What is a Crane Shot? And Why Do the Pros Use Them So Often?

Types of Camera GearOpen menu Tripod Handheld Drone Dolly Steadicam Crane Shot TypesOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Camera Movement Master Class Create Free Shot List Now → The crane shot allows the audience to leave a normal point of view, creating a novel perspective that’s inherently cinematic. Whether you’re an… Continue reading What is a Crane Shot? And Why Do the Pros Use Them So Often?

What is a Macro Lens? Tips and Techniques on How to Use One

Types of LensesOpen menu Lens Basics Prime Lens Zoom Lens Anamorphic Lens Focal LengthsOpen menu Wide Angle Lens (14mm – 35mm) Standard (35mm – 70mm) What is a 50mm Lens Good For 35mm vs 50mm Lenses Telephoto Lens (70mm – 200mm) Create your free shot list → Macro lenses are part of every professional photographer… Continue reading What is a Macro Lens? Tips and Techniques on How to Use One

How to Shoot the Best Fight Scenes Like Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes

You grew up watching the best fight scenes and loved every bone-cracking minute of them. They are one of the reasons you became a filmmaker, and perhaps you’ve already put together a few of your own. But for some reason… they just don’t play the way you had hoped. It’s not like you don’t know how… Continue reading How to Shoot the Best Fight Scenes Like Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes

Eye Level Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Angles & Shots

Types of Camera AnglesOpen menu Low Angle Shot Eye Level Shot High Angle Shots Dutch Angle Shot Overhead Shot Aerial Shot Explore More ShotsOpen menu All Camera Shots Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Most filmmakers understand the cinematic power of a shot with an extreme angle, but what happens when you use… Continue reading Eye Level Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Angles & Shots

Deep Focus Shot: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

Types of FocusOpen menu Shallow Focus Deep Focus Rack Focus Zoom Shots Dolly-Zoom (Zolly) Tilt-Shift More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now → W hen you’re shooting a scene there are a lot of choices to be made about what’s in the audience’s focus. If you want… Continue reading Deep Focus Shot: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

Carl Zeiss Cinema Lenses: The Best Showreels and Shorts

Types of LensesOpen menu Lens Basics Prime Lens Zoom Lens Anamorphic Lens Focal LengthsOpen menu Wide Angle Lens (14mm – 35mm) Standard (35mm – 70mm) What is a 50mm Lens Good For 35mm vs 50mm Lenses Telephoto Lens (70mm – 200mm) Create your free shot list → How do you go about capturing cinematic footage?… Continue reading Carl Zeiss Cinema Lenses: The Best Showreels and Shorts

The Wide Shot: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

Close UpsOpen menu Extreme Close-Up (ECU) Medium Close-Up (MCU) Medium ShotsOpen menu Medium Shot (MS) Cowboy Shot (CS) Medium Full Shot (MFS) Wide ShotsOpen menu Full Shot (FS) Wide Shot (WS) Extreme Wide Shot (EWS) Create Free Shot List It can be difficult to convey the importance of a landscape or emotion, especially when framing… Continue reading The Wide Shot: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

Cinematography Advice from SNL Director of Photography Alex Buono

BasicsOpen menu What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur ResourcesOpen menu Essential Cinematography Books Top 100 Cinematography Films Videography Contract Template Best Cinematography Schools How to Join the Cinematographer’s Guild Best Cinematography Online Courses E-BooksOpen menu FREE E-Book: Camera Lenses Explained FREE E-Book: Exposure… Continue reading Cinematography Advice from SNL Director of Photography Alex Buono

How to Shoot B-Roll Footage on the Cheap

B-Roll BasicsBest B-Roll WebsitesHow To Shoot B-Roll We’ve all seen B-roll in our favorite content, but how does a filmmaker shoot cinematic B-roll footage without a big budget? Our video below will take you through these considerations step-by-step so that you can learn how to shoot B-roll efficiently while also elevating your music video, commercials,… Continue reading How to Shoot B-Roll Footage on the Cheap

What is an Establishing Shot? Creative Examples that Set the Tone

Types of FramingOpen menu Establishing Shot Single Shot Two Shot Over the Shoulder Insert Shot POV Shot More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now → You’ve written a script or maybe you’re trying to figure out a script’s shot list. You know what the film is… Continue reading What is an Establishing Shot? Creative Examples that Set the Tone

What is Deep Depth of Field? Definition and Examples

Dof basicsShallow dofDeep dofDOF GuideTYPES OF CAMERA FOCUS If you’re just getting your feet wet in photography or videography, you’ve probably heard one million terms tossed around that either mean nothing to you…yet, or you know of them, sort of, but you’re not entirely sure how they all work together. Whatever your skill level, this… Continue reading What is Deep Depth of Field? Definition and Examples

What is Depth of Field? Examples of Shallow vs Deep Depth of Field

Dof basicsShallow dofDeep dofDOF GuideTYPES OF CAMERA FOCUS If you’re hoping to become a great photographer or videographer, utilizing every tool at your disposal is the safest and smartest way to get there. One tool that can level-up your skill set is depth of field. Understanding depth of field is tantamount to not only craft,… Continue reading What is Depth of Field? Examples of Shallow vs Deep Depth of Field

Focal Length: An Easy Guide to Using and Understanding Camera Lenses

Types of LensesOpen menu Lens Basics Prime Lens Zoom Lens Anamorphic Lens Focal LengthsOpen menu Wide Angle Lens (14mm – 35mm) Standard (35mm – 70mm) What is a 50mm Lens Good For 35mm vs 50mm Lenses Telephoto Lens (70mm – 200mm) Create your free shot list → Every choice you make as a filmmaker will… Continue reading Focal Length: An Easy Guide to Using and Understanding Camera Lenses

Shot Reverse Shot: Reaction Shots, Cutaways, and Coverage

Editing EssentialsOpen menu What is Film Editing Types of Editing Transitions How to Become a Film Editor What is a Film Cut What is a Freeze Frame DownloadablesOpen menu Free Video Transitions Free Sound Effects for Video Editing Best Free Video LUTs Ding Sound Effect Download Muzzle Flash Effect Download Free Fog Overlay Templates Editing… Continue reading Shot Reverse Shot: Reaction Shots, Cutaways, and Coverage