Alfred Hitchcock is one of the all-time great auteur filmmakers. His films can be explained in the simplest of terms: You know it when you see it. Over 55 years, Alfred Hitchcock directed dozens upon dozens of films, some of which have joined the pantheon of the greatest movies in cinema history. In this article,… Continue reading 30 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies Ranked for Filmmakers
Have you ever stood next to a work of art and felt small? Whether it was a sculpture, painting, or building, odds are whoever created it aimed to make you feel that way. And they achieved this through scale. Human beings have a natural awareness of size and space. Artists often use this awareness to elicit… Continue reading What is Scale in Art — Composition Techniques Explained
Historical polymath Leonardo DaVinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Simplicity, ironically, can be a complex philosophy to analyze. When it comes to art, simplicity is often subjective for both artists and those consuming the art work. What is simplicity in art and composition? How does its function change between artistic mediums? And why do… Continue reading What is Simplicity in Art — Composition Techniques Explained
What is flat lighting? You may have heard the term applied to a sitcom or used derisively in a critique of a film’s cinematography, but what does it actually mean? We’ll be providing a definition for flat lighting, explaining the causes and how to avoid it, and detailing when and why flat lighting might actually… Continue reading What is Flat Lighting — Photo & Film Examples & Techniques
What is a megapixel? And for that matter, what does it mean for a phone to have a 10 megapixel camera, or for a monitor to have a 1080p resolution? We’ll be answering all of these questions and more. By the end of this post, you will know everything you need to know about megapixels.Continue… Continue reading What is a Megapixel — Art & Science of Megapixels Explained
How to Use Color in Film: 50+ Examples of Movie Color PalettesLearn how to pick the right color schemes to create and memorable and meaningful visual aesthetic. Download Now How to Use Color EbookUnderstanding color schemesIn this ebook we explore the various color techniques, and provide color scheme examples from noteworthy films that utilize color… Continue reading How to Use Color in Film – FREE Ebook Download
Сhristopher Nolan’s eleventh feature film Tenet became the first major Hollywood film to release in theatres amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Nolan’s persistence for a theatrical release makes more sense upon an initial viewing of the spectacle that is Tenet. The film is a labyrinth woven of threads reminiscent of past works. The intense battle scenes… Continue reading What is Tenet About? Nolan’s Tenet Movie Plot Explained
When most people think of balance in art and composition, their mind automatically thinks of perfect symmetry. While symmetry is the most straightforward way to achieve visual balance, many artists have veered away from the technique because of its frequency in art and redundancy. Instead, many modern artists have leaned into the use of asymmetrical… Continue reading What is Asymmetrical Balance in Art — Composition Techniques
“Foreground” is a commonly known term even among beginner photographers and filmmakers. Despite this, beginner photographers and filmmakers commonly make the mistake of not using foreground in their shots to create more beautiful and effective images. In this article, we’ll take a look at the various benefits of using foreground elements in photography and why you… Continue reading Foreground Elements in Photography & Composition Explained
What is the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom? Is one better than the other? We will be answering those questions and providing definitions for both types of zoom. Before we get into comparing and contrasting optical zoom and digital zoom, let’s first take a look at each zoom type individually.Continue reading Optical Zoom… Continue reading Optical Zoom vs. Digital Zoom — Why the Difference Matters
What is Photorealism as an art style? The name might sound self-explanatory, but the truth is a bit more complicated, and there are a number of details and historical insights that present photorealism in a new light. The term can also mean slightly different things depending on the context. We’ll be telling you everything you… Continue reading What is Photorealism — The Art of the Real Explained
Euphoria is one of the most popular shows on television, and its success is in large part due to its distinct visual style. The Euphoria cinematography became iconic right from its pilot, and its influence can be seen in many shows and films that have come in its wake. Euphoria’s singular look comes from a confluence… Continue reading Euphoria Cinematography Analysis — Lighting, Movement, and Oners
There are certain compositional techniques that make a shot visually beautiful. There are other compositional techniques that are effective at visually telling a story. The frame within a frame does both. And any compositional technique that can tell a better story while simultaneously creating a more cinematic shot is worth learning about. What is a… Continue reading What is a Frame Within a Frame — Composition Techniques
There is something incredibly satisfying about symmetrical balance in art. While you may not be able to define it (yet), most people know it when they see it. From architecture to paintings to photography to cinema, symmetrical balance is a tool used by artists of all mediums. Why is the technique used, beloved, and sometimes… Continue reading What is Symmetrical Balance in Art — Composition Techniques
There’s no question that Denis Villeneuve knows how to create a memorable scene. His distinct, visually striking style lends itself to profound cinematic moments that leave an imprint long after you exit the theater. One of such scenes is undoubtedly the Sicario border scene. Sicario is one of Villeneuve’s most complex works, with open-ended morality and… Continue reading Sicario Border Scene Breakdown — How to Direct Tension like Villeneuve
Tall buildings, smoke filled rooms, femme fatales, people on the margins of society, late nights, bright signs….and cybernetic implants? No, it’s not film noir, it’s Cyberpunk. It’s a sub-genre that has slowly but surely integrated itself into popular media from the 1970s all the way to the 2020s. Taking inspiration from hard boiled fiction and… Continue reading What is Cyberpunk — Genre Definition, Origins & Examples
Most people understand the term “positive space” simply as the subject of a work of art. While this is true, there is much more to this concept than that. What is positive space in composition and what is it used for? The presence of positive space may be a given, but how it is used… Continue reading What is Positive Space in Art & Film — Composition Techniques
We often describe a movie we’ve seen, a novel we’ve read, or even a video game we’ve played (such as Red Dead Redemption) based on how “realistic” it seems — how closely it hews to real life experiences or feelings. But movies, novels, and games are by their definition not real. They are fictional creations… Continue reading What is Realism in Art — Examples & Characteristics Explained
What is white balance? White balance is a vital camera setting to properly calibrate in order to achieve your desired image. If you have ever taken a photograph or video and found the result to look unnatural blue or yellow, then improper white balance is to blame. We’ll break down what white balance is, how… Continue reading What is White Balance — How it Works and Why It Matters
What is day for night? And, perhaps more importantly, is it a good idea? There is plenty of debate over the effectiveness of day for night and, even though the technique is used in plenty of feature-films, many filmmakers wouldn’t touch day for night with a ten-foot pole. In this post we will be defining… Continue reading How to Shoot Day for Night — Tips & Techniques Explained
