Just because a certain camera may have shallow depth of field does not make it 'cinematic', neither does the frame rate, or lighting, or camera movements. There are a multitude of 'cinematic' styles if you look at Cinema, its origins and traditions. I do wish that these self-confessed experts on YouTube would stop prattling out such inane rubbish!
So are you claiming that there is no such thing as "cinematic" per se?
I was just relaying what I watched and have heard, but I'm certainly not claiming any knowledge or expertise in this area.
It was funny, however, how after watching a few YouTube videos - and in fairness, they seemed very credible - how the whole "shallow DoF" jumped out at me. (Amazing how you never notice certain things until one day!)
Seriously, in regards of video capture, for a more raw and earthy feeling documentary style all you would need is your iPhone, a small tripod and a mobile phone holder. It can be sat down somewhere for still footage or can be handheld with the tripod legs.
Well, as mentioned before, I am having a blast with my iPhone, and "I" think the results look good - but an expert probably wouldn't think so.
I'm still undecided on upgrading - although being broke helps my decision!
If I do upgrade, I am most likely to get a dedicated digital video camera. I know a lot of you would disagree, but based on years of prior experience in the photography world, for me personally, I hate compromising. But that's just me.
Audio is another separate thing, but there are little tiny semi-directional mic's with holders that plug into your lightning port.
Once I'm back to work, the first thing I'll likely buy is a wireless audio setup with lav mics. (I think they run about $500.) From what I've heard, people forgive not-so-great video, but don't forgive not-sogreat audio.)
With your iPhone, look at using the focusing and exposure control tap to touch and lock features it has built in to it!
Yeah, I learned about that feature last week, and have been trying to remember to use it, although I have forgotten every time I have interviewed someone.
(I wonder if there are better video/photography apps out there versus what is built into iOS? Personally, I think the UI engineer on the built-in software deserves an "F"!)
If it weren't so hard to adjust and lock settings on my iPhone, I'd likely make adjustments more often...
You can force it to focus and meter exposure on the persons face and have them filling about a third of the frame will actually achieve slightly softer backgrounds.
Good tip!
Try it out, learn how to force it to lock the exposure and focus too.
I got the focus lock down, but then if I need to change the expose I often bump it out of lock - prime example of where the iPhone UI sucks!!
That also opens up your ability to control exposure in the simplest form too, through the use of the exposure slider on the side of the yellow box.
Well, since I have been shooting daytime and close up, usually exposure isn't an issue, unless it's super sunny. And I did photography long enough to know tricks to compensate for that. like subject positioning, looking for shade, etc.
(Lately, the bane of my existence is ROAD NOISE - for which there aren't tons of cures.)
With the addition of a variable ND filter, you can then control the shutter speed to achieve double the frame rate, known as the shutter angle (the relationship between shutter speed and frame rate) and traditionally it is kept at 180 degrees.
e.g. 25fps : 1/50 shutter speed or 30fps : 1/60 shutter speed
Are we still talking about my iPhone? You lost me on this part...
Don't get caught up in the rubbish about having to use 24 frames per second to be 'cinematic'! We do not watch things on film any more, we watch them on digital presentation devices which work differently as they must obey the laws of electrickery and not a budget for production which dictated the 24fps standard!
So what frame rate makes the most sense? And dumb question, but what end effect do you get if things at shot at 24fps vs 30fps vs 60fps vs 120fps or whatever?!
The app I mentioned earlier on called Filmic Pro,
Oh, I missed that one...
Is that a camera app for my iPhone?
will give you many controls that the native video capture app doesn't and is well worth the $30 when you are at a stage of getting more manual control of your video captures.
Fwiw, I *always* shot manual on my film and digital cameras. Always!
So I would much prefer a more manual setup for video, although maybe video is a different beast than in the camera world?
It will require a good quality variable ND filter to monitor your exposure though.
Is there such a thing for an iPhone?
They do come in simple clip-on types though, so are easy to apply, you don't have to get a cage for the phone.
Do they make iPhone cages?!
Remember to pay keen attantion to the background behind and around your subjects, if it's darker and simple it draws our attention to the interview, if it's busy, bright and chaotic that will disturb our attention and draw it away from the subject.
Good composition reminder!! 👍
That is easy to remedy by moving yourself so you have a clean background. Having said that, there are times where you want busyness or particular things in the background to add to the storytelling.
Yesterday I had that, because I was downtown on "Main Street" and so I had the storefronts and sidewalk trailing behind my subject.
Another thing I (apparently) learned from the videos, was changing angle during the interview. My only technically acceptable video had a lady standing in front of a store sign, and I felt it intruded on her privacy, yet I didn't want to stop the interview... So at a logical break, I swund in next to the store and changed the angle to looking down the sidewalk. That got rid of exposing the sign, and when I go back to edit, I think I'll appreciate that position change. (I'm going to try and remember to do that more since I think it willr eally help.)
there are no hard and fast rules in composition. Play with it, make it yours!
True.
Learn your interviewing styles and techniques, then find what works for you personally and what you are creating.
Most of the videos I am trying to watch are centered around that. (I can figure out, and buy more, gear later on, but the story-telling is where the $$ is!)
A great YouTube channel for this is that put out by
Mark Bone. He knows his stuff and is very generous with insights and tips on all aspects of documentary production. He may use bigger gear than you, but it's all still applicable.
Thanks, I'll be sure to check that out!
