Question : Does knowing, learning photography helps you become a better moviemaker?
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Michael Carter
Veteran
I shot fashion and product for about 15 years and then video got affordable. Being second-nature with shutter & aperture is a big deal. But you can learn it just as easily for video. (Roger Deakins stared as a still shooter as well).
But generally, you can take way more photos than you can shoot footage. My wife's got this amazing sense of composition, just with her phone camera. I mean, she sees really interesting photos while I just walk right by. So framing and composing as often as possible is good training. As is getting to know your lenses and finding the looks that appeal to you with different glass.
But generally, you can take way more photos than you can shoot footage. My wife's got this amazing sense of composition, just with her phone camera. I mean, she sees really interesting photos while I just walk right by. So framing and composing as often as possible is good training. As is getting to know your lenses and finding the looks that appeal to you with different glass.
Paul Hudson
Vacuum Tube Member
If you want to be a cinematographer that is taken seriously know everything about aperture, shutter speed, shutter angle, distance to subject and from background and how everything is in some way related to the other. Study the masters of art; Rembrandt, Renoir etc... and how they expressed light.
Finn Yarbrough
Well-known member
Yes.
Bruce Watson
Veteran
+1. And the technical aspects of exposure -- shutter speed, aperture, iso.
mdifilm
Well-known member
I started shooting video in 1998 with 16mm cameras. I learned about proper film light, aperture, light meter usage, etc. and that have helped me to become a better editor and director. I know about lighting but I am no DP. However what I learned had shaped me become who I am.
pulpfiction007
Veteran
I think they go hand in hand personally.
egproductions
Veteran
no
....just kidding, yes!!!!
....just kidding, yes!!!!
Leon Bailey
Well-known member
This is what I would say. I started photography after I began video and it has helped me with a whole lot.
alaskacameradude
Veteran
Yes, and no. Yes, still photographers know composition and lighting. They can take
that over to video, and it helps a lot. As does the knowledge of different lenses and
what 'looks' they give you.
However, there are some 'gotchas' to look out for as well. First, audio. Yup you really
need to worry about audio now, something still photographers don't have to think about at
all. Getting good audio can make or break your 'films'. I see a lot of still shooters just
laying music beds over their video because they forget to get 'nats' and good external
audio of their subjects. Second, sequencing. You have to think about the shot before, and
the shot after the shot you are getting right now. Building sequences is how motion pictures are
made. Again, this is not something that is usually a strong point of still photogs transitioning
to moving pictures. Thirdly, you have to think about some technical things in a different way.
For example, some stills guys will just 'crank up' their shutter speed when shooting in daylight.
After all, when they shoot portraits, and they want to use F1.4, they set the shutter to 1/1000000
of a second (ok maybe a slight exaggeration but you get the idea). So when they move to motion
pictures, they do the same thing. And that isn't necessarily a good thing if you are not going for
the 'strobing' type 'Saving Private Ryan' look. For most natural looking stuff you want to use
a shutter speed of twice your frame rate, to get natural looking motion blur. So for 24P video,
you'd use 1/48 shutter speed. I was amazed when I worked as an AC with some fairly
well known DP's from NY. They came up as DSLR guys and just cranked their shutter speed
way up on everything, never used ND's, even when the subject matter had a lot of motion in
it (you can get away with high shutter speed for landscapes and such, but once you have lots
of motion, it can be readily apparent that the motion blur looks 'off'). Far be it from me to tell
them how to do their work, but that wasn't how I learned to do things.
So basically, yeah being a still photographer can help. But motion pictures is a different (although
similar) beast and you have to think about some things in a different way. As usual, practicing a lot
will help!
that over to video, and it helps a lot. As does the knowledge of different lenses and
what 'looks' they give you.
However, there are some 'gotchas' to look out for as well. First, audio. Yup you really
need to worry about audio now, something still photographers don't have to think about at
all. Getting good audio can make or break your 'films'. I see a lot of still shooters just
laying music beds over their video because they forget to get 'nats' and good external
audio of their subjects. Second, sequencing. You have to think about the shot before, and
the shot after the shot you are getting right now. Building sequences is how motion pictures are
made. Again, this is not something that is usually a strong point of still photogs transitioning
to moving pictures. Thirdly, you have to think about some technical things in a different way.
For example, some stills guys will just 'crank up' their shutter speed when shooting in daylight.
After all, when they shoot portraits, and they want to use F1.4, they set the shutter to 1/1000000
of a second (ok maybe a slight exaggeration but you get the idea). So when they move to motion
pictures, they do the same thing. And that isn't necessarily a good thing if you are not going for
the 'strobing' type 'Saving Private Ryan' look. For most natural looking stuff you want to use
a shutter speed of twice your frame rate, to get natural looking motion blur. So for 24P video,
you'd use 1/48 shutter speed. I was amazed when I worked as an AC with some fairly
well known DP's from NY. They came up as DSLR guys and just cranked their shutter speed
way up on everything, never used ND's, even when the subject matter had a lot of motion in
it (you can get away with high shutter speed for landscapes and such, but once you have lots
of motion, it can be readily apparent that the motion blur looks 'off'). Far be it from me to tell
them how to do their work, but that wasn't how I learned to do things.
So basically, yeah being a still photographer can help. But motion pictures is a different (although
similar) beast and you have to think about some things in a different way. As usual, practicing a lot
will help!