Movies not only inspire but they are great learning tools for composition and lighting too.
Composition Tip:
A mistake I notice quite frequently among photographers is their obsession to shoot Portrait compositions (vertical framing) much more frequently than Landscape (horizontal framing). Sometimes I will review a persons work and more than 90% of their photos are shot vertical or portrait style.
Example of “landscape” (photo is more wide than tall)
“Portrait” framing (photo is more tall than wide)
Landscape composition in general is far more compelling than portrait framing. First of all, that is the way we naturally see- our two eyes see things in a horizontal plane. Portrait compositions are a lot more easier to compose because it is very easy to fill up the frame this way but when using landscape framing, composition becomes increasingly harder because the photographer has to arrange more elements and make it pleasing to the eye. Landscape compositions are harder to compose but have more impact when done right.
Before I became a photographer, I was partner in a graphic design company for 12 years. Not only did I design but I was also an art director so naturally composition was a lot easier for me to pick up than most people getting into photography. I find that many graphic designers can be good photographers because they are trained to arrange elements in a pleasing manner.
Also, my obsession of movie watching helped. The 16:9 big screen ratio trained my eye to creatively view things in this orientation. Attention all photographers- going to the movies and your DVD purchases are all business write offs!
A while ago I saw the movie “Atonement” and the cinematography in that movie should get an Oscar Nomination. I swear the director of photography is a photographer because some of the shots and angles used are exactly how I would have shot it in my camera! I wouldn’t mind seeing that movie again just to study the lighting and photography, it was gorgeous.
The next time you view a movie, consider it a photography class in composition and lighting!!!
Want to learn more about photography? Come to my class on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 in Pleasanton and I will show you how to shoot images in a cinematic way.
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