One Simple Way to Get Better at Cinematography
No Film School••technology
Key Points:
- Cinematographer Spenser Sakurai emphasizes that improving as a cinematographer requires in-depth analysis of both your own work and others', focusing on breaking down individual frames to understand composition, color, depth, camera movement, and lighting.
- Key aspects to analyze include composition techniques like the Rule of Thirds, color palettes and their emotional impact, depth of field, camera angles, lens choices, and lighting setups, with resources and examples from renowned DPs like Roger Deakins provided for guidance.
- Sakurai highlights the importance of studying lighting specifically—its direction, intensity, and mood influence—and suggests mastering fundamental lighting techniques such as three-point lighting to improve cinematic quality.
- Comparing your work side-by-side with professional cinematography helps identify gaps in
