Atmosphere and weather

The ways to fill the air, and the wording that gets each one.

Air is invisible until something is in it. Put fog, smoke, rain or dust between the camera and the subject and the shot gains depth, because you can suddenly see how far away things are.

Water in the air

5

Rain, fog, mist, haze and snow. Each one cuts the distance by a different amount, and that is the whole difference between them.

Fog: Thick fog cuts the distance and flattens everything behind the subject.

Thick fog cuts the distance and flattens everything behind the subject.

Mist: A light moisture in the air sits low and drifts slowly.

A light moisture in the air sits low and drifts slowly.

Atmospheric Haze: A thin veil in the air softens the far planes and lifts the shadows.

Atmospheric Haze

A thin veil in the air softens the far planes and lifts the shadows.

Rain: Falling water streaks the air and puts light on every surface.

Falling water streaks the air and puts light on every surface.

Snow: Falling snow fills the air and softens every sound and edge.

Falling snow fills the air and softens every sound and edge.

Fire, smoke and dust

5

Particles that catch the light and give a beam a body.

Smoke: Smoke rolls through the air and gives the light a body.

Smoke rolls through the air and gives the light a body.

Steam: Hot vapour rises in columns and catches whatever light is near.

Hot vapour rises in columns and catches whatever light is near.

Sparks and Embers: Hot embers fly through the frame and leave short bright trails.

Sparks and Embers

Hot embers fly through the frame and leave short bright trails.

Dust Motes: Fine particles hang in a light beam and mark where the light travels.

Fine particles hang in a light beam and mark where the light travels.

Dust and Sand: Driven dust fills the air and eats the distance.

Driven dust fills the air and eats the distance.

Water on the ground, and under it

3

The wet surface does the work. It throws light back, so a night street reads instead of going black.

Wet-Down: Surfaces are soaked so they throw light back, even with no rain falling.

Surfaces are soaked so they throw light back, even with no rain falling.

Ocean: Sea water fills the scene and moves under its own weight.

Sea water fills the scene and moves under its own weight.

Underwater: The scene sits below the surface, where light shafts and everything slows.

The scene sits below the surface, where light shafts and everything slows.

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Other techniques

Shot typesThe ways to frame a shot, and the wording that gets each one.25 shot types Camera anglesWhere to put the camera, and the wording that gets each angle.19 camera angles Camera movementThe ways to move the camera, and the wording that gets each one.86 camera moves CompositionThe ways to arrange a frame, and the wording that gets each one.32 composition rules LightingThe lighting setups, and the wording that gets each one.41 lighting setups Lenses and opticsThe lenses, and the wording that gets the look of each one.17 lenses Aperture and f-stopsThe f-stops, and what each one does to the background.7 apertures Format and bodyThe formats and cameras, and the wording that gets each one.13 formats and cameras Colour and film lookThe colour looks, and the wording that gets each one.19 colour looks Time and motionThe ways to bend time in a shot, and the wording for each one.21 time effects Cuts and transitionsThe ways to get from one shot to the next.23 transitions In-camera and optical effectsThe effects a camera can make on its own, and how to ask for them.57 effects Genre looksThe genres, and the wording that gets the look of each one.27 genre looks Viral looksThe looks that travel on short-form video, and how to ask for them.44 viral looks

Print stylesMaking a poster rather than a shot? The same reference, for ink on paper.

Density and height. Fog is thick and cuts the distance hard. Mist is lighter and sits low. Haze is a thin veil that only softens the far planes and lifts the shadows.