With That Flow - Music Video - [2mins] thoughts on cinematography/editing?

I thought overall it was pretty good; the colors looked good and there was nice image clarity with a filmic look.

The shot where the singer was dimly lit and the lights were facing the camera was not ideal, although it looked like later it was addressed with lighting the singer in that shot. You also don't want to subject your image sensor to bright lights facing it for prolonged periods or could cause burn-in/ruin your camera.

Hand-held is acceptable, but excessive/fast motion or overly rocky images creates a distraction and makes the viewer aware of the filmmaking process/lose the sense of immersion in watching the video. If many of those shots were on a tripod, the viewer would be more focused on what's going on inside the image.

Less is more.

If hand-held, keep it steady. A little bit of sway is acceptable.
 
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Hey, first of all, a promising pice of work. One can see the talent, so please take my critique with ease:

Check the in and out points of your editing - if there's for example a camera movement from left to right edit exactly at the point where the camera comes to a halt - never allow from that point a half hearted movement back for three or four frames - that certainly ruins the edition.

Go more with the rhythm - edit on the beat (exceptions are allowed IMO).

Don't edit too many takes with equal or similar value. Especially at the beginning there were many medium long shots following each other - that caused a strange but not very consequent nor efficient jumpcut-effect. Later into the clip ther values of the shots were more different - not only in that context I liked that close up of that eye!

I'd liked to see less handheld shots and more of those creeping slider movements. You could have used that resource a bit more.

And last not least - lightning is a craft that one has to learn going a long way. I only can include myself here as I generally shoot with existing light. But the basic idea to light the clip low key was accomplished. So I keep my fingers crossed - It seems you are already half way through a steep learning curve!
 
Awesome glad you enjoyed it. Yes I wish I had the rapper lit up better during that scene. The background came out lit pretty well and I had the bright lights facing the camera really just to mimic other music videos I've scene, but would it be better to have them more at an angle? I was trying to get some back lighting around the edges of him, but it seems like i basically just silhouetted him instead -.- What is Burn-in?

Lots of people are getting distracted with me moving the camera. In the past, people would compliment it, but really I think i've grown to rely on it too much and end up over using it. Next time I will come up with shots that don't need excessive movement to be interesting.

Thanks a ton for your feedback!
 
I used a canon t2i and a t3i.
I mainly used my canon efs 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 and a 50mm 1.8
I also used a decent steadicam for one shot, a gini shoulder rig, and an igus DIY slider.

Ill have to get back to you on the specs of the lights since I had a gaffer come in who owned the lights.
 
Much appreciated!

I didn't put as much editing into it as i would have liked and i definitely could have cleaned up some of the cuts. You are basically saying that if the camera is moving I should cut before it comes to a halt or changes directions?

I tried to edit to the beat, but I must have missed some spots. Either way I know it could have been cleaned up you are right.

Do you think I should have come up with more diversity of shots?
I'm working to use the slider more I just hate when I use it and then it comes out jerky later when I'm watching on my computer! I used WD40 on my slider this time though so I think I'll do that more often in the future, it helps a lot.

I'm glad you have something good to say about the lighting! I know how important it is in creating something more professional rather than something any amateur could film with their dslr. Especially considering I shoot with a t2i and a slow lens (ill upgrade one day!)

Thanks again!
 
kcarnes said:
You are basically saying that if the camera is moving I should cut before it comes to a halt or changes directions?
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Exactly when it comes to a halt. That's the rule - but of course rules are there to be broken :happy:.


kcarnes said:
Do you think I should have come up with more diversity of shots?
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I was not criticising the diversity or the lack of it. At the beginning there were various shots with a similar angle of view and the same subject - the rapper. A sequence of such similar shots - similar in the sense of angle of view and the repetition of the subject - tends to look strange. Of course, in a controlled and conscious manner, one can use it as a technique.

kcarnes said:
I'm glad you have something good to say about the lighting!
Click to expand...

I'm not very skilled at lightning but have some basic knowledge. I learned that the single most important technique is the following: First lighten the scene in a flat manner as bright or mellow as you wish. Then define the sensitivity of your camera and the f-stop of your lens. Don't touch the camera and that base-light again while you are accentuating your lightning with additional light!

If you wish to create a bright border surrounding the subject it is easier to achieve that with lights positioned off-frame behind and above or at the sides of the subject. Of course you are free to use a visible light that creates the IMPRESSION of being the source of that bright border.
 
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