Cinematography

Every filmmaker loves "Magic Hour." That fleeting window just after sunset provides the most flattering, ethereal light known to cinema. But when you are shooting on film, this time of day is terrifying. As the sun dips below the horizon, your light levels plummet by the second. On a digital camera,…

In modern cinematography, there is a pervasive tendency to attribute the "look" of a film to the tools used to capture it. We talk about the "color science" of a specific camera brand or the "magic" of a specific film stock as if they are ingredients that simply need to be bought and mixed. Steve…

When shooting on film, you don't have the luxury of a high-resolution monitor or waveform to check your exposure. You have your meter, your eye, and your knowledge of the craft. One of the most beautiful yet challenging lighting scenarios is the classic backlit sun shot. It creates separation, a stunning…

For the first time in the digital era, 2025 has proven to be a year of resurgence for the organic, unpredictable, and deeply human texture of celluloid. The numbers tell the story. Kodak surges in 2025, selling as much film since 2014 when motion picture film took a downturn due to the digital revolution.…

We've all seen night exteriors that feel flat, overlit, or just plain wrong. Of all the lighting scenarios a cinematographer faces, "how to light the night" is one of the biggest challenges. It's an art form that requires balancing technical skill with a strong creative vision. Where you place your moonlight…

Modern digital cinema cameras are technical marvels, capable of capturing images with incredible sharpness and resolution. But sometimes, that technical perfection can be a double-edged sword, resulting in a look that feels too harsh, too clinical—too "digital." So, how do you take that pristine sharpness…

For over a decade, one light has been the gold standard on my sets for punching through windows or bouncing into massive frames: the ARRI M90. This HMI has been a powerful workhorse, a tool that expanded my creativity and could beautifully replicate the sun. It was an oldie, but a goodie. But as filmmakers,…