The 2023 Oscars will have its awards ceremony next Sunday, March 12, and of all the categories, few leave more doubt among the public than Best Cinematography. After all, what does it mean to say a film has good cinematography?
The Best Cinematography category is one of the most traditional in the awards world. It has been present at the Oscars since the first edition, in 1929.
Cinematography is the ability to manipulate light to create images in movie cameras. But functionally, the award honors much more than that.
The cinematographer is generally known as the “cinematographer”. Within the film industry, cinematography is generally understood as something that encompasses everything that has to do with the camera: its movement, the images it captures, the light it receives, etc.
What is film photography?
Film photography is something that brings together all the visual elements in the scene. From lighting, camera shake, composition, camera angles, and even options for which lens to use, zoom, focus, tinting, etc.
In addition to working directly with the director, the cinematographer is responsible for a production’s camera crew and lighting. Thus, when a photograph is well taken, the action on the scene can intensify and the film take on a look of its own.
The cinematographer’s main objective is to capture the director’s vision of the film based on the narrative to be told, using lighting, camera and composition techniques.
As I brought Omelete to a text where I also try to explain the meaning of this category of film evaluation, beauty is not everything when it comes to photography, as cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto explains, who has already been nominated for a Oscars for movies Silence AND The Brokeback Mountain Secret.
We are telling exciting stories with pictures. It’s not just about creating beautiful frames. This is a big mistake. People think “this photograph is good because it is beautiful”.
Rodrigo Prieto during a Hollywood Reporter panel discussion
The 2023 Oscar nominees for Best Cinematography are: James Friend for Nothing new on the frontDarius Khondji by Bardo, false chronicle of some truthsMandy Walker by elvisRoger Deakins for Empire of Light and Florian Hoffmeister for tar.
The Oscars 2023 post: what does best photography mean? first appeared on Look Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
