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Cinematography Vs Traditional Videography

Addison Smith

As we can see, cinematographic filming is an extremely popular way to capture stories. It was first used in storytelling many years ago, and now it has become the new normal for capturing important moments.

Films like The Wizard of Oz or Happy Gilmore tell their story with cinematic styles and features that have grown more prevalent over time.

But what if we got rid of the camera? What if we took away all the equipment and resources needed to create a movie and just had access to our own voice and computer?

Well, that’s exactly what YouTube is trying to do! They are creating a platform where anyone can make a video and add media and effects onto it.

This article will talk about some of the differences between traditional videography and filmmaking using this tool called Youtube.

Differences between cinematography and traditional video

While both use light to shape perception of space, settings, and moods, their purposes are different. With traditional filming, the focus is more on telling a narrative story.

With cinematography, the goal is to create an immersive experience that leaves the viewer feeling connected to the setting, the other characters in the scene, and the movie or show as a whole.

This difference arises from how film was developed. As mentioned before, early filmmakers used dry plates and natural light to accomplish this. However, as technology advanced, camera equipment became lighter and easier to handle, allowing for longer exposure times and more creative control over production.

These advances allowed for more cinematic styles of filmmaking, which we now refer to as cinematographic.

Equipment needed for each

cinematography vs traditional videography

While most people associate cinematographic filming with expensive gear, that is definitely not the case anymore! With every filmmaker having access to a large amount of technology these days, it is easy to create beautiful shots that use very little equipment.

Traditional cinema still uses lots of equipment, but some of those pieces can be replaced or even eliminated completely. This article will talk about why this is and which ones are important to have if you want to start creating cinematic style videos.

The biggest difference between traditional videography and cinematic styles is how light is used. In video production, lighting is an integral part of the final product. It can make or break your piece depending on what effect you desire.

This article will go into more detail about different types of lights, what effects they produce, and how to use them in your own creative process.

Understanding lenses

cinematography vs traditional videography

A lens is an integral part of a camera, used to focus light onto a sensor or device where pictures are recorded. There are many different types of lenses, with each one being suited for a purpose.

A wide-angle lens has a wider field of view than normal length lenses! This means that it will appear as though you have made the scene longer by using this lens. For example, if you take a picture of your friend’s house, then a tree outside their home, the whole frame feels long and empty.

By using a wide angle lens, your photo takes up more space which creates an illusion of depth. The way this works is by making everything look very tall and thin. It also makes things feel larger than they actually are! This can be useful in documenting large spaces, like houses, hotels, or landscapes.

Camera equipment comes with at least two standard zoom lengths: short and long. Short zooms usually go from closeup to medium distance, while long ones go beyond that. These are typically referred to as ‘normal’ length lenses.

However, there are some cameras that offer variable focal length (or crop factor) modes instead. With these, you get shorter and longer versions of the same lens, just dependent on what content you want to capture! Some brands even have professional level gear that can do 1:1 magnification!

The most important thing about lenses is the f-stop.

Know your camera body

cinematography vs traditional videography

A lot of people start filming with a smartphone or SLR that has built-in features like autofocus, flash, and more advanced settings such as ISO, white balance, and shutter speed. These are all great additions but they can get expensive!

The first step is to evaluate your budget and see what you can spend without too much hassle. Make sure you're aware of how many photos and videos you have on your device before investing in additional equipment.

It's also important to know your camera body well. The term body refers to where the lens attaches to the rest of the camera. There are different types of bodies for different purposes. For example, full frame cameras have bigger sensors than normal ones and produce higher quality images.

Full frame is not necessarily better than standard sensor size unless you plan to do very large prints or video editing. It depends on your needs and what kind of pictures you want to take.

Know your camera settings

cinematography vs traditional videography

A growing number of filmmakers are now experimenting with different styles to tell their stories. Some use special filming techniques, or what’s called cinematography, to create more dramatic scenes or unique visuals.

The key difference between traditional video and cinematic style shooting is in how close or far away the camera is from the subject. When you're filming someone for a normal video, they usually hold up a phone so we can see their face, but beyond that there's not much else going on.

For cinema-style videos though, it becomes more like a storyboard where everything is integral to telling the tale. More complex settings require better cameras with tighter controls, and professionals have to invest in these to achieve great results.

There are many types of professional grade cameras, but most feature adjustable zoom levels and focus. These tools allow you to get closer to or farther apart from people and things to make sure everyone is included and the right amount is covered.

Take your time and practice

cinematography vs traditional videography

As with any other artistic expression, cinematography requires some practice to perfect. Just like painting or drawing, filming is not done in a quick minute period of time. It takes longer than simply holding down the camera button and hoping for the best!

Filmmaking is an art form that demands investment in the medium. You will need proper training, you will need to invest in equipment, and most importantly, you will have to be motivated by creating beautiful stories and experiences for others.

Many people start experimenting with shooting videos before investing in professional grade gear. This can sometimes lead to poor quality footage that may even make it hard to watch.

Don’t worry, this article is full of helpful tips and tricks that are easy to implement into your filmmaking career! Read on for more information..