A love for cameras and filming

Frames per second (FPS) refers to the number of individual frames (images) displayed per second in a video or animation. The higher the FPS, the smoother the motion appears. Common FPS values include 24, 30, and 60, with different frame rates being used depending on the medium (film, video games, etc.).

Why 24 FPS is popular:

1. Cinematic Tradition: 24 FPS became the standard for film in the 1920s because it was a good balance between cost (in terms of film stock and production) and acceptable visual quality. It became ingrained in cinema culture, and audiences began associating it with "real" films.
2. Aesthetic Quality: 24 FPS has a slightly "cinematic" look, with a natural motion blur that gives films a certain visual appeal. It’s slow enough to allow for fluid motion but not so fast that it feels unnaturally smooth, like in higher frame rates (such as 60 FPS).
3. Practicality: It strikes a balance between producing high-quality footage without requiring excessive data storage, making it efficient for traditional film cameras and later digital technologies.

This historical and aesthetic connection is why 24 FPS has remained the gold standard for film.

For slow motion, higher frame rates are used to capture more frames per second than normal. When played back at a standard frame rate (like 24 FPS), the action appears slower because there are more frames to stretch out over the same period of time.

• In slow motion, you shoot at a higher frame rate (e.g., 60 FPS, 120 FPS, 240 FPS, or higher).
• When played back at a standard frame rate (like 24 FPS or 30 FPS), the action slows down because it’s spread over a longer period.

For example, if you record at 120 FPS and play it back at 24 FPS, the video will be played at 1/5th of its original speed, making even fast movements appear smooth and slow.

• More detail and smoother motion: Higher frame rates allow for more frames, capturing more detail in each motion, which makes the slow-motion effect look fluid and natural.
• Minimizing motion blur: Higher FPS reduces the blur seen in fast-moving objects, making slow-motion playback clearer and crisper.

In short, slow motion is achieved by filming at a higher FPS and then playing it back at a normal frame rate, stretching out the action to create the slowed-down effect.

In filmmaking, the shutter speed should be set to twice the frame rate (FPS) to achieve a natural, cinematic motion blur. This principle is based on the 180-degree shutter rule, which is a standard in traditional film production.

1. Motion Blur and Realism: The shutter speed determines how long each individual frame is exposed to light. When the shutter speed is set to twice the frame rate, each frame is exposed for half the duration of one frame. This results in a moderate amount of motion blur, which mimics the way we perceive motion in real life. Our eyes don't see things as crisp and sharp; we perceive them with a bit of blur, especially when objects are moving quickly.
2. Cinematic Look: Setting the shutter speed to twice the frame rate (for example, 1/48 second for 24 FPS) is considered the "gold standard" because it creates a natural amount of blur, making the movement feel fluid and realistic without being too sharp or too blurry. If the shutter speed is too fast (e.g., 1/1000), the motion may look too "staccato" or unnatural. On the other hand, if it's too slow (e.g., 1/12), the motion will appear too blurry.

• 24 FPS: The standard shutter speed would be 1/48 second (since 48 is twice 24). This creates a good balance of motion blur. Use 1/50th if your camera cannot be set to 1/48th.
• 30 FPS: The shutter speed would be 1/60 second (since 60 is twice 30).

This balance ensures that motion in the film looks natural to the audience and stays consistent with the way we normally perceive moving objects. This "twice the frame rate" rule is deeply ingrained in traditional film techniques and continues to be widely used in digital filmmaking.

In filmmaking, the terms iris and aperture both refer to mechanisms that control the amount of light entering the camera and the depth of field (DoF), but they have slightly different uses.

• Aperture: The aperture is the physical opening inside the lens through which light passes to reach the camera's sensor. It is measured in f-stops (e.g., f/2.8, f/4, f/8), and the size of this opening directly affects the depth of field and the amount of light entering the camera. A wider aperture (a lower f-stop number, like f/2.8) creates a shallow depth of field (DoF), where only a small portion of the scene is in focus, and the background or foreground becomes blurred, creating the bokeh effect. A smaller aperture (a higher f-stop, like f/16) increases the depth of field, meaning more of the scene from foreground to background will be in focus.
• Iris: The iris is the mechanical component of the lens that physically adjusts the size of the aperture. It's made up of overlapping blades that open or close to control the aperture size. A well-designed iris can contribute to smoother, more aesthetically pleasing bokeh, as the shape of the aperture affects how the out-of-focus areas look.

In filmmaking, ISO refers to the sensitivity of your camera's sensor (or film stock, in the case of traditional film) to light. It is one of the three elements in the exposure triangle, alongside shutter speed and aperture, that determines the overall exposure of an image.

• Lower ISO (e.g., 100, 200): A lower ISO setting makes the camera less sensitive to light, meaning you need more light to achieve a well-exposed image. This results in a cleaner, more detailed image with less noise or grain. Lower ISOs are ideal for shooting in bright conditions or when using a tripod and longer exposure times.
• Higher ISO (e.g., 800, 1600, or above): A higher ISO setting makes the camera more sensitive to light, allowing you to shoot in lower-light environments. However, increasing ISO also increases the amount of noise or grain in the image, which can degrade the overall quality, especially in dark areas. Some filmmakers embrace the grain as a stylistic choice, but it’s something to be mindful of.

1. ISO together with lighting is often one of the main variables in achieving the perfect exposure in filming as the FPS dictates the shutter speed and the required depth of field dictates the iris setting.

Great lighting is absolutely crucial in filmmaking because it affects nearly every aspect of how a scene is perceived by the audience. It sets the mood, emphasizes the story, and can even influence the emotional tone of a scene. Here’s a breakdown of why great lighting is so important:

• Lighting enhances the visual appeal of your film. It can create beautiful, cinematic images, emphasizing textures, shadows, and colors. Proper lighting allows the filmmaker to craft stunning compositions and ensures the image is visually striking, helping elevate the overall quality of the film.
• For example, lighting can transform an ordinary location into something extraordinary by highlighting the beauty of a space, creating depth, or framing a subject in a way that adds interest and complexity.
• Lighting sets the mood and tone of a scene. Soft, warm lighting can create a cozy, romantic, or nostalgic atmosphere, while harsh, cold lighting can evoke a sense of tension, danger, or unease.
• The quality of light—whether it's soft and diffused or hard and contrasty—also dictates how comfortable or uncomfortable the audience feels. Think of a horror film where shadows loom ominously; this is all due to how the lighting is designed.

In filmmaking, lighting is far from just a technical necessity; it's a creative tool that helps shape the story, enhance performances, and guide the audience through the narrative. Great lighting can turn an ordinary scene into something extraordinary, evoke powerful emotions, and give the film a unique visual identity. Whether you're lighting a simple conversation or a grand action sequence, every choice you make with lighting has the potential to elevate the entire film.