The Cinematography of Jaehyun’s Music Videos

The art behind NCT 127's Jaehyun’s solo discography.

What is Cinematography?

Cinematography is the art of telling a story with visual elements. The cinematographer or director of photography (DOP/DP) works hand in hand with the director to bring the director's story to life. While at times it is unclear whether specific elements of a video are the idea of the director or cinematographer, the element is still referred to as cinematography. 

Cinematography includes many elements in a film such as “lighting, framing, composition, camera motion, camera angles, film selection, lens choices, depth of field, zoom, focus, color, exposure, and filtration” according to MasterClass.

Although cinematographers play a crucial role in making sure everything on screen lines up cohesively to execute the story, not every set has a director and cinematographer. While it's not as common on larger productions, directors can also serve as cinematographers on the same project. To do both, it requires extreme attention to detail with skills in both practical and artistic direction.

“HORIZON”

Jaehyun's “Horizon” music video, directed by Byul Yun in Florence, brings all the seaside European summer vacation feels. 

Byul Yun utilizes many camera techniques, but the scenes that really stand out are the handheld shots. The free movements of Jaehyun and the camera give home video vacation vibes and the sunkissed coloring brings the scene to life.

“DANDELION & ROSES”

Two songs off of Jaehyuns debut solo album J were combined into the video “Dandelion & Roses.” The video is directed by Byul Yun, who Jaehyun worked with for “Horizon.” The cinematographer of the video is Jung Inseok also known as “dontgoyet.”

Between the wide shots and bright natural light in “Dandelion,” the cinematography gives the vibe an open and warm feel. The video shifts into night as “Roses” starts with darkly lit scenes that pair well with the angsty lyrics to tell a story of jealousy and heartbreak. 

“SMOKE”

“Smoke,” the title track of Jaehyun’s debut solo album was directed by Lee Raekyung (also known as Itchcock). Raekyung teamed up with cinematographer Yun Inmo, who she often works with.

The video is mostly black and white, save for a handful of green and yellow-lit scenes. The opening scenes consist of close up static shots before Jaehyun starts singing. Quick camera movements are avoided and substituted with stationary shots which add to the old school film vibe that is created with the set and wardrobe. 

“UNCONDITIONAL”

The solo artist’s last release before his enlistment, “Unconditional,” was directed by UK-based director, Dir. LX.

The scene changes are highly action motivated, often changing with Jaehyun’s hand movements. Although it's not very apparent, a common transition used throughout the video is a bright flash. 

Dir. LX uses many manual zoom-ins and zoom-outs, creating the casual atmosphere in the video. The outdoor scenes are brightly lit while many of the indoor scenes are dingy. 

At the end, Jaehyun lights a rose on fire before dropping it on a heart-shaped gasoline trail. After the fire is introduced, it becomes the main source of light reflecting on his face.