Course Reflection

    This course has been a real eye opener for me, both looking outward and inward. I've learned a great deal about cameras and also the which ones to use for different situations. I've also learned how much I need to know about the camera before taking it into the field for shooting. I've also learned the difficulty involved in lighting shots. I have a much greater deal of respect for cinematography and using lights myself definitely humbled me when using them. Video production is a big thing for me. I learned how important it is to plan every little detail before you shoot: location, script, shooting list, story board, coverage, actors, floor plans, equipment list etc etc. Very Very IMPORTANT!! The book the filmmaker's eye should be required. I ordered it at the beginning of class and I believe it helped me a great deal with composition and the different ways to experiment with it. I thought that was an extremely cool book and it definitely helped me.

    I learned a great deal about equipment and theory etc but I really learned a lot about myself. I learned to be creative and go out and try something different. I found out what I liked, as far as films and how to look at cinema in a completely new way. It finally hit me that we are artists and we have the ability to create beautiful images that can change the world with our cameras and mind. I learned I need to be passionate about this art in order to really be good at it. I've come to appreciate other people in the craft as well. I just really enjoy it a lot more after taking this class. I love film and movies and I know that's what I want to do, but this class really solidified it for me. I'm definitely glad I took this class and I'm always going to look for more inspiration in my everyday life.

Reel/Artist Statement

      What is art? Can it truly be defined? Things like The Grammy Awards or the Oscars try to reward art. I think that's bullshit...to get a trophy for artwork. I consider myself an artist, not a very good one at this point, but I believe in myself and in the beauty this world has to offer. I'm extremely passionate about, in general, the Earth. Earth's natural landscape and the people on it, good or bad. I'm inspired by everything I see, whether it's a reed blowing in the breeze, the sun or moon casting shadows, children playing together, or the mom making the daily commute to work with an aged face. There's a story to be told in each of those and that's what I aim to tell. Incredible stories don't have to be written in some Hollywood studio's writing room with six chairs and an espresso machine. They're all around us, naturally occurring day by day and I want to tell these stories, mainly through the avenue of documentary film making.

    My style is yet to be established. I'd be lying to you if I told you I had a definitive style. I enjoy shooting little things around us, things we normally wouldn't notice, trying to give them their moment in the spot light. So if that's my style then I guess I do have one. When I'm more certain of it I guess it'll show up in my work. There are a million stories to be told, and my goal through documentary film making is not to tell all of them, but if I can tell a few and those few can impact a viewer's life, then I will have succeeded in my goal as a filmmaker. To impact people's lives through this beautiful style of art we've chosen to participate in.


http://vimeo.com/33322644

What I've Learned

     I feel like I've learned a great deal in taking this course. I've learned how important lighting is and how to compose and capture really beautiful shots. I've come to appreciate films more, because of the beautiful cinematography. I've also learned more about the cameras available to use as well as the type of equipment I need on set of productions. I find myself observing light much more, in film and my natural world. I'll walk into a room now and look for the light source and how it lights the room, where the shadows fall etc.

    I think my strengths at this point in my learning career would definitely be framing and composition. I really look for that in shots and I think that is very important. When I rush my stuff I believe sometimes I overlook the framing but I really want to work to create these beautiful shots I see others do all the time. I've also been able to  narrowly define what I like, what I would like my style to be. I love documentaries but I really love film noir and I really want to make a short noir film. I've also learned to look to paintings for lighting and tonal inspirations. You've definitely given me the tools and areas of the craft to study to become better. I'm not sure what I want to do in the field. At this point really anything, but I want to experiment with abunch of things to find something I like and am good at. I also have a great deal of respect for my classmates. I appreciate everyone's point of view and helpful comments. I think we are such a diverse class and seeing that come to life in our work is really cool to me.

Best Camera

As far as cameras go and the technology I still have much to learn. I believe I know the basics on how they work and the basic advantage/disadvantages of most of the cameras in the TCF department. I understand how the chip type and size effects the camera, what too look for when selecting a camera such as film modes, HD capability, versatility, how it performs in certain light conditions, and how easy they are too function. I personally like the easier more user friendly cameras but that's just because I'm a novice. I'm sure once I learn more about them, I'll use the better cameras.

I prefer the DSLR T2i. I think it performs well and for the price produces very good images. I like the functionality as well as the portability. I'm also really into messing with the depth of field in images and I like the way the T2i captures those shots. I also am more into the run and gun style as far as shooting and I enjoy the lightweight DSLR. I am also intrigued by the new Sony FS-100. I like the feel and look of it, and I think it produces very good images. I like how you can deconstruct the whole camera into different pieces. I look forward to using it in the future.

DSLR Camera's

The first advantage of DSLR photography is the price. The camera's are relatively inexpensive and are capable of capturing equal or in some cases better images than much more expensive video cameras. The variety of lenses allows for a great deal of versatility. The Zeiss Primes are very nice and can produce beautiful images. DSLRs are very good at crushing depth of field, are relatively light in weight, easy to move and can take single shots and still film in 1080p when in video mode. Some limitations to the DSLR's are they are not very good at moving shots. The image gives a "wiggle" effect when panning to fast. Also, video takes can only be in 12 min per take. Not a terrible problem for me but could be for others. Files must also be converted in order to edit in Final Cut. The cameras also are notorious for over-heating, which isn't a huge deal but can be annoying if it over-heats right before you can get that magic shot.

Cinematographer's Style

I had mixed feelings about this movie, just one thing that bothered me in particular. I wish they would have put the names of each person being interviewed next to them throughout the whole film, rather than just them telling the audience their name at the beginning. For me, it was very hard to keep track of who was who when it would cut from them later. Aside from that, I thought the movie was very useful in discussing cinematography as an art and giving me a greater appreciation of the trade.


I really liked how each different artist was lit in a unique way. It made me wonder if they chose to light each artist based on their own personal style of lighting. I thought that would have been a cool concept. I really liked the guy that compared lighting to jazz music. You learn everything you can about the art, but everyday it changes and things can change rapidly. I thought that was a very cool comparison to make. I also didn't realize the importance of DP's in the production of commercials, being able to grab an audience in such short periods of time. I liked the idea of "happy accidents", that even pro's can stumble upon the unexpected and make them work to their advantage. Also how every person can have the same technology available to them but the images must come from them. They are able to create different images and tones with the same types of technology. I really liked the guy who worked with the Coen brothers and the guy who did Gangs of New York that was inspired by Rembrandt. Overall I enjoyed the movie.

Scene Assignment Reflection

First of all I'm not proud of the look, style or outcome of my scene assignment. I rushed the production and wasn't able to get the proper coverage. I also had to use two different cameras with two different light kits which caused a different look and feel to the different shots in the piece, which I believe really took away from the scene in general. The first part I shot on the JVC, which was ok.... but not perfect. The second part was shot on the FS100, which to me is a better camera but I failed to secure the Arri light kit and was forced to use the Keno's, which gave it a different color temperature then the shots I filmed previously. I blame only myself.


  I learned that producing narrative scenes take time, especially in pre-production. Also, what can go wrong while shooting, will go wrong. I needed to be more familiar with lighting techniques and also the strengths and weaknesses of each camera. Instead I tried to wing it and the results definitely show this. I was embarrassed to screen it in class and the embarrassment I felt has pushed me to prepare myself more. In the future I will know my equipment, rehearse with my actors, use multiple takes when needed and not rush my framing/lighting.