Using the Focal Plane Indicator
Have you ever wondered what that circle with the line directly down the center of it on your camera means? If you’re a photographer, you probably haven’t even really paid much attention to it, but if you’re a cinematographer you likely have an idea of not only what it is – but also why it’s […]
What’s the Difference Between T Stop VS F Stop?
Aspiring cinematographers frequently focus on understanding the F-stop but sometimes overlook the importance of the T-Stop. The difference in T Stop VS F Stop is something that many cinematographers don’t fully focus on. Many focus solely on the t-stop whereas many photographers will focus on the f-stop, but what’s the difference between the T stop […]
What is the Vertigo Effect in Film?
If you’ve ever had vertigo before, such as is often caused by inner ear infections, you know the sort of out of body kind of feeling that comes from it. It’s like you’re there, but you’re really not. As if you’re watching something occur, from outside of your body. This unnatural effect that we feel […]
What is Rotoscope Animation?
Animating a film takes a lot of time, technique, and creativity. It’s about more than just adding some cartoon characters or special effects and it requires more technique than ever before in order to stand out as a solid, professional animator. Perhaps you’ve heard the term rotoscoping as a technique used in animation before and […]
What is the Film Plane Indicator that Odd Symbol on the Camera
Have you ever seen that small circle on your camera that appears to have a line drawn right down the center of it? If you’re wondering what the weird symbol on your camera is, it’s your film plane indicator and it actually has several uses. While the name of this helpful little object comes back […]
How is Shutter Speed Measured?
When cameras were first introduced, shutter speed was a representation of the amount of time (in seconds) that the camera’s metal shutter would remain open to allow light to come in to create the image before the metal shutter would clamp back down. Shutter speed is one of several elements represented in the exposure triangle. […]
How Does the Hole Size in Aperture Sight Determine the Distance to Shot?
Understanding your equipment is one of the most challenging, and equally rewarding, educational opportunities that a newly aspiring cinematographer or photographer can get involved in. The more you learn about your camera’s structure and the role that each working part plays in configuring your shot, the better you’ll be at using your equipment to create […]
Understanding the Difference Between Vibrance VS Saturation
Post-production editing workflows will involve a variety of tasks that draw the editor’s eye toward the details of an image in order to make just the right type and amount of adjustments to improve the level of quality in such a way that the audience can’t help but to pause and relish in awe of […]
What Does Aperture Do?
As a cinematographer it’s important for you to learn how your camera equipment works and to understand the relationship of various working parts to the images you capture. One such working part that is important for every cinematographer to understand is aperture. Aperture is the term used to describe the hole in a camera that […]
What’s the Difference Between the Rule of Thirds vs Phi Grid?
In filmmaking key components of any great cinematography are impacted by composition. But understanding composition requires a deeper level interest in how image placement and fundamentals play a key role in achieving impressive framing on the screen. Composition, or the basic framing of the shot, is often thought of in terms of geometric lines and […]