Cinematography is the art of photography and camera work in films.

This can refer to many cinematic techniques that can make a film aesthetically pleasing (Such as lighting and composition). Getting these features right can effectively capture a films core theme and mis-en-scene- both of which are important when trying to bring forth a certain reaction within the audience. The lighting of a shot is important in making sure the scene is visually interesting, and if in keeping with the other visual themes of the film can give the film a unique look and feel. Firstly, when lighting a scene, a choice must be made on whether High-key or Low-key light will be used. This will determine the basics of how the lighting will look; High-key light will create a bright scene with little shadow, whereas Low-key light will have more shadow and, therefore, more contrast between the light and dark. Another key part of lighting is backlight. How strong the lighting is behind the subject(s) in a scene can dramatically change the overall aesthetic. For example, having a strong backlight with a weaker source in front will give anything in between a hot edge on film, which gives the shot an overall moody atmosphere. Examples of this can be seen in the 2009 film Inglorious Basterds on which Robert Richardson was the director of photography. Changing the strength of the lights will change how the scene looks, however the back light should always be stronger than the fill light in order to achieve the hot edge effect. Using colour is also an advantageous way to create interesting lighting. Colour can be used in multiple ways by cinematographers, it can tell the audience a lot about the scenes setting, the characters and their emotions, or just the overall theme the film is trying to convey. What colour is used by the filmmakers mostly relies on the principle of colour temperature. This is a scale that ranges from warm red colours to cool blue ones and is measured in Kelvins- cool colours (like blue or white) have a colour temperature around 7000K whereas warmer colours (orange and red) are closer to 2000K. Lighting with warmer colours implies a softer, safer environment; unless they are harsh, in which case they could have an opposite effect- such as a harsh red being used to signify danger. Cooler colours will usually create a cold, unwelcoming setting. For example, Christopher Nolans The dark Knight (2008) uses mostly cold blues and greys to paint Gotham as a hostile city. Colour also has a way of showing the audience that a change has occurred, when the lighting changes, it often means the storys setting, or another element of the story, has changed also. For instance, in most flashback scenes golden light is used to imply that the scene is being looked back at with warmth and nostalgia.

In addition to lighting, mis-en-scene is another important part of cinematography. Mis-en-scene is a French term meaning Placing on stage and refers to where everything in a scene is placed and how it is arranged. This includes props, actors, lighting and other elements that make up the set, and is important in creating consistency within the film. Not only must the placement be the same between shots, keeping a general mis-en-scene throughout a film can help reinforce its theme and feel. The director generally controls mis-en-scene. However producers, set designers and other important persons all work together to think it through carefully during pre-production and filming. Another way that this process helps with consistency is when the film is set in a certain time periodby making sure all the elements in a scene (like costumes or props) relate with the time it is set in, the film can be more accurate.