Early films:
No film really captures reality in its entirety. Film makers decide where to place the camera and what the audience will see, These are decisions made by film makers from a number of choices possible called variables. Film makers choose a specific variale for a specific effect.
Early films are very similar to still photos from the point of view of movie making. The big difference is that the images move rather than being stationary. Later the camera starts to take a more active role. The camera begins to move - often in phantom rides - where it is placed on a moving object like a boat or train. The camera also begins to move on its own axis (pans and tilts).
Early films tend to be one shot. Later films shots are strung together. Early films tend to document events - especially performances (Lumiere Brothers and Edison) while Melies did more "special effects" which allowed for things to happen which would not be possible on a stage.
Early films tend to lack plot. "The Gardiner" is one of the first to have one, although it too is one shot with no camera movement. The Great Train Robbery and Trip to the Moon are early films with plots and are made up of many shots.
Early films tend to be black and white (and various shades of gray) but there develops a process of giving some bit of the frame some color by painting it in and by tinting the entire scene.
Click on the film for more information about that film: