BA Film Production David Jeffery-Hughes: Influence From Other Cinematographers

I have taken influence from my style of cinematography from various places, but in this blog post I will explore individual cinematographers that I am inspired by and particular ways I will adapt their styles so they are unique to me so I can input their use in my final picture

1. Ole Bratt Birkeland

The main cinematographer I am inspired by is Ole Bratt Birkeland, he has worked on the television programmes that have got me into wanting to work film the most over the past few years, these shows include Utopia (2013), Dirk Gently (2012) and The Missing (2015). The way he films using the natural landscape but creating symmetry and colour is incredible, this creates the sense that it is set in our world but it is completely unique to the show. As seen in the shots from Utopia colour is a very strong feature of the cinematography is the use of colored lighting determines the mood of the scene in a visual scenes rather than explaining everything in the script. This subtle form of story telling is something that I really enjoy and will employ in my film making in the future.

Utopia Dirk Gently

2. John Alcott

His fame stems from his collaboration with Stanley Kubrick on such films as Clockwork Orange (1971) and The Shining (1980) amongst others, the complete symmetry and well thought out planning of each shot can is what makes their films stand out. In these films we are presented with a world that looks like ours but there is always one major difference. This is created by the ridged composition that is used, as in the real world things aren't always symmetrical and feature patterns that work from the width of our vision. Camera movements is another element that I am particularly inspired by, such as the use of Steadicam. This camera technique creates the sense that we are in the environment as well as making it clear that the characters are being watched by some kind of force. This is used to great affect in The Shining, which works its way back into the narrative as the characters are being tormented by spirits.

3. Danny Cohen

Danny Cohen was worked as the Director of Photography on many films such as The Kings Speech, Les Miserables 2012 and The Boat That Rocked 2009 but the film(s) I want to refer to in terms of his use of cinematography is This Is England 2006-2015. In the first film the footage was clearly shot on film by doing this it meant that the tone of the shots look like they filmed when the story was set, in 1984. By doing this the quality of the mise en scene seams much more characteristically to that period. The other technique that particularly stands out from his work is the use of depth of field, this is created by the use of a short focal length lens which blurs out the characters background and makes the audience pay attention the subjects in the foreground. As the action in This Is England is highly engaging both these elements work hand in hand.