Workshop: Cinematography

Cinematography "Pointing with light"

Hard and soft light:


Hard Light:

• Defined shadows
• Small source of light

Soft Light:

• Softer shadow
• Large source of light

"The big paintbrush" lights:

• HMI - replicates daylight (at midday)
• Tungsten - practical light
• Kino flo lights - tungsten colour or daylight; creates soft light

Bouncing light is common (creates soft light)

Ask the question: is it hard or soft light?

3 Point Lighting

Key (Set First) = main light source 

Fill = adding detail (mostly in darker parts)

Back = separates actors from set

Lens Compression

• 135mm and below = tight shot
• 24mm and below = far apart
• 14mm and below = fish eye effect

- Each lens has a different compression and will either compress or expand space

-50mm is closest to human vision 

Ask the question: how are you trying to present the character?

Depth of Field

• More light coming in (more open aperture is) the more shallow the depth of field is
• Lower exposure means expanded depth of field

- ND (neutral density) filter (+ and - on C300 camera) cuts out wavelengths of light without changing exposure. This is useful for shallow depth of field in bright scenes.

-Dedo lights = small subtle "brushes" of light

Rule of Thirds

• Frame split into 9 rectangle sections. Different framing can impact the shot