Introduction - An Investigation into Digital Cinematography Techniques

To study and explore the inner working systems of the camera, focussing on shutter speed variants, lenses, lighting techniques, colour theory, ISO and composition. Using these skills then 2 - 4 short films/ music videos will be created to show the skills which have been developed through the tests.

Learning Aims and Objectives

1. Investigate the different lighting styles such as Film Noir and how they can affect an audience through tests.
• Recreate famous lighting shots and then shoot using a different style using artificial lighting such as a shot from Blade Runner then show footage to an audience of varying ages asking how the two scenes made them feel. 
• Replicate one test conducted by Shane Hurlbut and discuss the different results and the effect this has on an audience. (Potential focus on soft/ hard light)
2. Compare the technical capabilities of cameras available through Staffordshire University.
• Test each camera in the same environment changing the ISO and comparing their noise capacity
• Test each camera’s depth of field comparing the focal distance of each camera using the same lenses.
• Test each camera’s logs colour balance and how it affects the footage. Primarily comparing C-Log and S-Log.
3. Display Lighting Techniques researched through the creation of a Music Video.

• Create a music video which displays lighting techniques from one of the lighting styles researched in Aim 1.
• Use at least 2 lighting set ups which have been studied from Shane Hurlbut throughout the shoot.