How To Be Good At Cinematography

As mentioned earlier, cinematographers are very talented artists. They use their knowledge of light, space, shapes, and colors to create beautiful images that appeal to the eye.

Their artistic talent is not limited to creating aesthetically pleasing scenes with pretty lights and curves; they also know how to take away from the scene something more dramatic or powerful.

They understand shadows, silhouettes, and how to emphasize them for effect. And of course, they are familiar with all types of lighting - natural sunlight, fluorescent bulbs, studio lights, you name it!

Overall, being a good photographer does not mean only taking pictures of landscapes and people; there are many ways to be creative beyond just that. Being a good filmmaker is no different.

Having a basic understanding of the art form of cinematography will help you become a better shooter. You can start by learning the basics of light, composition, and focus before moving onto other equipment and modes.

Practice filming with a camera

After you get the hang of shooting with a still lens, it’s time to move onto filming with a camera! This is much more advanced than taking photos because you are also adding another layer to your movie - the cinematographer.

The person responsible for creating shots in a film is usually referred to as a filmmaker or director. More experienced filmmakers hire other professionals to help them with their projects, just like we hired professional photographers before.

By practicing your filmmaking skills by yourself, you will be able to identify potential problems that could arise and how to fix them. You can do this by renting a video camera or buying one if you are very dedicated.

There are many ways to practice your cinematic storytelling skills, such as writing a script, acting out scenes, re-enacting filmed clips and so on. A great way to hone your cameraworking chops is to start exploring different styles and techniques.

Keep up with new techniques

As we mentioned before, cinematographers are always looking ahead of what will be hot trends in filming and close-up styles. They strive to stay one step ahead by attending workshops and seminars, reading books and watching documentaries about different shooting methods and tips.

There is no specific course that teaches you everything there is to know about film making, but there are many ways to learn some fundamental skills such as lighting or composition. By adding these into your repertoire, you’ll feel more confident when trying out something new.

You can also keep experimenting outside of school settings by taking photos or videos yourself and then studying how the pros do it. There are lots of free resources available online!

Another way to improve your filmmaking talent is to work for other filmmakers. Many people gain inspiration from the way others shoot their films so asking them to show and tell you all they know could help you take your own style learning further.

Create a lighting setup

A good cinematographer always has their own light sources in place before filming, and they are very creative with them!

In your own career as a filmmaker, you will have to be able to create your own lights so that you can film some of these shots yourself if needed.

As you begin your journey as a DP, try experimenting with different types of lights for different looks. There are many ways to use light in photography and filmmaking so do not feel limited or too academic about it.

Learn about different camera locations and settings

As we've discussed, cinematographers have lots of different tools they can use in filming and editing scenes. One of the most important is their knowledge of where and what kind of camera settings are used for various shots.

The number one mistake new filmmakers make when it comes to coverage is not knowing how to use diagonals effectively. Diagonal lines are those that angle up or down the frame; this creates an interesting shape for the frame.

Using diagonals correctly is very important because it gives your film some unique qualities. Not only do they look cool, but using them helps tell the story more clearly as well. They also give you another way to emphasize certain elements in the scene.

Knowing which angles work best in each situation can help you create effective stories every time.

Be familiar with all the important equipment

As we discussed, cinematographers have very specific tools that help them achieve their artistic vision for a film. They are extremely close to their own personal style, so they usually bring along their own gear to use while filming.

In order to be a good filmmaker, you must be familiar with every piece of camera equipment! This includes not only how to use it but what it adds to the movie as well.

For example, even if you do not plan to become a cinematographer yourself, you should take some time to understand why having an off-camera light in your filmmaking is essential.

There’s more about this under the heading “Become More Knowledgeable About Lighting.

Learn to use your creativity

As we have seen, being able to recognize good cinematographic styles is an important part of becoming a great photographer or filmmaker. But beyond that, what really sets the professional caliber photographers are dependent upon is their ability to add something new to their style.

As you begin exploring different genres and styles, try experimenting with new approaches and techniques. When shooting stills, test out new settings and poses to see how effectively you can translate them into cinematography.

When filming, look into advanced camera angles and setups that you could never do before. The more you expose yourself to, the better artist you will become!

Another very integral part of being a successful cinematographer is learning when to be hands-off and letting the director take control. This is particularly true in documentaries where there isn’t as much story structure involved. A lot of famous filmmakers (like Robert Rodriguez) started off doing low budget movies and only later were asked to direct theirs.

However, if you are ever given the opportunity to direct your own movie, don’t waste it! Get in there and start telling stories through editing and camerawork.

Learn to edit your videos

After you master lighting, gels, exposure, contrast, and other fundamental camera settings, it is time to start editing your video!

The first thing most cinematographers do after they learn their light sources are windows, cars, or any kind of natural ambient light, is color grade the footage in Adobe Premiere Pro or similar software.

After this, many filmmakers add in VFX such as green screens or digital effects to make the scene look more lush or create totally new scenes. Some use both!

By adding these textures, directors can bring in some seamless transitions and build up an immersive experience for the viewer.

There are so many ways to take pictures with a camera! By learning how to light, shoot, and edit a movie, you will find yourself creating engaging stories that gain attention quickly.

Know your camera angles

A key part of being a great cinematographer is knowing your camera angles! There are nine main camera angles in film, and depending on what kind of movie you’re making, there can be more than one of each.

The most basic type is the close-up or medium shot, where we see only half of the person’s face. This is usually done for narration or when something important is happening that requires attention from the audience.

A second is the long take, which is completely off-the-cuff and not scripted. These are very popular in films like The Shining or One Shot. A good example would be if someone was running away or jumping off a cliff - the director will have the actor run down the beach as far as they want before letting them go.

Third is the reverse angle or backpedal, typically used when someone or something is moving forward. For instance, when someone runs towards another person or jumps onto a vehicle. Backwards movement is pretty common in filming human actions.

Fourth is the overhead or top down view, such as when watching basketball or hockey games on TV. An example would be when the cameraman is shooting a field with netting up, it becomes their background.

Fifth is the wide-angle lens, similar to having binoculars so you can get a wider perspective.