A Study on the Cinematography of The Revenant – Shot by Emmanuel Lubezki
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Importance of The Revenant in Lubezki’s filmography:
The Revenant was a significant project for Emmanuel Lubezki as it represented a departure from his previous work in terms of subject matter and visual style. Lubezki is known for his collaborations with director Alfonso Cuaron and filmmaker Terrence Malick, where he has developed a reputation for using natural lighting, long takes, and complex camera movement to create immersive, emotional experiences for the viewer. With The Revenant, Lubezki continued to refine his technical skills while also exploring new territory in terms of genre and storytelling. By working with director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Lubezki was able to challenge himself creatively while also contributing to one of the most visually stunning and ambitious films of the last decade.
One of the key reasons why The Revenant was so important for Lubezki is that it showcased his ability to capture the beauty and brutality of the natural world. The film is set in the American frontier in the early 1800s, and Lubezki was tasked with creating a visually immersive experience that transported viewers back in time. To achieve this, he utilised a variety of technical techniques, including the use of natural light, handheld cameras, and wide-angle lenses. The result was a film that felt raw, visceral, and authentic, and that showcased Lubezki’s technical mastery of the craft.
The Revenant was significant for Lubezki because it allowed him to collaborate with a director who shared his passion for pushing the boundaries of what was possible in terms of cinematography. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is known for his ambitious, unconventional storytelling, and he challenged Lubezki to use his technical expertise to bring his vision to life. Together, they created a film that was not only visually stunning but also emotionally powerful, and that showcased the true potential of cinema as an art form. The Revenant represents a high point in Lubezki’s career, and it solidified his reputation as one of the most talented and innovative cinematographers of his generation.
The Revenant utilised a variety of lenses, carefully chosen by Emmanuel Lubezki and his team to achieve specific visual effects and convey the mood and atmosphere of the film. Below is a detailed list of all the lenses used in The Revenant:
Arri/Zeiss Master Prime Lenses: These lenses were used extensively throughout the film, particularly in the wide and medium shots, to create a sharp, clean image with minimal distortion.
Arri/Zeiss Ultra Prime Lenses: These lenses were used in conjunction with the Master Prime lenses to achieve a specific look for certain shots, such as those with a more shallow depth of field or where a softer focus was desired.
Arri/Zeiss Master Anamorphic Lenses: These lenses were used for some of the film’s wider shots, particularly in the landscape and nature scenes, to create a more cinematic and immersive image with a wider aspect ratio.
Panavision Primo Anamorphic Lenses: These lenses were used for some of the close-up shots of the actors, particularly in the more intense and emotional scenes, to create a more intimate and personal image with a shallower depth of field.
Canon K35 Lenses: These vintage lenses from the 1970s were used for some of the flashback scenes in the film, to create a distinctive, grainy image with a softer focus and unique colour palette.
Canon EF Cinema Lenses: These lenses were used for some of the more technical shots in the film, such as those requiring specific filters or polarisers, and were chosen for their versatility and adaptability to different shooting conditions.
Overall, the selection and use of these lenses in The Revenant allowed Lubezki and his team to achieve a range of visual effects and create a unique and immersive visual aesthetic that helped to convey the mood and atmosphere of the film. The lenses chosen were carefully selected to fit the specific needs of each shot, and contributed to the overall success of The Revenant as a visually stunning and emotionally powerful work of cinema.
The lenses used in The Revenant, including the Arri Alexa 65 camera and the specific lenses chosen for different shots
The Arri Alexa 65 camera was a key component of the cinematography in The Revenant, providing a high-resolution image that allowed Emmanuel Lubezki to capture the stunning natural landscapes and visceral action sequences of the film. Lubezki and his team chose a range of lenses to use with the camera, each of which was selected to achieve specific visual effects.
For wide-angle shots, Lubezki used the Arri Prime DNA lenses, which provided a wide field of view while still retaining detail and clarity. These lenses were particularly useful for capturing the expansive landscapes of the American frontier, and for creating a sense of immersion for the viewer.
For close-up shots and medium shots, Lubezki utilised a range of lenses from various manufacturers, including Zeiss and Cooke. These lenses were chosen for their ability to provide a shallow depth of field, which allowed Lubezki to selectively focus on specific elements within the frame while also creating a sense of intimacy and tension.
Finally, Lubezki used a range of anamorphic lenses to achieve specific visual effects, such as lens flares and bokeh. These lenses provided a unique look and feel to the film, and contributed to its overall visual aesthetic.
The selection of lenses used in The Revenant was a critical aspect of the film’s cinematography, allowing Lubezki to achieve specific visual effects and create a sense of immersion and intimacy for the viewer. The use of the Arri Alexa 65 camera, in particular, provided a level of detail and resolution that was essential for capturing the stunning natural landscapes and intricate action sequences of the film.
Detailed analysis of how the lenses were used to achieve specific visual effects, such as shallow depth of field and bokeh
Emmanuel Lubezki is known for his masterful use of lenses to achieve specific visual effects in his films, and The Revenant is no exception. One of the key techniques he utilised was shallow depth of field, which allowed him to selectively focus on specific elements within the frame while blurring out the background. This technique was particularly effective in creating a sense of intimacy and tension in the film’s close-up shots.
To achieve shallow depth of field, Lubezki used a range of lenses with wide apertures, such as the Zeiss Master Prime and Cooke S4 lenses. These lenses allowed him to shoot at low f-stops, which in turn created a narrow plane of focus and blurred out the rest of the image. This technique was used in a number of scenes throughout the film, including the intense hand-to-hand combat sequences and the close-up shots of actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s face.
Another technique that Lubezki used to great effect was bokeh, which refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas of an image. In The Revenant, Lubezki utilised anamorphic lenses to create a unique bokeh effect that added to the film’s overall visual aesthetic. Anamorphic lenses stretch the image horizontally, creating a wider aspect ratio, and also compress the depth of field. This compression results in a distinctive bokeh effect, with out-of-focus areas taking on a unique, oval shape.
Lubezki’s use of lenses in The Revenant was a critical aspect of the film’s visual language, allowing him to achieve specific effects such as shallow depth of field and bokeh. These techniques contributed to the film’s overall sense of intimacy and immersion, and helped to create a visual language that was both distinctive and emotionally resonant.
The ISO settings used in The Revenant and their impact on the final image:
ISO, which stands for International Organisation for Standardisation, is a measure of a camera’s sensitivity to light. In The Revenant, Emmanuel Lubezki and his team utilised a range of ISO settings to achieve specific visual effects, with each setting having a different impact on the final image.
The Arri Alexa 65 camera used in The Revenant has a native ISO of 800, which is a good starting point for most shooting situations. However, in some cases, Lubezki needed to increase or decrease the ISO to achieve specific visual effects. For example, in low-light situations, such as the night scenes or the interior shots of the fur trapper’s cabin, Lubezki would increase the ISO to capture more detail and light in the image.
On the other hand, for scenes with a lot of natural light, such as the wide landscape shots, Lubezki would often decrease the ISO to achieve a more filmic look. Lower ISO settings can create a more natural-looking image with less noise and grain, which can be desirable in certain situations.
Lubezki’s use of ISO in The Revenant was a critical aspect of the film’s visual language, allowing him to achieve specific effects and create a distinctive look and feel for the film. The use of higher ISO settings in low-light situations helped to capture the details and nuances of the natural world, while the use of lower ISO settings in bright light helped to create a more natural and cinematic image.
How Lubezki and his team used different ISO settings to capture the varying lighting conditions in the film’s natural environments:
One of the defining characteristics of The Revenant is its use of natural light, with Emmanuel Lubezki and his team often shooting in remote wilderness locations and capturing the changing light and weather conditions of the environment. To achieve the desired look and feel, Lubezki and his team utilised a range of ISO settings to capture the varying lighting conditions in these natural environments.
In many scenes throughout the film, Lubezki and his team utilised the natural light of the sun, often shooting during the “magic hour” just before sunrise or sunset. During these times, the light is soft and warm, creating a beautiful and cinematic look. To capture these lighting conditions, Lubezki and his team would often use a lower ISO setting, such as 200 or 400, to achieve a natural and filmic look.
However, in other scenes, such as the intense hand-to-hand combat sequences or the nighttime scenes, Lubezki and his team had to use higher ISO settings to capture the details and nuances of the natural environment. In these situations, they would often use a higher ISO setting, such as 1600 or even 3200, to capture the necessary light and detail.
Lubezki’s use of different ISO settings to capture the varying lighting conditions in The Revenant was a critical aspect of the film’s visual language, allowing him to achieve specific effects and create a distinctive look and feel for the film. By carefully controlling the ISO setting, Lubezki was able to capture the natural beauty of the environment while also creating a cinematic and emotionally resonant image.
The aperture settings used in The Revenant, and how they were chosen to achieve specific effects
Aperture, also known as the f-stop, is a critical aspect of camera settings that determines the amount of light that enters the camera and affects the depth of field. In The Revenant, Emmanuel Lubezki and his team utilised a range of aperture settings to achieve specific visual effects and create a distinctive look and feel for the film.
One of the primary reasons for choosing a specific aperture setting is to control the depth of field. A shallow depth of field, achieved with a wider aperture (lower f-stop number), can create a cinematic look by isolating the subject and blurring the background. In The Revenant, Lubezki and his team used a shallow depth of field to draw the viewer’s attention to specific elements within the frame, such as the characters or the natural landscape.
Conversely, a deeper depth of field, achieved with a smaller aperture (higher f-stop number), can create a more naturalistic look by keeping more of the image in focus. This can be useful in wide shots of the natural environment or in scenes with multiple characters or elements. In The Revenant, Lubezki and his team used a deeper depth of field in many of the wide shots to capture the beauty and majesty of the natural environment.
Another reason for choosing a specific aperture setting is to control the amount of light that enters the camera. A wider aperture (lower f-stop number) allows more light to enter the camera, which can be useful in low-light situations, while a smaller aperture (higher f-stop number) allows less light to enter the camera, which can be useful in bright situations. In The Revenant, Lubezki and his team used a range of aperture settings to control the amount of light that entered the camera and to achieve specific visual effects.
Lubezki’s use of aperture settings in The Revenant was a critical aspect of the film’s visual language, allowing him to achieve specific effects and create a distinctive look and feel for the film. By carefully controlling the depth of field and the amount of light that entered the camera, Lubezki was able to capture the natural beauty of the environment while also creating a cinematic and emotionally resonant image.
How the aperture settings contributed to the film’s overall visual aesthetic
The aperture settings used in The Revenant played a crucial role in creating the film’s overall visual aesthetic. Emmanuel Lubezki and his team carefully chose specific aperture settings to achieve different visual effects and to convey specific emotions and moods throughout the film.
One of the most noticeable visual effects achieved through the use of aperture settings was the shallow depth of field, which created a cinematic look and feel. By using a wider aperture (lower f-stop number), Lubezki was able to isolate the subject and create a blurred background that drew the viewer’s attention to specific elements within the frame. This was particularly effective in close-up shots of the characters, where the shallow depth of field created an intimate and emotionally resonant image.
In addition to the shallow depth of field, the aperture settings also contributed to the film’s overall naturalistic look and feel. By using a deeper depth of field in many of the wide shots, Lubezki was able to capture the vastness and beauty of the natural environment in a way that felt authentic and immersive. This was particularly effective in the scenes where the characters were traveling through the wilderness, where the deeper depth of field created a sense of scale and perspective.
Finally, the aperture settings also contributed to the film’s overall mood and emotion. By using a range of aperture settings to control the amount of light that entered the camera, Lubezki was able to create specific atmospheres and moods throughout the film. For example, in the darker and more intense scenes, Lubezki used a wider aperture to create a sense of tension and urgency, while in the quieter and more contemplative scenes, he used a smaller aperture to create a sense of calm and introspection.
The colour palette used in The Revenant, including the use of natural lighting and the choice to shoot during specific times of day:
The colour palette used in The Revenant was a critical component in creating the film’s overall aesthetic and atmosphere. Emmanuel Lubezki and his team chose to shoot primarily with natural light, using the sun as their primary source of illumination. This allowed them to capture the natural colours and textures of the environment, and create a more authentic and immersive visual experience.
One of the key elements of the colour palette was the choice to shoot during specific times of day. Lubezki and his team made a deliberate effort to capture the warm, golden light of the early morning and late afternoon, which gave the film a distinctive and atmospheric look. This light was particularly effective in the scenes where the characters were traveling through the wilderness, as it created a sense of beauty and wonder that was both natural and cinematic.
In addition to the use of natural light, the colour palette of The Revenant was also characterised by a muted and earthy colour scheme. Lubezki and his team chose to desaturate the colours in post-production, giving the film a more subdued and naturalistic look. This approach was particularly effective in the scenes set in the winter landscape, where the muted colours helped to create a sense of isolation and desolation.
How the colour palette contributed to the film’s themes and mood:
The colour palette used in The Revenant played a critical role in shaping the film’s themes and mood. The muted and earthy tones used throughout the film helped to create a sense of realism and authenticity, which was particularly effective in the scenes set in the winter landscape. The desaturated colours in these scenes helped to emphasise the harshness and brutality of the natural environment, and to convey the sense of struggle and survival that was at the core of the film’s themes.
The warm, golden light used in the early morning and late afternoon scenes also contributed to the film’s themes and mood. This light conveyed a sense of beauty and wonder that was both natural and cinematic, and helped to emphasise the awe-inspiring power of the natural world. This was particularly effective in the scenes where the characters were traveling through the wilderness, as it highlighted the beauty and majesty of the natural environment, while also conveying the sense of danger and uncertainty that lay ahead.
The colour palette also contributed to the film’s overall mood, which was one of intensity and emotional rawness. The use of natural lighting and muted colours helped to create a sense of realism and authenticity, which in turn helped to intensify the emotional impact of the film’s narrative. The desaturated colours, in particular, helped to convey a sense of sadness and loss, which was a key element of the film’s themes.
The camera movement techniques used in The Revenant, including the use of handheld and Steadicam shots
The camera movement techniques used in The Revenant played a significant role in creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy with the characters and the natural environment. Director Alejandro Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki made extensive use of handheld and Steadicam shots, which helped to create a sense of fluidity and movement, as well as a sense of being in the moment with the characters.
The handheld shots in particular contributed to the film’s intense and immersive atmosphere. They allowed the camera to move freely and organically, capturing the action and emotion in a way that felt raw and unfiltered. This was particularly effective in the film’s action sequences, where the camera followed the characters through chaotic and violent events, such as the bear attack scene. The handheld shots helped to create a sense of urgency and danger, and put the audience right in the middle of the action.
Steadicam shots were also used in The Revenant, albeit more sparingly. These shots helped to create a sense of stability and control, which was especially effective in the scenes where the characters were moving through the wilderness. The Steadicam shots provided a sense of order and perspective, which contrasted with the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the natural environment. This was particularly evident in the long take sequences, such as the opening battle scene and the river rapids sequence, where the camera moves smoothly and gracefully through the action.
The camera movement techniques used in The Revenant were a key component of the film’s immersive and intense atmosphere. The handheld shots created a sense of immediacy and rawness, while the Steadicam shots provided a sense of stability and control. These techniques helped to create a visual language that was both dynamic and organic, and helped to convey the emotion and intensity of the characters’ journey through the natural environment.
The camera movement contributed to the film’s immersive, visceral experience for the viewer:
The camera movement in The Revenant played a crucial role in creating an immersive and visceral experience for the viewer. Director Alejandro Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki used a variety of camera techniques and movements to capture the characters and natural environment in a way that felt immediate and real.
The handheld camera shots, in particular, put the audience right in the middle of the action. These shots allowed the camera to move with the characters, following them through the wilderness and capturing their reactions and emotions in real time. This created a sense of intimacy and connection between the audience and the characters, which was essential in creating an emotional connection to the story.
The use of long takes and Steadicam shots also contributed to the immersive experience of the film. These shots allowed the camera to move smoothly through the action, providing a sense of flow and continuity that helped to convey the vastness and complexity of the natural environment. The long takes, in particular, created a sense of tension and suspense, as the audience was forced to watch the action unfold in real time, without the relief of cuts or edits.
The camera movement in The Revenant was also used to create a sense of physicality and sensation. The handheld shots captured the physicality of the characters’ movements, while the use of close-ups and point-of-view shots allowed the audience to experience the sensations of the characters, such as the cold water of the river or the pain of a wound. This created a sense of immersion that was both intense and visceral, and helped to convey the physical and emotional toll of the characters’ journey.
The camera movement in The Revenant played a crucial role in creating an immersive and visceral experience for the viewer. The use of handheld shots, long takes, and Steadicam shots helped to capture the characters and natural environment in a way that felt immediate and real, while also creating a sense of physicality and sensation that was essential in conveying the emotional and physical journey of the characters.
The different cameras used in The Revenant, including the Arri Alexa 65 and the specific lenses chosen for each shot:
The Revenant was primarily shot using the Arri Alexa 65 camera, which is a high-end digital camera known for its ability to capture stunning, high-resolution images. This camera was chosen for its ability to capture the natural environments and lighting conditions of the film in exquisite detail. The camera was also used with a variety of lenses, each chosen for its specific visual characteristics and ability to create a certain mood or effect.
In addition to the Arri Alexa 65, other cameras were also used in the production of The Revenant. For example, the filmmakers used the Red Epic camera to capture aerial shots of the natural environment and to create the illusion of flying through the trees. The filmmakers also used a variety of GoPro cameras to capture action shots, such as the scene where Hugh Glass is thrown off a cliff and tumbles down the rocks.
The lenses used in The Revenant were also carefully chosen to achieve specific visual effects. For example, the filmmakers used wide-angle lenses to capture the vastness and scale of the natural environment, while also using telephoto lenses to create a sense of intimacy and closeness to the characters. The lenses were also chosen for their ability to capture shallow depth of field and bokeh, which helped to create a dreamlike, surreal quality to the film.
The use of natural lighting and the specific time of day in which scenes were shot also played a crucial role in creating the visual aesthetic of The Revenant. The filmmakers often shot during “golden hour,” which is the period just after sunrise or just before sunset when the light is soft and warm. This created a natural, organic look to the film, and helped to convey the harshness and beauty of the natural environment.
The cameras and lenses used in The Revenant were carefully chosen to achieve specific visual effects and to capture the natural environment and lighting conditions of the film in exquisite detail. The use of different cameras and lenses, as well as the specific time of day in which scenes were shot, all contributed to the overall visual aesthetic of the film, creating a stunning and immersive viewing experience.
Lubezki and his team chose and utilised different cameras to achieve specific visual effects
One of the standout features of The Revenant is its immersive, visceral cinematography, which was achieved in large part through the use of a variety of different cameras. Emmanuel Lubezki and his team carefully chose and utilised each camera to achieve specific visual effects and to capture the natural environment of the film in exquisite detail.
For example, the filmmakers used the Arri Alexa 65 camera for the majority of the film, which allowed them to capture the vast, sweeping landscapes of the American wilderness with stunning clarity and detail. The Arri Alexa 65 is known for its ability to capture high-resolution images, and this was essential for conveying the rugged, unforgiving terrain of the film’s setting. In addition to the Arri Alexa 65, the filmmakers also used the Red Epic camera for aerial shots of the environment and to create the illusion of flying through the trees.
The use of different cameras also allowed Lubezki and his team to achieve a variety of different visual effects. For example, the filmmakers used GoPro cameras to capture intimate, up-close shots of the actors as they navigated through the rough terrain. This helped to create a sense of urgency and immediacy in the action scenes, and allowed the audience to feel like they were right there in the moment with the characters.
Lubezki and his team also utilised a variety of different lenses to achieve specific visual effects, which were often paired with specific cameras. For example, the filmmakers used telephoto lenses with the Arri Alexa 65 to create a sense of intimacy and closeness to the characters, while also using wide-angle lenses to capture the vastness and scale of the environment. The use of different lenses also allowed the filmmakers to capture shallow depth of field and bokeh, which helped to create a dreamlike, surreal quality to the film.