THE ART OF CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. A Cinematographer is the person in charge over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, and responsible for the technical decisions (i.e. Composition, frame, lighting, filters) working on a film. They are responsible for translating the storyboard into a film. It is important for the Cinematographer to realise what the Director wants in an artistic way. 

Eric Castro, Cinematographer

Roger Deakins

2. Roman Polanski insisted on using a hand held camera in the film Chinatown. He wanted to try and communicate a sense of intimacy and spontenuity with his actors. Roman Polanski insisted on the Cinematographer John A. Alonzo to use the hand held camera, especially on Dorothy Faye Dunaway. Dunaway is an American Actress who played one of the characters in Chinatown. Roman Polanski wanted to make her look beautiful through out the film, so Alonzo reflected a natural light constantly onto her face. 

Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway

Roman Polanski

3. The Cinematographer for Apocalypse Now was an Italian man called Vittorio Storaro, who collaborated with the director Francis Ford Coppola on a number of films. Storaro won an Oscar for his work in the film, which has attributed to its iconic look. His working philosophy was based around his use of colour, and how different colour connotations can give the audience different meanings and reactions. 

Vittorio Storaro

Apocalypse Now