Guide To Cinematography
As we continue our journey as cinematographers, it is important to know your equipment! There are so many ways to achieve beautiful shots that it can be confusing trying to figure out what tools are needed for what kind of shot.
This article will talk about all the major pieces of gear used in cinematography, how they work, and some tips and tricks to use them. It’s like getting professional level training without paying the expensive market price!
We'll also go into detail about some of the more specialized camera types such as dollies, cranes, and rotators. Learning these parts of production technology makes creating engaging stories possible.
There are several different routes you can take towards becoming a successful DP, but one thing is certain- great lighting, composition, and editing always play an integral part.
Different film stocks
There are many different types of film stock that cinematographers use in filming projects. Some are better for certain scenes or applications, while others are totally dependant on the effect you want to achieve.
Film stocks are made up of two main components: color and tone. The color is determined by how much red, green, blue (RGB) light is absorbed into the stock, and then modified later. For example, some colors like RED are more powerful than BLUE because they absorb less red light, so it must be boosted after processing.
Tone is also important because some films have very contrasty shadows and highlights which can easily distract from the rest of the movie if not balanced properly.
Studio lighting setups
A studio setting is any space that has dedicated light sources, such as lamps or lights hung from ceilings. These types of settings are very popular because they do not require outside light for filming!
Studio lighting is essential when cinematographers work with still photographs in editing or graphic design departments. Due to this, most film studios have large spaces filled with heavy-duty lighting.
These lights can be powered by electricity or battery so there’s no need to worry about running out of power! This also helps reduce costs since you don’t need to purchase expensive electrical equipment to use these lights.
Some examples of common studio lighting includes strong overhead lights, additional floor lamps, beamers (lamps with many small bulbs under one big bulb), and even strobe lights!
Strobe lights are great for adding some extra oomph into a scene! They are typically used to create an effect similar to lightning which creates dramatic suspenseful music and imagery.
Finding the perfect location
A great starting place for finding locations is looking at pictures of areas that you love, or that make you feel passionate. If there’s something you admire about a certain area, consider if it would be possible to film there!
Many studios will pay homage to an inspiring setting with a small fee. Or maybe they’ll even use it in a movie!
By being aware of your surroundings, you’ll know what makes you happy and these opportunities may present themselves. Plus, shooting where you live can help reduce the cost of filming significantly!
Finding free natural light is one of the most important things when it comes to cinematography. Photographing during daylight hours is usually your best bet unless paid photoshoots are available.
Getting permission to shoot
A lot of great cinematographers don’t start their career shooting without getting some experience under their belt, which is totally fine! But before you can do that, you have to know what shots are allowed where, and more importantly, how to ask if a shot is okay.
It’s pretty easy to take creative pictures when you’re in a studio or at night, but during the day? That gets a little trickier. Luckily for you though, we’ve gathered some helpful tips about asking for permission to film here.
Know your audience
As we mentioned before, cinematographers have different styles that they use in their work. This is due to personal style, genre, market demands, etc. Therefore, it is important to know who your target audience is so you can match your film with theirs.
If your movie is targeted at children, then probably not too many people will appreciate very artistic shots and flashy lighting. For this reason, think about what kind of visuals appeal to you as a person and create those for your films!
Your personality comes through when you shoot your movies, so make sure to expose yourself to new types of content to find yours. General crowd-pleasers like action or horror films may feature more elaborate special effects and settings, but this does not mean they are good ideas if you do not like them.
For example, an action movie might feature lots of bright flashes and loud noises, which some people cannot handle due to visual overstimulation. Conversely, other people might love these because they like the way they enhance the story and emotion.
Equipment upgrades
A lot of people start taking photography more seriously when they realize how expensive some pieces of gear can be! This is totally fine, but you should know what products have come down in price over time so you can pick up a few bits and bobs later.
There are several ways to lower your equipment costs slowly over time. The best way depends on your budget and whether or not you’re investing in new parts that will last.
Some things like good quality lenses cannot be guaranteed to stay within budget unless you do some research and look around. Make sure to check out all of their features and compare them with similar ones before choosing one.
This article will talk about some easy ways to reduce the cost of lighting, digital cameras, and gimbal systems.
Practice makes perfect
As with any skill, cinematography takes practice and time to develop. There are many ways to learn how to light a scene or take pictures of a sunset. Starting off by experimenting in low-key environments is a great way to hone your skills before moving onto bigger projects.
Just because you can’t pay for expensive gear doesn’t mean you should stop trying to improve your craft! Many professional cinematographers started out shooting with inexpensive equipment before investing in more advanced tools.
By keeping up production levels, you’ll naturally be making use of all the features in their paid package new toys.
There are plenty of free resources available to anyone who wants to get into filming. Online tutorials are very popular these days as most people have access to a computer and internet.