inquadratura

Inquadratura is a term used in cinema and photography to describe the framing of a subject within the frame. It encompasses what is captured by the camera, the camera’s position relative to the scene, and how the elements inside the frame are arranged. The inquadratura shapes focal emphasis, narrative focus, and the viewer’s perception of space and action.

Key variables of inquadratura include shot size and camera angle. Shot sizes are commonly described as primo piano (close-up), piano medio (medium shot), and campo lungo (long shot), with piano americano (three-quarter shot) used in some contexts. The camera angle can be high, eye level, or low, and the height and tilt influence perceived power, vulnerability, or distance. Lens choice and depth of field affect how much background is visible and how sharply foreground subjects stand out. Composition techniques, such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, symmetry, and balance, guide viewer attention within the frame.

In cinematography, inquadratura is inseparable from storytelling. It determines what the audience notices, when and how information is revealed, and how characters relate to space and to one another. It interacts with blocking and mise-en-scène, and editing decisions shape perceptual rhythm across scenes or shots.

Historically, the concept is central to cinematic language across traditions. In Italian cinema, for example, a preference for carefully crafted inquadratura coexists with long takes or piano sequenze that sustain a single frame to convey realism or intensity.