cinematographer is more than just the technical know-how and equipment. 

You will need to have some basic cinematic techniques. Such techniques will assist you while shooting videos, keeping track of shots, and in film production & editing.

This article enlightens you on the different basic cinematography skills you should have to succeed in the filmmaking industry.

A basic understanding of cinematography techniques is needed for you to understand and interpret the visual language of films. Furthermore, a movie is not only about the content you shoot but how you do it. Below are the top10 basic cinematography techniques for quality cinematic shoots.

1. A long shot

Also known as a wide shot, a long shot is a shot that displays a character proportionate to their surroundings. It is a cinematography method that involves capturing a photo in a significantly closer area to the subject. The shot allows the audience to have a closer look at what is going on but will not get emotionally involved. A long shot usually displays the subject’s whole body. In some scenes, a wide shot can show various subjects interacting.

2. Extreme Long shot

An extreme long shot captures a vast region and is mainly used in transitioning from one part to another. In a film, this establishing shot is used to alert the viewers that the forthcoming scenes will take place in a completely different area or city from where the last story was taking place. An extreme shot shows subjects at a scale compared to their surroundings—for instance, a tiny bird in a forest.

3. Point of view shot

Another cinematic technique is the point of view shot, also known as the first person shot. This shot is captured using attachable cameras that cover the footage of a scene as the subject acts out. Usually, it shows the audience what the character is seeing.

This shot makes the viewers perceive to be part of the scene.

4. Tilt Shot

One of the simplest cinematic techniques used in the film industry is tilt shot. This shot entails moving the camera upwards and downwards from a stable position within a scene.

Cinematographers mainly use it as an introductory or establishing shot. It shifts the attention of the audience from one zone to another. Also, it is used to disclose a phenomenon when the camera spins down steadily.

5. The Medium Shot

The cinematography methods list can never be absolute without the medium shot. It captures the upper part of the character (from the waist up). A medium shot captures the upper part of the character (from the core up). This shot is often used in developing a new area or scene. It usually films a conversation or a dialogue.

With this shot, viewers can take a closer look at the characters in an enlightening way. Also, the audience can see the characters’ facial expressions and body language.

Conclusion

If you are new in filmmaking or want to up your game, you must understand the basic filming techniques. Good cinematography methods result from an extensive combination of cinematic shots to produce videos that viewers can connect with. Some techniques include long, extreme, point-of-view, tilt and medium shots.