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The Cinematographic Language and the Interactive Image (The Last of Us)
Photography is an evolution (1) of realistic painting; cinema derives from photography, and CGI originates from both perspective drawing and photographic and cinematographic techniques (2).
One of the most significant contributions of cinematography to the field of lighting has been the use of multiple light sources (3): a combination of key lights, secondary lights, background lighting, and rim lights to define the contours of both subjects and objects. Meanwhile, one of the innovations in CGI lighting is the ability to position light sources within the virtual camera's visual field, ensuring that only the effects of direct and reflected light on the elements of the image are visible.
Streaming television series and video games have introduced new ways to explore the dimension of time. While series follow a linear cinematic narrative, video games provide an interactive storytelling experience. The history of visual communication highlights the interconnections between various creative processes, and today, video games have also influenced cinematic language. A notable example is the television series (4) The Last of Us, which is based on the concept, aesthetics, and lighting of the eponymous video game (5).
Keywords
References
Texts
- 1. 004. Del dibuix a l’art digital / From Drawing to Digital Art
- 2. Birn, J. (2003) Técnicas de iluminación y render. Madrid: Ediciones Anaya Multimedia. (Títol original: Lighting & Rendering ). P. 19.
“Cuando se quiere sacar el máximo partido de la cámara y la iluminación 3D, resulta muy útil estudiar las técnicas que han desarrollado y empleado los cinematógrafos profesionales que realizan películas reales. […] Aunque aprender de la cinematografía es importante, es un error asumir que realizar un render en 3D es simplemente una expresión computerizada de la misma forma de arte. […] un artista de 3D necesita saber cómo componer una imagen y la iluminación y las sombras que se necesitan en una instantánea. Por suerte, la incipiente nueva forma de arte de los gráficos por ordenador tiene unas enorme fuentes de conocimiento de las que beber en la cinematografía y en las artes visuales clásicas”.
- 3. Stroebel, L; Zakia, R. (1993) Encyclopedia of Photography. Boston: Focal Press. P. 445. “Multiple Lights. The main light is the most important but seldom the only source of illumination. Fill light will improve most pictures, even if it is only the fill light reflected from the surrounding walls of a small studio, although a strategically placed white reflector is more commonly used. Other possible lights include background, hair, and rim lights, and kickers”.
“Multiple Lights. The main light is the most important but seldom the only source of illumination. Fill light will improve most pictures, even if it is only the fill light reflected from the surrounding walls of a small studio, although a strategically placed white reflector is more commonly used. Other possible lights include background, hair, and rim lights, and kickers”.
- 4. filmaffinaty [en línia].Sección visual de The Last of Us (Serie de TV). Disponible a: < https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/movieimage.php?imageId=751796310 > (Data Consulta: 7 d’abril de 2024)
- 5. GAMEiNFORMER: McCarter, R. (2022) [en línia]. The Last of Us Part I Shows There's No Such Thing As A Faithful Remake. Disponible a: < https://www.gameinformer.com/feature/2022/12/26/the-last-of-us-part-i-shows-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-faithful-remake > (Data Consulta: 7 d’abril de 2024)
Images
- The economic Times/ News (2024) [en línia]. 'The Last of Us': resúmenes de episodios, reparto, fotos, curiosidades y más. Disponible a: < https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/the-last-of-us-part-ii-heres-what-happens-with-ellie-and-abby-in-the-climax/articleshow/106708131.cms?from=mdr > (Data Consulta: 7 d’abril de 2024)
Video game frame.
- Fotogramas: Rosado, R. (2023) [en línia]. 'The Last of Us': resúmenes de episodios, reparto, fotos, curiosidades y más. Disponible a: < https://www.fotogramas.es/series-tv-noticias/a32914713/the-last-of-us-serie-hbo-estreno-reparto-trailer/ > (Data Consulta: 7 d’abril de 2024)
Picture of the TV series.