This document discusses different cinematography techniques used to influence viewers and direct their attention. It explains how shot distance like close-ups and long shots can be used to make viewers feel comfortable or uncomfortable. Medium shots keep attention on the foreground subject while extreme long shots provide perspective on size and scale. Proximity places greater importance on subjects closer to the camera. Fuzzy frames create romantic moods while shallow focus draws attention to a specific area in the shot.

1. Moving Images

2. Shot Distance
This is the most simple variable. Normal shots include
long shot, medium shots and close-ups. Extreme close
ups and extreme long shots are less frequently used.
When a long shot becomes a medium shot and vice versa
is debateable.

3. Extreme long shot

4. Extreme long shot
 This shot helps to show the layout and
size of the world. This is done by showing
the foreground, middle ground and
background together.
 Here the mountain in the background if massive in comparison to
the characters in the foreground. This gives perspective on not
only the physical size of the mountain but the size of journey that
the characters will have to travel. The middle-ground helps to link
the two together by adding depth to the shot.
 The sun setting in the east helps to add the aspect of time running
out and combined with the sizing and the journey the sense that
the adventure feels impossible.

5. Shot Distance
This is used to influence the viewer’s sympathies. The
normal distance is medium shot to close up; which gives
a comfortable relationship with the person on the screen
for the audience. Extreme close ups are used to make
the viewer feel uncomfortable, with an evil character for
instance, or to emphasise the tension felt by the person
being interviewed.

6. Medium shot

7. Medium shot
 This medium shot has a blurred
background so the audience can see
the setting of the shot but no detailing
is shown, this allows all of the viewers
attention to be on the foreground.
 The foreground shows the character’s upper body as well as the
weapon he is holding. As the bow is in the front it is the object that
stands out the most and shows that it has more importance. Also
seeing the whole of the character’s upper body helps the viewer
understand what action is being taken place.

8. Close up

9. Close up
 This close up is chosen to show the
significance of the characters appearance in
the scene.
 Similar to the medium shot the background is
out of focus but this time there is an element of
lighting to give a powerful effect and suggest that the character
has and almost holy appearance.
 This close up also shows the characters hand to show that the
object in his hands shows and importance and is a part of the
character. It also gives a chance for a good look at the character’s
expression and this helps to see what the character is feeling. In
this shot the character has a rather serious expression. Seeing this
expression in a close proximity shows that there is a solid reason
for the character’s feelings in the scene.

10. Moving Images
There is some implication that seeing closely is seeing
better. Sometimes a camera person will zoom in on a
face if there is some suggestion in an interview of lying or
guilt.
If an interviewee is placed in partial shade this can
increase the drama because it gives the impression the
viewer is privileged to hear some significant, secret
information.

11. Zoom in shot

12. Zoom in shot
 A zooming in shot has two jobs. The
first is to put emphasis on a particular
area of the shot. The other is portray
the character’s emotions; This is done
by bringing the character’s face closer
to the screen so the audience can see their expression
but also to show the focus the character has on the
area he is looking at.
 In this scene the zoom in shot reveals the character’s
realisation of what is to happen next. It also shows the
he understands what needs to be done.

13. Partial Shade

14. Partial Shade
 Partial shade is a lighting
technique to help set the mood &
atmosphere of a shot.
 Here the shading covers part of
the character’s face so his identity is hidden. This
makes the audience question why the character wants
to remain hidden and to what he looks like. This draws
the audiences attention to the character but in the
scene it helps the character to blend in with the dark
background to be unnoticed.
 This kind of shot can also portray that the character has
a dark side and now ‘lives’ in the shadows.

15. Proximity or Nearness
Subjects closer to the camera have greater importance.
Move the subjects in the picture around and you change
their importance.

16. Proximity

17. Proximity
 Proximity is used in a shot to
show the importance of a
character when compared to
another. In this scene the
character in the foreground is
closer to the screen showing that
he has more importance. This
also uses being closer to the screen to help give emphasis
on the character’s expression as well as directing the
audiences attention to him.
 The character in the background is given less importance as
there is less of him revealed in the shot and he is in the
middle ground to further from the screen. This suggest what
the character in the foreground is saying holds more
importance and is what the audience needs to listen to and
remember.

18. Soft Focus
Fuzzy frames are usually associated with romantic
moods. Shallow focus, which either the foreground,
middleground or background of the image is given focus
allows the film maker to direct the audiences’ attention.
Deep focus, which keeps everything in the image in
focus allows the viewer to choose what to focus on and is
often used to show realism (as seen in TV drama).

19. Fuzzy Frames

20. Fuzzy Frames
 This shot uses fuzzy frames to
set the mood.
 Fuzzy frames help to get rid of any
sharp edges to give a softer look.
In this case it helps to give a romantic look to the
character and a ‘beautified’ look to her. In this case it
helps to show the affection in the two characters

21. Deep focus

22. Deep focus
 In this shot a deep focus was
used so that you can see all
the characters in the fore-ground
but so the audience
can also see what is happening in the background.
 This is used to help show the setting. By seeing other
characters in the background it shows a busy
environment. In this case you can see other characters
not being serious and this lead the audience to think
that it is a very jolly and loud setting.

23. Shallow focus

24. Shallow focus
 Shallow focus allows only one
area in the shot to be in detail and
therefore the part of the shot that
draws the most attention.
 Here the character in the foreground is given more detailing
and focus so the audience is drawn to this character. Also
the background is blurred so the audience doesn’t have their
attention to it and also makes it harder to spot detailing. This
doesn’t show anything about the characters in the
background suggesting they don’t have any importance and
so the audience only focuses on the foreground and to what
is happening with that character.