Blog
Articles on filmmaking technique, production planning, and industry knowledge.
Showing 6 of 6 posts
Night Exterior Lighting for Indie Films: The Exposure Math Before You Show Up to the Location
Night exterior lighting fails most often in the prep stage, not on the night. The exposure math tells you how much lift you need above ambient, which translates directly to light output, generator size, and power runs. This post covers the calculation workflow so you arrive at the location with the right equipment rather than improvising in the dark.
Every ND Filter Combination You Will Ever Need: A Reference Guide by Stop
ND filter nomenclature uses at least three different labelling systems simultaneously. The same filter can be called ND 0.9, ND8, or '3-stop' depending on the manufacturer. This post converts every common density to stops and shows which combinations to stack to hit any target reduction from 1 to 16 stops.
Shutter Angle vs. Shutter Speed: Which Should You Set on Your Camera?
Shutter angle and shutter speed describe the same physical setting using two different units. Understanding which to use and why matters most when you change frame rates mid-production -- because one unit automatically preserves motion blur character while the other does not.
Day for Night: The Exposure Math and the In-Camera Technique
Explains the exposure strategy for day-for-night shooting, the stop-loss calculation, sky blocking techniques, and how modern color grading has changed the technique. Includes worked examples from different solar conditions.
The Exposure Triangle for Cinematographers (Why It Works Differently Than in Photography)
Covers shutter angle vs. shutter speed, the 180-degree rule, how ND filters replace aperture in video, and the EV system applied to cinema. Includes a conversion table for shutter angle at 12 common frame rates.
ISO, Noise, and When to Push Your Camera: A Working Cinematographer's Guide
Goes beyond 'just use native ISO.' Explains dual-native ISO, when noise is acceptable, how noise compares to grain aesthetically, and provides a decision framework for pushing ISO on 6 common camera sensors.