How Does Cinematography Work
As we learned before, cinematographers use light to create mood and convey messages. They also use different tools and techniques to capture specific shots. These include gels, filters, reflectors, strobes, and more.
Cameras themselves come in many shapes and sizes. Some are very wide angle, others long focus, and some even have telescopes! The size of the sensor or film stock can play an important role in how much control the artist has over what is being captured.
This article will go into greater detail about all these components and why they matter. We will also take a look at some of the gadgets that help artists achieve their vision.
There’s no wrong way to be creative as a photographer or filmmaker! If you feel inspired, try experimenting with new lighting styles or camera angles. You never know what will work until you experiment.
Equipment needed
So what is it that makes up professional cinematographic gear? Obviously there are lenses, light sources, gels, reflectors, and studio settings such as backdrops or green screens to name a few. Beyond that, you will need good hands to operate all of these pieces and someone who knows how to use them!
The most expensive piece of equipment in the filmmaking toolbox is definitely the camera. A very popular budget option for filmmakers is the GoPro. These cameras can easily be picked up online and in stores for under $500!
There are many reasons why the GoPros have become so popular. They are small, easy to use, and contain lots of features. Some even include computer software to enhance filming and editing! The one thing that may turn some people off is that they do not take great quality pictures.
This does not matter much if your goal is to make beautiful looking videos, but if you want to preserve crisp, clear images then investing in higher end equipment is worth it.
Camera movement
A camera move is when the photographer or filmmaker adds some degree of fluidity to the shot. This can be done by having the lens move longer, shorter, left to right, up and down, or even backwards and forwards.
A common way to add intensity to an otherwise static scene is to use a pan (move in the direction the camera is pointed) or a tilt-up (where the angle of the lens rises). Both of these create a more dramatic photograph because they make the image feel bigger and space out the eye.
Another very popular way to do this is a dolly! The term ‘dolly’ comes from its inventor, Frank Doolittle who patented his design in 1908. He called it a “movable platform for supporting and traversing light stands and/or cameras”![1]
These days, there are many different types of dollies available. Some have wheels while others do not. Many have additional accessories that help keep the dolly stable as it moves.
Choosing the right lens
A good starting point when it comes to choosing your first camera is figuring out what kind of images you want to make. There are two main types of shots that most people use in photography.
The first is taking close-up pictures, also called portraits. This type of shot is great for capturing intimate moments such as kissing your lover goodbye or holding hands as you walk away from each other.
The second is creating wide angle photos. These can be very dramatic, with lots of empty space around you. For example, if you’re photographing a house, a wide angle lens will give you an impressive view of the area outside the house.
Some cameras come with their own built-in lenses! Find yours by looking under optical systems at the back of the camera. Lenses are either full frame (1x focal length) or cropped sensor (0.7x focal length).
A full frame lens has longer exposure times than a crop sensor so it’s not ideal for everyday use. However, they take better quality photographs because there is more room for light to hit the subject.
If you’d like some wider coverage but still have control over depth of field, then a panoramic photo may be the perfect solution. You can buy pre-packaged kits online or get professional help at a camera store.
Understanding the elements of composition
The next fundamental element of cinematographic storytelling is understanding the concept of composition. This term comes from the word “composition”, which refers to how individual parts relate to each other and contribute to the whole. When used in filmmaking, composition teaches us about the way light interacts with both objects and spaces within your frame.
When editing your film, you will need to consider balance, rhythm, and unity when composing shots. These are some very basic concepts that every filmmaker should know!
Balance occurs when one part of the image is not completely dominated by another. For example, if the lens is wide, then there is less chance of the subject being cut off. A balanced shot gives the viewer a sense of ease because everything else in the picture has enough space to exist.
Rhythm is the underlying pattern or flow achieved through repetition. Certain styles use repeated patterns constantly throughout the movie, while others may have longer sequences with only few instances. Both types of scenes create an effect for the audience and make the story more engaging.
Unity is also referred to as parallelism. It means all parts work together to form a unified image or theme. For instance, if the camera is looking at just a wall, it creates a feeling of seclusion. If the camera is looking at someone, it elicits strong emotions such as fear or desire. By having several different angles, shifts in focus, and intensity of emotion, we achieve unity.
Color correction
When color is wrong, it can be tough to identify. Some people are very good at telling if something is off by just looking at it!
However, filming with correct colors can be tricky since there are so many sources of color in film. Lighting, gels, filters, and overall exposure all contribute to how strong or weak an area looks.
Correcting for color during production can be expensive, which is why most studios have colorists that work under budget constraints. On set, you may notice some tricks being used to make sure everything looks okay, such as using neutral-colored clothing to even out shadows, placing white cards next to windows to lighten them, and using gray card images to create proper exposures.
Post-production is where filmmakers take their movie’s look one step further. Settings are adjusted, levels are raised or lowered, and color adjustments are made. This is usually done after the photography stage because too much photo editing could remove part of the luster that comes from mixing natural light and artificial light.
These settings and tweaks are mixed together to get the perfect look for the movie. General guidelines include making things brighter, colder, and more vibrant, and reducing shades of red and blue. Part of this process also includes choosing appropriate backgrounds and leaving enough room around subjects for the eye to focus on texture and shape.