The Videomaker Guide to Video Production, 5th Edition

37 Outdoor Cinematography

Jeanne Rawlings

Figure 37-1

There is nothing quite like lovely, outdoor cinematography. Bringing it to the screen requires that you retool your perfect vision to serve the eye of the camera.

Outdoor cinematography is a challenge because the camera does not adjust for contrast as smoothly as the human eye. Consider the subtle adjustment your eye makes while watching a waterfall and noticing the fish in the swirling shadows. The problems of contrast simply don’t exist for humans. That’s why many videographers don’t even place their eye to the viewfinder when putting together outdoor cinematography. Amateurs don’t notice ...