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, you might just crank […]
Tag Archive for: Film Exposure
In the digital age, we have become accustomed to fixing exposure problems in the color grading suite. If a sky is too bright, we simply draw a Power Window, track it, and bring down the highlights. But when you are shooting on film — or even pushing a digital sensor to its limits in a […]
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 hair light, and a […]
In an age dominated by digital “fixes,” false color overlays, and the ability to change ISO with the scroll of a wheel, the true, hands-on craft of exposing celluloid has become a rare and vital skill. We see the “film look” imitated everywhere. Grain overlays, halation plugins, and LUTs designed to mimic Kodak Vision3. But […]
In an age of digital “fixes,” LUT packs, and false color, the true, hands-on craft of exposing celluloid has become a rare and vital skill. We see the “film look” imitated everywhere, but how many filmmakers truly understand the alchemy that creates it? Film is making a comeback. From the IMAX spectacle of Oppenheimer to […]