This one is self explanatory. It’s a few years old but every bit as relevant now as the day it was shot. The object was to get a very quick idea of the sensor’s low-end exposure range. All the information you need is on the placards. What you see is essentially a one-light print. … Continue reading “A BRIEF EXPOSURE TEST”
Month: December 2021
STUDENT QUICK TIP #6
If something is wrong with your lighting, take something away.
LIGHTING DIAGRAM #74 – THE FLAMINGO KID (1984)
A nighttime party at the beach club…a lot of drama plays out here. Many shots were taken from a variety of camera positions; the diagram provides a general layout for how each set up was approached. This is a terrific example of what I like to call “major league cinematography.” First and … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #74 – THE FLAMINGO KID (1984)”
CHRISTMAS REMEMBRANCE
I was thinking about how important the yearly Christmas break from school was for those of us who matured during the last Golden Age of studio production, the 1970’s. Growing up in Brooklyn, I had plenty of energy but nothing substantive to focus it on. No one ever thought to take full advantage of New … Continue reading “CHRISTMAS REMEMBRANCE”
LIGHTING DIAGRAM #73 – THE FLAMINGO KID (1984)
This scene – an exchange between star Matt Dillon and his family in their living room – is representative of most of The Flamingo Kid. Classically staged and photographed with an unobtrusive camera, it gives the actors room to move around and helps create the warm, familial atmosphere of a time gone by. … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #73 – THE FLAMINGO KID (1984)”
MOST FAVORITE, FAVORITE FILM?
This Post Originally appeared in Cinematography World magazine’s Letter From America column, Issue 006 , November 2021 “What’s your all-time favorite movie?” If you’re like me, that’s the last question you want to hear. It puts you on the spot because expectations are high. As a professional cinematographer, people often think I have … Continue reading “MOST FAVORITE, FAVORITE FILM?”
LIGHTING DIAGRAM #72 – THE FLAMINGO KID (1984)
Day\exterior on a city street as a car pulls up and the characters exchange some dialogue… The scene is simple enough and hardly worth further comment. What makes it notable is that the shot featuring the two guys in the car was photographed on a different day and in a completely different location … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #72 – THE FLAMINGO KID (1984)”
STUDENT QUICK TIP #5
As a cinematographer, command of the technology you’re using must be such that it allows you to toss it aside, to essentially forget about it. Only then will you be able to embrace every possibility the medium offers. Think about it… If you have a great idea for a painting but don’t know … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #5”
LIGHTING DIAGRAM #71 – THE FLAMINGO KID (1984)
I had the good fortune to work on The Flamingo Kid as an additional assistant cameraman and – as usual – took detailed notes of most every camera and lighting set-up I encountered. A recent rummage through an old filing cabinet revealed an unexpected trove of diagrams and information, the benefits of which you’ll … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #71 – THE FLAMINGO KID (1984)”