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Chapter 6: Style and the Camera: Videography and Cinematography
  • Butler, Jeremy G. "Style and the Camera: Videography and Cinematography.” In Television: Critical Methods and Applications, 159 - 192. 3rd ed. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 2007.

Chapter Outline/Notes

Intro: When we glance at television, what we see on the box is seemingly transposed by the “look” of the cameras lens!
Brief discussion of how a range of settings reconstructs what we watch with the human eye
Basic Optics: The Camera Lens
a description from the earliest “camera” to the latest in capturing the focal length. Illusion of depth gives the viewer the perspective of its true depth.
  1. Telephoto (or long or narrow) this has narrowed the view of the scene.
  2. “Normal” (or medium) the normal focal length is narrowed and shallower to the viewer’s eye.
  3. Wide angle (or short) gives the viewers a wide view of the scene Telephoto (or long or narrow) this has narrowed the view of the scene.
Image Definition and Resolution
Described by the Definition/Resolution of the Film Image in general is the term used to describe the number of dots, or pixels, used to display an image.

Example: The resolution setting on the computer monitor was set for 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels deep. Throughout the years, attempts have been made to reach the goal of getting a digital copy as good as the film. What has been devised is that of three main levels of definition and resolution the following groups apply as follows.
  1. Low Definition
Formats: VHS, 8mm (including Hi8, Digital8) Uses: home videos, surveillance, etc. Standard Definition Formats: DVC Pro. DVCAM, Beta cam SP, Digital Beta cam Uses: sitcoms, soap operas, talk shows, local news, documentaries, etc. High Definition Formats: HDCAM, DVCProHD, 24p Uses: prime time dramas, MOWs, national commercials, feature films, etc. (Digital vs. HDTV)Color and Black and White
  • Color characteristics hue, saturation, and brightness (luminance)
  • Video and film rely on three color balance system (typically red, green, and blue primary colors).
Framing Basic Aesthetic Conversions: Abbreviated conversions are described below: (XLS) Extreme long shots, (LS) Long shot, (MLS) Medium long shot, (MS) Medium shot, (MCU), Medium close-up and (CU) Close-up Camera Height and Angle: Describes the angular extent of a given scene that is imaged by a camera
  1. Low Angle
  2. High Angle
The Moving Frame:
  • Refers to the usage of the same single action, scene, event, setting, or any element of significance at both the beginning and end of an artistic, musical, or literary work. The repeated element thus creates a ‘frame’ within which the main body of work can develop.
  • Are very common in storytelling.
Describe the following movements
  1. Panning and tilting
  2. Dollying, tracking, and trucking
  3. Craning and Pedestaling
  4. Hand held and Steadicam
Aspect ratio: Describe the meaning of Aspect ratio and the terms used with in the sub points
  1. Anamorphic
  2. CinemaScope
  3. Panavision
  4. Masking
  5. Matted - the difference between soft/hard matte
  6. Letterbox
  7. Pan-and-scan or scanning
In – Camera Special Effects:
The illusions used in film, television, theater, or entertainment industries to replicate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects (a.k.a. SFX, SPFX, or simply FX).
  • They can be divided into the categories of optical effects and mechanical effects.
  • A video or movie that is created solely by using techniques in and on the camera and/or its parts
  • The effect exists on the original camera negative or video recording before it is sent to a lab or modified.
The latest and extreme innovation in special effects has been the progression to computer generated imagery, or CGI

Terms/Concepts to Know:

  • Film stock
  • Digital imaging
  • Depth of Field
  • Camera Angle
  • Cinemascope
  • Pillar boxing
  • Computer generated imagery (CGI)
  • In- camera
  • Framing
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Camera Obscura
  • Resolution
  • Low angle
  • High angle
  • Chroma key
  • Dolly
  • Tracking
  • Hard matte
  • soft matte
  • Illusion of depth
  • Film formats
  • Panning
  • Tilting
  • Establishing shot

Related Course Outcomes


Describe numerous aspects contribute to the art of cinematography.
  • Discussion of various focal lengths
  • Optical controls
Describe the grain of the film stock used in film which the chapter describes as Definition/Resolution
  • Discuss the following groups of resolution/ definition from the chapter and the use for each.
Describe the terms used in the use of Color and Black and White with in the visible spectrum.
  • Discuss the most basic color characteristics.
  • Discuss Chroma or chrominance in video color
  • Discuss the brightness or luminance in video
Describe basic Anesthetic’s conversions while framing the shot that will determine what we can and cannot see.
  • Discuss early years of television (the 1940’s)
  • Discuss these abbreviations given by the book XLS, LS, MLS, MS, MCU, CU
  • Discuss the moving frame section of chapter 6 (pg. 178)
Describe In-Camera vs. CGI (computer generated imagery) how does this manipulation change production.
  • Discuss In-camera effects and how they are used in production.
  • Discuss CGI and what it has done to help production of film.

Television Examples to Watch and Discuss

Watch pay close attention to the GGI used in both along with camera angle.

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the below
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eclipse1 Visual Effects 17 Dec 6 2008, 4:30 PM EST by murbacha
Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 8:14 PM EDT  Watch
3. Visual effects (or 'VFX' for short) is the term given to a sub-category of special effects in which images or film frames are created and manipulated for film and video. Give three examples of shows you watch that have used good or bad visual effects. What makes them good or bad? Use your visual notes as a reference!
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eclipse1 Viewng Question about CGI 1 Dec 3 2008, 10:39 PM EST by pknapp54
Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 9:44 PM EDT  Watch
4. Watch the videos and discuss what you learned in this chapter and how it impacts your understanding of CGI and the use of special effects?
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eclipse1 Wide Screen vs. Pan Scan 3 Dec 3 2008, 10:29 PM EST by pknapp54
Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 3:48 PM EDT  Watch
1.After watching Sydney Pollack explain Widescreen vs. Pan Scan, do you think that the use of both impact the way we view DVD.TV, and Movies? And if so, what parts of both have effects on the viewer?
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