How To Start A Cinematography Essay
Starting a cinematographic essay is much like starting any other type of writing project- you need to do some research, make an introduction, and discuss the importance of this topic. When beginning to write about cinema as a medium, there are two important things to note.
First, your audience will probably have different ideas about what makes up part of the definition of cinema. This can be difficult to navigate since not everyone agrees!
Second, there are many ways to describe what exactly cinema is. Some people may feel that describing it as a form of storytelling or emphasizing its use in media marketing is too limited.
This article will go into more detail about how to start a cinema essay by defining what film is first, before moving onto discussing why film is such an integral part of our culture.
Equipment You Should Have in Your Camera Bag
A good starting point for aspiring cinematographers is knowing your camera! There are many brands that have gotten their start due to the artist’s talent behind the lens, but none bigger than filmmaker George Lucas who now owns the rights to the Star Wars franchise.
He made his name as director with such classics as THX 1138 and American Graffiti before moving into more elaborate stories like The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. His expertise eventually paid off when he was hired to direct The Phantom Menace in 1999. He still uses Canon equipment to this day!
If you are passionate about cinema and would like to make a career out of it, then investing in quality gear is your first step towards achieving that goal. Luckily, most major manufacturers these days offer affordable beginner packages or even entry level cameras. Starting at around 1,000 dollars, they are perfect to get yourself up to speed on capturing cinematic footage.
Equipment You Should Have in Your Lighting Bag
A standard camera bag should have space for your computer, cell phone, and all of your lenses. Beyond that, you want to be sure to include at least two light blankets or sheets, plastic wrap, paper towels, and/or cardboard boxes to protect your lenses from moisture.
You also need an external power source for your equipment so it can function properly while away from electricity. This can be done many ways like using a portable battery pack or solar panel.
Last, you will want to make certain you are well prepared before you take your first photo! Learning how to use your new gear is very important before going outside and trying to apply what you know.
Tips For Great Photography
Starting with general tips, we will now discuss how to start your own cinematographic journey!
A great way to begin is by listening to music while you work. There are many ways to use music in filmmaking, but for starting out, using songs that relate to what section of the project you are working on can be very helpful.
For example, if you are editing down here, then maybe no one has heard or seen your movie yet, so why not create some hype? If you are filming outside, then try to find a setting that is rich with nature around it, and add some more natural light.
If you are shooting indoors, then choose settings and locations that have lots of textures and materials. Add some lights!
Overall, use familiar tunes to help get into the right mood, and give yourself time to really feel this new skill.
Ways to Improve Your Photography
As we already mentioned, creating great images is more than just knowing how to use your camera! It is also about having fun with it. The way to get into that state of mind is by exploring different genres and styles of photography.
There are many ways to improve as a photographer. Some are more formal (like taking pictures in nature) while others are more creative (such as experimenting with new photographic techniques). Either one can be helpful for you if you want to take your art seriously.
Start looking through online photo galleries and compare yourself to what artists have done before. You will quickly learn something from their work!
Some people prefer using natural light over artificial light, so pick a setting or create a setting that most photographers would use and then experiment with changing settings and see what works best for you.
General tips such as keeping your hands still and avoiding excessive eye contact help eliminate uncomfortable feelings and distractions which may prevent you from capturing beautiful photographs.
Find Your Own Style
As we have discussed, there are many ways to start writing your cinematography essay, so it is important to choose one style that you feel most comfortable in.
That being said, if you want to get really creative then try experimenting with different styles to see what works for you! There’s no wrong way to write an essay as long as you use appropriate grammar and punctuation.
Hopefully you will continue to develop your skills by practicing more frequently, and yourself! Keep seeking out tutorials, watching movies, reading books, and talking about cinema to learn as much as possible.
Think About What You Are Taking Photos Of
As mentioned earlier, cinematographers are very creative individuals who have their own style that they develop over years of practicing filming and editing videos and still images.
Their styles come from many things, but one of the most important ones is what they feel like taking pictures or video of.
The way they edit photos or film down is influenced by how they planned the shoot. For example, if a cameraman was planning to take a few minutes long walk outside, he will probably not start recording unless there is something directly in front of him.
This is because he has enough time to prepare before shooting so his mind is already set on what he will be doing later. He anticipates the shot and is ready for it!
Likewise, if someone asked you to take a picture of them with a nice soft light, then you should totally agree! It’s an interesting challenge and can inspire some new lighting techniques.
Be Creative
Starting a cinematographic style of writing is not like starting any other genre or type of writing. This can be tricky for some writers because it requires you to look at the literature from past years and think about how they structured their ideas.
Writing in this style takes time to learn, which is another reason why it is difficult to start writing essays using this method. It may take you weeks to months to get your feet wet, but don’t give up!
Do not worry if you make a mistake, there are plenty of online resources and books that can help you fix it. There are even courses available via YouTube or Google Books that can teach you the basics of writing in this style.
There are many ways to approach writing a cinematography essay, so do not feel limited by what format we mentioned above.
Use Your Lights More Than Your Camera
As we discussed, cinematographers use many different types of lights in their work, but they always begin with at least one light source.
In fact, when they start shooting a scene, they usually have several sources. They may position some directly overhead or under a certain window, place others next to a wall or other object, create additional ambient lighting by using available natural light, and so on.
But even after all that, there’s still more they can do.
For example, during filming I sometimes see the DP add an extra lit lamp beside the bed. This is because she or he has run out of direct sunlight and needs another source. Or maybe there isn’t enough daylight coming into the room, so they supplement this with a desk lamp or computer lamp.
Either way, these additional lamps help illuminate the area and give you your required exposure.