ABSTRACT
This quote by cinematographer and writer Tom McDonough neatly sums up the split personality of the cinematographer's art . . . or is it craft . . . or is it science? The truth is, getting just the right image for the story you are trying to tell, for the mood you want to create, for the connection you're trying to make with the audience, requires the instincts and sensitivity of an artist, the discipline of a craftsman, and the research of a scientist. In other words, when we create the film image, we need to know aesthetically what we want and technically how to achieve that. Here and in the next chapter we will look at all of the basic technical factors of exposures and lighting so that you can tell your story with visual eloquence and impact (Figure 12-1).
