Jaws – Cinematography

This clip is a very good example of well planned out cinematography. The framing and composition of the shots is nicely done. The rule of thirds is definitely used  throughout this scene. There is never a character directly centered in the frame.  Even in the beginning when the man backs into frame he doesn’t stop until he is past the midpoint. They also use diagonal and triangular compositions between the three characters. They allow the viewer to understand where each character is on the boat in relation to the others. One of my favorite parts from the cinematography of this clip is when the shark comes up right behind the man chucking the guts and the audience knows it is happening before he does. The shots also help the viewer to know point of view. They go from a character looking out at the water, to a shot of the shark. The pan shot of the shark swimming directly next to the boat also gives the viewer a very good sense of the size of the shark. Overall, this scene is done very well and introduces the immense, and impressive great white shark to the viewer to just enough detail.