This week’s lecture focused on cinematography, especially layout, composition and camera language. The main question raised by the tutor was: “Where do you put the camera?” At first, I thought cinematography was mainly about technical settings such as focal length or depth of field. However, after this lecture, I realised that camera placement is actually about storytelling and meaning.
One important idea I learned is that focus controls what the audience looks at. Deep focus allows the whole frame to be clear, so the viewer can explore the space by themselves. In contrast, shallow focus creates a tunnel vision effect, forcing the audience to look at one specific subject. I found the idea of rack focus very interesting. The tutor described it as “a cut without a cut”. It means we can guide the audience’s attention without changing the shot. This is very useful for the 5+5 challenge, because we are not allowed to use dialogue or acting.
Another key concept is focal length. It is not only about how much space is included in the frame, but also about psychological feeling. A wide lens can make the character feel small in the environment, while a long lens can isolate the character from the background. This made me think more carefully about how lens choice can express emotion.
We also discussed geometry in the frame. Composition is not only about making the image look beautiful. It shows power relationships and emotional balance. For example, symmetrical framing can feel stable or formal, while diagonal lines can create tension.
Finally, the lecture explained different types of camera movement, such as dolly zoom, handheld, whip pan and arc shot. What I understood is that camera movement should not be used just because it looks cool. It must support the story. The tutor also reminded us that “less is more”.
Overall, this lecture helped me understand that cinematography is a language. Every decision — focus, lens, composition, movement — must have a purpose.
5 + 5 Shot Storyboard
Thursday task was to create a storyboard using exactly five shots, each lasting five seconds, to express a specific emotion only through camera language. We were not allowed to use dialogue or facial acting. The scene was a guy in a bar.
I chose to explore anger in a controlled way. Instead of showing dramatic action, I focused on building tension through framing and shot progression. The first shot is a high angle with a slow pull back, making the character look small and pressured. The camera then moves closer in medium and close-up shots, gradually tightening the frame to show increasing physical tension. In the fourth shot, there is an extreme close-up of clenched teeth, representing the emotional breaking point. The final shot shows a fist hitting the table, releasing the anger briefly.
This exercise helped me understand how emotion can be created through camera distance and composition rather than performance.
5 + 5 Shot Maya
Friday, we randomly exchanged our 5+5 storyboard from Thursday with a classmate. I received Barbara’s storyboard and had to interpret her idea based only on her drawings and brief notes.
Over the weekend, I recreated her storyboard in Maya. The main challenge was translating her framing, camera angles, and camera movements into a 3D environment. Since we were not allowed to rely on acting or facial expression, I had to focus carefully on composition, camera height, lens choice, and timing.
I tried to stay faithful to her original intention while adapting the shots to work practically in Maya. This process made me realize how important clarity is in storyboard drawings, and how differently the same space can feel depending on camera decisions. It was a useful exercise in understanding visual storytelling from another director’s perspective.