| 1-Day: From Stills to Video - DSLR Storytelling (Online)

Explore the possibilities of storytelling with the moving image

NOTE: This class will be held in a live, online format using the Zoom Platform
Class meets Sunday 12-6pm ET

©Amanda Piela

With the ever-growing popularity of DSLR and Mirrorless cameras, visual artists are afforded the opportunity to create in multiple mediums with a single tool. In this class we explore the root fundamentals of motion picture cinematography, and storytelling with video. Our starting point for examining this medium will be in its relationship to the still photo. Individuals with a background in photography or visual arts, who are looking to explore a new medium, will find this class particularly relevant. 

The class will include lecture, screening, demonstration, and short exercises. We will touch upon the areas of filmmaking and still photography which cross over such as composition of shot, exposure, depth of field, and color, and how a still photographer might use their skills in these areas while shooting. Most importantly, we will discuss the distinctions between the two mediums and what you need to know when moving to the video side.

We will cover:

-The practicalities and possibilities of introducing movement (both of the subject as well as of the camera). We will discuss frame rate and shutter speed as well as techniques and motivations behind various camera moves.

-The implications of editing. In all forms of filmmaking, be it documentary, commercial, or narrative fiction, we are always creating scenes. We will discuss “scene coverage” and shooting approaches that will allow for us to have the shots we need to edit most effectively.

-The immensely powerful tool of sound. We will discuss the basics of audio capture and the many possibilities that sound design affords us in telling stories.

You will leave the class with a foundation and taste of an exciting and powerful medium to tell visual stories. 

Looking for a more comprehensive introduction to the video medium? View “Exploring Storytelling with Video” with Tom Ryan, June 2021

NOTE: As this course will be held remotely, students will need to have their own camera and the ability to upload files to email or google drive.