The Movie Minute with Madeline, Episode # 7

Greetings all,

Madeline from Poor Bear here, back at it again with another entry in The Movie Minute– today we’ll be focusing on a key element of photography- lighting and exposure!

To get a better idea of what exposure is and why it’s vital to have control over, let’s first look at the basic function of a camera. First, light reflected off of objects hits the lens of the camera, through which it travels and makes its way to the camera’s sensor, much how the retinas in our eyes carry the image to our brain for us to see. On a DSLR, there is often a mirror the light reflects off of between the lens and the sensor. More modern mirrorless cameras such as the GH5 allow light to go directly to the sensor after passing through the lens.

Achieving a “proper” or ideal exposure can be tricky at times but has improved with the advancement of technology. Many modern cameras have a “zebra” feature, which overlays a zebra pattern to show which elements in the image may be overexposed. However, the zebra feature is not 100% foolproof, and it’s up to the photographer to make their best judgment. Some newer cameras such as the Sony Alpha series and other cinema cameras display the number of stops an image is currently over or under exposed. 

The three main settings that affect exposure are ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. When ISO is adjusted, the picture can become brighter when the ISO (artificial exposure) is increased, but doing so can bring more noise and grain to the picture. Aperture is measured in “f-stops”. The amount of f-stops can vary by lens, with prime lenses often having lower minimum f-stops compared to zoom lenses. Wider apertures can bring more light but also make the depth of field more shallow, reducing the ability to manipulate the visual focus. Slower shutter speeds also let more light in, while at the same time creating more motion blur. There’s a common trick known as “the exposure triangle” that can serve as a guide as to how to maintain exposure when manipulating these settings.

In photo and video production, however, adjusting the above settings can sometimes not be enough to produce an aesthetic or ideal image. So what do you do when the image is still too bright (overexposed) or dark (underexposed)?

That’s where neutral-density, or ND filters, come in. Attaching an ND filter to the camera lens allows for filtering out excessive light without having to mess with aperture, ISO, or shutter speed. In fact, some cameras such as the Sony FS7 might have ND filters built into the camera body! These filters come from a variety of brands and can be either fixed (only one setting) or variable (where the intensity can be adjusted). It’s important to choose the right filter for your situation, and make sure to be careful with the choice and adjustment of ND filters to prevent a vignette from interfering with the image.

Another method is to add light when natural light sources aren’t enough. Lights come in many shapes, sizes with varying colors and output. From tungsten to bi-color LED, at Poor Bear Stories, we have lights that can fit in the palm of our hand that can light up a subject or object  up close and lights that require 2K watts to run that can light up a forest floor and mimic the power of the sun through a home window – allowing us further control on productions.

Our amazing Founder and Creative Director, Jacob Centeno, has spent nearly half of the company’s net worth on lighting and grip (to support the lights), and here’s what he has to say about the importance of lighting in filmmaking:

“Lighting is everything. Often times, lighting is what makes or breaks a video aesthetic. Most people who watch our videos know they like the aesthetic of our work but don’t quite know why – lighting is a key component in elevating production value. It’s something we never stop working to improve and are very proud of each result we produce and get to share with our clientele.” -Jacob

Overall, exposure and lighting are some of the most vital elements in getting the most out of your image, and while it does take practice, it’s worth it in the long run so that you reach a Goldilocks point with the amount of light in the picture: not too much, not too little, but just right.  

That’s all for this week’s entry in The Movie Minute, and I will see you all next week!

-Madeline