2 Chapter 2: Cinematography

Cinematography is the art and science of shooting movies. In this chapter you’ll view the documentary Visions of Light to learn about the history and evolution of cinematography. Below are some cinematography terms you should know before you begin viewing the film. Below the documentary are terms that you should learn from watching the film.

Cinematographer:  the person on a set who is responsible for the camera crew. The Cinematographer develops the lighting and camera plan that will translate the director’s vision to screen. Also known as: Director of Photography, Lighting Cameraman(yes, it is sexist)

Camera Operator: the person who handles the camera and looks through the viewfinder to shoot the scene.

Focus Puller: Measures the distance between the lens and the subject and adjust the lens to be in focus.

American Society of Cinematographers: invitation only organization that celebrates and advances the art of cinematography. Members have the acronym A.S.C in their film credits.

Learning about the art and science of cinematography is best done through watching the documentary Visions of Light. In this film you’ll learn from the masters of the industry and see hundreds of clips as the cinematographers walk your the history of cinematography. The Documentary Visions of Light

After watching Visions of Light you should be familiar with the following terms and concepts:

Camera Operator, Focus Puller, Frame Rates(and their effect on images) Dolly, Anamorphic Aspect Ratio, French New Wave, Hand Held Camera, New York Style, Color Theory, and Various Color Film Techniques.

The American Society of Cinematography has published a list of 100 Milestones in Cinematography you should peruse the information in this article to further your understanding of the artform.