Field Notes

Practical lessons, creative decisions,
and stories from the craft of cinematography.

Field Notes

Practical lessons, creative decisions,
and stories from the craft of cinematography.

Is the NEEWER HB80C the Most Versatile Light in My Kit? cinematography filmmaking interview lighting lighting Aug 24, 2026

Is the NEEWER HB80C the Most Versatile Light in My Kit?

I already own lights that are smaller, brighter, and more powerful. But after using the NEEWER HB80C on several real productions, I found th...

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How I Lit a Bad Conference Room | Cinematography Breakdown cinematography lighting Aug 17, 2026

How I Lit a Bad Conference Room | Cinematography Breakdown

When our planned location fell through, I had to turn a flat white conference room into a controlled interview setup. Here is how I reduce...

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Frame the Uncontrollable: A Better Way to Compose Your Shots cinematography film composition filmmaking framing visual storytelling Aug 10, 2026

Frame the Uncontrollable: A Better Way to Compose Your Shots

Strong composition starts before you place the subject. First establish the frame around the location elements that serve the story—the...

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How This Creative Brief Changed My Lighting Approach cinematography corporate video interviews lighting Aug 03, 2026

How This Creative Brief Changed My Lighting Approach

A familiar studio, a repeat client, and one request: make this year feel different. Here is how the brief led me to use RGB light in a way I nor...

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How to Light Interviews in a Glass Conference Room cinematography corporate filmmaking exposure interview lighting natural light Jul 27, 2026

How to Light Interviews in a Glass Conference Room

Glass conference rooms give you plenty of natural light—but without control, all that light can flatten the subject, erase contrast, and make ever...

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I Finally Found a Travel Light for My Favorite Setup cinematography corporate filmmaking godox lighting travel kit Jul 21, 2026

I Finally Found a Travel Light for My Favorite Setup

The most valuable travel light is not simply small. It solves a real production problem without creating a new one.

When I first started using...

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How I Shoot Interviews in Bad Locations camera settings cinematography corporate filmmaking interview lighting location scouting Jul 13, 2026

How I Shoot Interviews in Bad Locations

You do not need a perfect location to create a professional interview. You need a process—and that process begins with the frame, not the lights.

As corpor...

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Cinematic Lighting Isn’t About the Lights cinematography corporate filmmaking false color interview lighting motivated lighting Jun 29, 2026

Cinematic Lighting Isn’t About the Lights

The strongest interview images begin with reading the room, choosing a visual direction, and using light to support it.

When I arrive at a location to fil...

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Why I Finally Added a 35mm to My Kit 35mm lens camera lenses cinematography corporate filmmaking viltrox Jun 15, 2026

Why I Finally Added a 35mm to My Kit

I thought I needed a wider lens for small rooms. What I actually found was a different way to create close-ups—with context.

For years, I shot almost everythin...

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How I Created Two Different Interview Looks in One Living Room cinematography corporate filmmaking interview lighting lighting breakdown natural light Apr 08, 2026

How I Created Two Different Interview Looks in One Living Room

Five interviews, one room, and a travel-sized lighting package. Here is how I used framing, daylight, contrast, and a strategic reset...

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Why LUTs Don’t Give You the Look You Expect cinematography color grading contrast exposure luts Mar 30, 2026

Why LUTs Don’t Give You the Look You Expect

A LUT can enhance a look that already exists, but it cannot replace the exposure, contrast, and color decisions that create that look.

Have you ever dow...

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