Introduction to Cinematography

Today, I was introduced to a camera called the Sony NX-Camcorder and some basic controls including zoom, white balance, ND filter, aperture and focus.

We were also shown how the rule of thirds works and how this is an effective way of making your shots look better and for them to make more sense to the viewer.

The rule of thirds involves dividing up your frame with two horizontal lines and two vertical lines which then creates a nine square grid. Usually, the subject of the frame will sit on the four intersecting corners or to the left or the right side of the middle.

Our class were split into equal groups of five or six and we were tasked with shooting a wide shot, a medium shot and a close-up shot within the college grounds.

We all had a go at using the camera to create these shots and below you will see some of the shots I filmed using the camcorder.

[Insert Film Clips here]

Having had experience using a camera before, this task was quite simple but it was effective as a way to refresh my mind about the ways in which you use a camera and how to use it to create aesthetically-pleasing shots.