A roundup of tutorials on how to capture the best possible image, technically.
Basic intro
A quick guide to the exposure triangle and other basic camera settings:
Camera Tools
As part of an introduction to a longer course, Matti Haapoja gives a brief overview of tools used for getting correct exposure on set (starting at 1:04):
Histogram
If you’ve ever adjusted Levels or Curves in Photoshop, you’ve worked with the histogram: a representation of how the range of tones, from dark to light, are spread across an image. Spread too much to one end or the other, means the image is either under- or over-exposed, and therefore losing detail. It’s also crucial in still photography – more on that, and the example below, from Shutterbug:
Zebra Pattern
Most often used to indicate where the image is being overexposed (or where detail is being lost). Wolfcrow suggests setting a second zebra pattern to indicate (Caucasian) skin tone (here’s a roundup of discussions about lighting black and brown skin tones).
False Colour
Aputure (featuring Ted from Indy Mogul) has a handy two-minute explainer on false colour and how to use it:
Scopes: Waveform + Vectorscope
Here’s a three-minute explainer about the Vectorscope, which is crucial in colour correction (via LensProToGo):
Further Viewing
Scopes figure prominently in post-production – so here’s a roundup of tutorials of scopes and colour correction:
Beyond getting a basic exposure, visual storytelling really begins with how contrast is managed:
The IRE system used in false colour measurement doesn’t directly correlate across the aperture range. In this clip, Shane Hurlbut ASC asks Ed Lachman ASC about his El Zone System, developed for “standardizing exposure in the digital age“…
… which is taken from their full-length conversation (via Filmmakers Academy):
Related Posts:
Film School: Practical Lighting Placing light sources within shots - and how it can improve them.
Film School: Chiaroscuro & Contrast Ratio Balancing light and dark in your image - the cinematic way.
Film School: Working with Natural Light A roundup of tutorials about working with only natural or available light.
Film School: Ways To Shoot A Commercial, At Home Insightful, inspiring tutorials - and a challenge to create your own product advertisement.
Film School: Lens Effects Create surreal, unique visuals and textures - in-camera, for next-to-no cost.
Film School: Shooting Interviews A collection of interview tips & tricks videos from some of our favorite channels.
Film School: Projector Lighting Effects A roundup of techniques for in-camera visual effects, and where and how they might be used.
Film School: Boring Locations Made Interesting ... using better staging and composition.