This document provides an overview of cinematography techniques used to create atmosphere, tension, and meaning in films. It defines cinematography as "the art and methods of film photography" and discusses how lighting, camera angles, framing, camera movement, and filmmaking style can be manipulated to elicit different emotions from viewers. Specifically, it notes that low key lighting creates tension and suspense through high contrasts, while high key lighting produces more relaxed moods. The document instructs students to analyze how District 9 and Ripper Street employ these cinematography tools.

1. Short film

2. Last week
What were we looking at last week?

3. This week
We’re going to look at cinematography and
how we use it to create atmosphere, tension
& meaning

4. By the end of today, you
MUST define what cinematography is
SHOULD explain the different tools we
use to create a films visual look
COULD explain the how cinematography
builds tension, atmosphere, meaning.

5. Intro
What do we use to create the visual style of
a shot / film.

6. Cinematographers use
• Cameras
• Lighting
• Colour
to create the visual look of a film.
We call this process cinematography.
“The art and methods of
film photography”

7. Lighting
Can be used to create mood & tension….
What is the mood of this shot?
How does it make you feel?

8. Low key lighting can create
tension and suspense
Low key lighting has a big contrast between light & shadow. It is often
used to mirror the murky, dark world characters inhabit, as well as
their feelings and the stories subtext….

9. High key lighting
Some lighting can be more flat, bright and
evenly lit.
What is the mood of this shot?

10. High key lighting
is often used in romances and comedies
where we don’t want the audience to feel
unsettled, tense or scared….

11. As well as lighting we can use the camera to
create mood, tension & meaning.

12. We can choose how to frame our shot
(what’s in the shot, and what’s not)

13. How does this shot make you feel?

14. How does this shot make you feel?

15. Our choice of shot can make us
feel
• Lonely
• Uncomfortable
• Close
• Lost
• Empty
• Tense
• Scared

16. There is also the style of film-
making
What style of film-making does District 9
pretend to be?

17. Why did they shoot District 9 like a
documentary?
• Does it make it more powerful if it seems
more realistic?

18. We can also choose
what angle we shoot it at
This is a low angle shot.
What do we think of this character?
How powerful is he?

19. Shot angles
This is a high angle shot
What do we think of this character?
How powerful does he seem?

20. Camera movement
Moving the camera whilst shooting helps to
draw our audience in and direct their
attention to where we want it.
http://moodle.covcollege.ac.uk/course/view.p
hp?id=14870#section-3
Watch this scene from La Haine….

21. Cinematography
Helps film-makers to

22. Working alone
Log onto moodle and complete TV & Film
Analysis: Week 3. You will be analysing how
District 9 and Ripper Street use camera and
lighting to create mood, atmosphere and
meaning.