Visual storytelling defined: The art of photography in a motion picture


Image source: careersinfilm.com

Everybody loves a good story. Film is a great medium that tells stories through sound and pictures in motion. Nowadays, anyone can call themselves photographers and cinematographers thanks to the technology becoming increasingly accessible. Photography student Fred Brisker shares in this blog the basics of cinematography.

In essence, cinematography is both the art and technology of creating motion pictures. Cinematography deals with mise-en-scène or scene composition, camera choice, lenses, films, filters, camera movement and angles, lighting, and special effects if needed. No two scripts demand the same cinematography. The art of photography in a motion picture goes beyond recording the actors in location or on stage. It is an integral part of bringing the script to life.

Image source: backstage.com


As directors are in charge of giving notes to actors and actors responsible for their performance, cinematographers are at the helm of the visuals that contribute to the storytelling. The camera placement, camera angle, camera movement, lighting, focus, composition, and other creative and technical choices made by a cinematographer are instrumental to the overall look of the film.

A film's cinematographer is also known as the Director of Photography or DOP, shares Fred Brisker. A DOP works closely with a director to ensure that their creative choices match the director's vision. Independent films, especially those that have a limited budget, may employ the expertise of a DOP for cinematography and ask them to operate the main camera as well. This is a usual case for film students and independent production houses.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What you need to know about Frusciante’s return to the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Image
Image source: wikimedia.org Fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers welcomed the news of John Frusciante’s return to the band in December 2019. The announcement came via the band’s Instagram page but not before mentioning on the same IG post the departure of the band’s erstwhile guitarist for the past 10 years, Josh Klinghoffer. Photography student and RHCP fan Fred Brisker believes Frusciante’s return was a long time coming. The band wasn’t even the same without him, Fred muses. But what could be at stake now that the eccentric guitarist is back in the Chili Peppers fold? In some interviews last year, John often compares this reunion as “…returning to family. I’m extremely comfortable with those people. It was as if no time had gone by at all when we started playing, pretty much, with a couple of minor exceptions, like how Chad and I got our communication together in a new way.” John later admits, “Before I didn’t even know the difference between a ride cymbal and a crash cymbal.
Read more

Tips when photographing wildlife

Image
Image source: photoblog.com Photographing wildlife could get you accolades in the world of photography. However, it could also get you killed or seriously injured if you haphazardly photograph wildlife in their territory. Shooting a wild animal with a camera doesn’t stop them. This is why it is imperative that wildlife photographers master the disciplines when taking nature photography. Photographer Fred Brisker believes that there is a great deal of respect needed for one to become a good wildlife photographer. Keep in mind that a wildlife photographer is and will always be an ally of nature. Here are a couple of tips you need to follow to keep you safe when photographing wildlife. Learn as much as you can about your subject If you have a particular subject in mind like a water buffalo or a hippo, it is necessary to know as much as you can about them in terms of how they interact with their surroundings. Key questions to ask include “Are they aggressive,” “What is t
Read more

Shooting in the wild: The best shots

Image
Image source: phototraces.com While Fred Brisker loves shooting events such as fashion shows, his training allows him to be versatile enough to take his passion of photography almost everywhere. In today’s blog, Fred Brisker shares some tips for nature photography, in hopes of helping newcomers to the hobby find the best images when they shoot in the wild. Wide-angle lenses For nature shoots, Fred Brisker highly recommends using wide-angle lenses. There are a lot of wide natural landscapes that can occupy a really large field of vision with a host of wildlife. Wide-angle lenses allow photographers to capture everything crisply, from a field that serves as a backdrop for a family of elk passing by, or a jaw-dropping sea and sky view that gives life to a flying flock of birds. Image source: digitalphotomentor.com Long-range lenses If wide-angle lenses catch a wide range of vision, long-range lenses allows photographers to capture wild animals from a distance without distu
Read more