5 Fantastic Tips for the Aspiring Cinematographer

"5 Tips for the Aspiring Cinematographer

Study

Study as many techniques as possible and try to be on top of the latest technology. The internet is a wonderful learning resource and this is only one of thousands of web sites where you can learn about film making, cinematography and lighting.

You can also buy books on cinematography there are hundreds of cinematography books on amazon.com. I also recommend getting a subscription to the American Cinematographer Magazine. It doesn’t end at that…watch movies! Pay attention to how the light falls, light quality and camera language. Cinematographers are always striving to be better and push the limits of the technology and you have the ability to be right there with them.

Get a DSLR

Photography is the basis of cinematography, through photography you will learn framing, composition, exposure, etc. If you are shooting 16mm or 35mm you can use your DSLR to get an idea of how your lighting will look before you roll on it. Not only that but most new DSLR’s have the ability to shoot HD video. That’s all that you need to start shooting and getting your work out there. You don’t need to invest in a $100,000 camera package to start shooting quality work.

You can find great deals on DSLRs at your local retailers or online. Some of the best online prices for DSLRs are from Amazon.com and BHPhotoVideo. You also don’t need to invest in the best glass like Zeiss Cp2′s or Canon “L” Series either. Old Nikon lenses can be found on eBay and adapted to various mounting types."