Visual Storytelling Within
Basic Photography/Videography
Visual Storytelling Within Basic Photography/Videography
In today's visually driven world, photography and videography have surpassed being viewed and thought about as just hobbies. In reality they're become powerful tools utilized for visual storytelling as a medium of communication
Whether it be to capture real-time prominent moments, shooting a cinematic sequence or nowadays following the popular bandwagon of creating social media content, consisting of various old and new trends; understanding the fundamental principles of this craft can help you elevate your work. Here's a detailed look at the basics of photography and videography, including topics like lighting, composition, zoom etc
Storytelling
Every frame tells a story:
Photography: A single image can capture deep moments or narratives
Videography: Good use of visuals, audio and pacing evokes emotions
Lighting: The foundation of all visuals
Lighting is the backbone of effective, high level for the duo, it sets in the mood. Highlighting details and brings out the best of your subject to life.
Types of Lighting:
1) Natural Light- Sunlight, often softer during post sunrise or pre-sunset and peaks during the afternoon or midday
2) Artificial Light- Consists of studio lights, LED panels or even household lamps
These lights are best equipped with some key techniques to manipulate and adjust the quality of light you can get, including:
The KeyLight which serves as primary source of light, defining subject's shape and form. The shadows created by key light then get softened by Fill Light, to ensure more balanced exposure. Following that, the BackLight adds a sense of depth that separates the subject from the background, enhancing overall dimensions. Together, these elements form the three-point lighting setup, which engages well balanced and visually appealing compositions.
Composition: Framing Your Visual Story
Composition refers to how elements are arranged within a frame, a well composed shot guides the viewer's eye and creates visual interest.
Basic rules of composition:
The Rule Of Thirds involves dividing the frame into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Placing your subject alone these lines or at their intersections creates a balanced and visually appealing composition. Leading Lines guide the viewer's eye towards the subject using natural lines like roads, fences or shadows. which add depth and focus to the image.
Symmetry and Balance can create harmony in a symmetrical frame, while an asymmetrical composition can evoke energy and movement. Making your visuals dynamic. Negative Space is the empty area around your subject, emphasizes simplicity and enhances the viewers focus on the main element of the image.
Camera Settings: Understanding the Tools
Your camera's settings can empower you to take full control of your visuals, allowing full potential to achieve the desired exposure, focus and composition.
The Aperture (f/stop) controls the amount of light entering the lens and affects the depth of field. It determines how much the image is in focus. The Shutter Speed regulates how long the sensor is being exposed to light. influencing motion blur and sharpness. Finally, the ISO adjusts the sensor's sensitivity to light, the more ISO, the higher increase in brightness but potentially introducing noise to the image.
Videography: Frame Rates and Resolutions:
The Frame Rate defines the number of frames captured per second, with 24 fps offering a cinematic feel. 30 fps providing standard playback and 60 fps enabling smooth, slow-motion effects. Resolution determines image clarity, with options like 1080p, 4K or higher offering varying levels of detail based on the project requirements.
Movement in Videography:
Videography adds storytelling through motion: Camera movements, such as Panning/Tilting which is to rotate horizontally or vertically to follow or reveal.
Dolly/Zoom: Move the camera or adjust the lens for dynamic focus.
Stabilized vs Handheld: Tripods ensure smooth shots, handhelds add spontaneity.
Understanding camera positions is key to shaping the perspective and emotional impact of your visuals. Here's a more concise breakdown of essential camera positions which can enhance and elevate storytelling with emotional imagery.
Eye Level: Neutral perspective, commonly used in portraits and interviews to create a connection with the viewer.
High Angle and Low Angle: A high angle (camera above) makes the subject appear smaller or vulnerable, while a low angle (camera below) makes the subject appear larger and more powerful. Both angles are ideal for dramatic and dynamic storytelling.
Close up and Extreme Close Up: A close up focuses on specific parts of the subject e.g face, while the more elaborated extreme close up emphasizes on fine details, adding drama and intensity
Wide Shot and Extreme Wide Shot: A wide shot exposes the subject within its environment, creating context. While an extreme wide shot highlights the surroundings over the subject, in return creating a sense of scale or isolation.
Over The Shoulder and Dutch Angle: An over the shoulder shot adds depth and involvement, often used in dialogue, while a Dutch Angle (tilted shot) creates tension or unease, popularly used in thriller or action sequences.
Zoom techniques are essential tools for controlling the perspective and emotional impact of your shots, by adjusting the focal length, you can either bring subjects closer or pull them away, altering the viewers focus and connection to the scene, these techniques add depth and creativity to visuals.
Optical Zoom: Physically adjusts the lens to magnify the subjects, maintaining image quality.
Digital Zoom: Crops and enlarges the image digitally, reducing quality.
Static Zoom Levels:
Wide Angle: Captures more of the scene, ideal for landscapes
Standard: Closely resembles human vision, great for everyday use.
Telephoto: Magnifies distant objects, perfect for wildlife or sports
Dynamic Zoom Techniques:
Zoom In: Brings the viewer closer to the subject creating intimacy
Zoom Out: Reveals more of the scene, emphasizing context
Dolly Zoom: A dramatic effect where the camera moves while zooming, distorting perspectives
When using camera positions, using the right angles for different set pieces of the story, to combine consistent variety and engagement, maximizing shot impact on viewer. These techniques will elevate your photography and will encourage you to take more fun, concise and confident shots.
"Every shot is a story waiting to be told, frame it with focus and let your creativity capture the world through the lens"
