SOME FACTS ABOUT CINEMATOGRAPHY

What is Cinematography?

Cinematography refers to the world of making films and movies, starting with shooting and going through to its development. When we apply the concept to a wedding it becomes ‘wedding cinematic video’ which obviously means making of wedding films. The terms movies, films and videos are used interchangeably. Wedding videos are the current vogue. It would be difficult to imagine a wedding without a video shoot. For someone without a budget to hire the services of a professional wedding cinematographer his family or friends do the job through movie cameras even if it is one of those cameras that come built in with the cell phones.

Wedding cinematic videos will more vividly bring back the memories of yesteryears. Whenever there is a reunion or gathering of friend and families at the house the playing of such videos will make the guests indulge in nostalgia and their appreciation of the same will be a source of joy for you.

History and Features of Wedding Cinematography

Cinematography is also known as the illusion of rapidly projecting many still pictures. Photography is the forerunner of Cinematography. And photography itself was developed through learning gained from the primitive methods like the Magic lanterns, pinhole images etc. The initial movie cameras were fixed on a tripod. After this came the rotating head version that allowed filming from front to rear. When the scene involved filming of movement the camera was mounted on a moving vehicle.

Some techniques employed in cinematography

Double or multiple exposures is a photographic technique wherein more than one exposure of the shutter allows multiple images to be captured. The subsequent image is then superimposed on the first one. The idea is to create beauty and distinctiveness. For instance sky over mountains or over sea can be combined. The digital technology enables such superimposition through the use of software such as Adobe Photoshop. Another photographic technique is known as reverse motion. This technique involves the use of an inverted camera and joining the image taken thus with the first image.

Wedding cinematography

Cinematic wedding videos have, by and large, replaced the still photography because it enables one to ‘relive’ those treasured and cherished moments. Besides the cinematic wedding videos are easier to handle and store and outlast the life of photographic paper which is subject to deterioration over time. Guests who attend a wedding will melt away, the fool will be consumed and forgotten before long but what will last is the work of the wedding cinematographer. Wedding cinematography is a craft and an art.

Wedding photography

It is important for the wedding photographer to have an emergency kit consisting of spare camera, different lenses and spare batteries etc. This is because he cannot afford a mishap in case of failure of the equipment. The wedding photographer must build up a complete inventory of latest equipment because theses constitute his tools of trade. On a human plane the wedding photographer should be sociable and likable so he is allowed the vintage and vantage points for his work. It is important for the wedding photographer to know the bride and groom and their family members, by name so the interaction is seamless. .  Another important point is to have a settled contract to avoid subsequent heart burns.

Wedding Photographers

The wedding photographer must have a sense of aesthetics, creativity and vision passion and patience. He must   have mastery over aspects of photography such as landscape and portraiture. He should be well versed in the subject of lighting techniques.  The best wedding photographer should have mastered the shill of using different photographic equipment. He also should have an eye for assembling a group well. Above all the wedding photographer should be fair and honest in his business dealings.Photographs should speak for themselves.

Famous Photographers

Some of the all time great photographers of all time include such anmes as :
Ansel Adams (Famous for landscapes)
Robert Capa (Famous for war time photos)
Dorothea Lange (Her picture of a migrant mother and Japanese interment caps are masterpieces and memorable)
Brian Duffy (Famous for fashion photographers)
Brassai (Famous for photographs of ordinary people)

This presentation is a brief synopsis of this vast subject. It is therefore not exhaustive, rather is designed only to serve as something of interest to a beginner.

Wedding Photographs and Videos

Wedding photographs and videos represent the start of a sacred journey, a sacred mission. These provide an unending source of joy and inspiration during times thick and thin. These are invaluable assets which give you the strength to face and overcome adversity. And to this extent these can be rightly termed as beacon lights in the attainment of life’s goals.

A wedding photographer captures the sentiments, passions and emotions of a wedding event. The wedding event is perhaps the most momentous occasion in a person’s life. It is the role of the wedding photographer to prepare for the client a moment, a souvenir that will be cherished and treasured by all including the future generations i.e. by posterity.

The selection of a wedding photographer must be based on a careful search. Friends’ circle is a ready source of valuable input. Also a bit of surfing would be useful as the leading and dynamic wedding photographers would certainly have their own individual websites. A review of their sites and examination of the exhibits of photographs on each site will help to narrow down the search. Armed with this information one can easily negotiate a mutually acceptable deal.

The criteria for selection of the best wedding photographer are briefly discussed here:
•    Creativity, imagination and resourcefulness  (To be gleaned from the portfolio of the photographs 
         as well as through contacts with their previous clients)
•    Ability of the photographer to look beyond the mundane;
•    Readiness to go an extra mile to capture the finer details
•    Must have a discerning eye to sift the important scene/s subjects for photography from the trivia.
•    Experience (The age of the establishment would reveal this).
•    Staffing levels, training and skills (Ask to see results by individual photographer.)

The medium of photography will rest on your choice, length of the wedding events and costs. In general a mix of still photographs and videos (movies/films) is preferred.  It is important to consider the costs but this should not be allowed to become an overriding consideration. Short terms gain is not preferable over long term interests. The main event would certainly be covered by video and by still photographs as well. The peripheral occasions would be mainly covered by still photography. Still photography is the traditional medium. The photographs are stored in family albums. For best results the wedding photographer will lookout for the best backdrops, the best angles the best combination of light and shade. The cinematic coverage of a wedding is easily stored on CD’s or DVD’s.  While the quality of still photographs may deteriorate over time the cinematic medium is not subject to deterioration. Cinematic work requires special training and skills. At times the wedding photographer is aided by another worker who handles the light, tripods etc.

Muslim Weddings

Muslim weddings are characterized by pronounced solemnity perhaps more so than it is in case of Christians or Hindus. For Muslims it has a religious significance as well. This religious dimension means few more functions like Mehfile-e-Milad which is for devotional prayers and Nikah which is the official marriage contract or bondage.

The other pre wedding and post wedding functions are listed and briefly described below:

Mangni  (Engagement)
   
Uptan    (Bride gets beauty treatment through application of a  paste of sandalwood powder, aromatic oils etc)
   
Dholki    ( This is a popular function. Girls drawn from relations and brides’ friends get together for a      round of singing traditional wedding songs followed by a dinner)                                                                               
   
Mehndi (Described above)
      
Baraat   (The groom accompanied by his family members and  friends visits the brides’ house where they  are well received, honored and entertained) 
      
Nikah    (This is the official Islamic function for solemnizing the marriage and contains terms and condition and specifies ‘Mehar’, the monetary safeguard of the bride. Bride’s father or in his absence the closest family elder gives the bride away in the presence of witnesses and the Qazi (pastor) Both the bride and groom are asked for their consent which they must signify by saying ‘yes’ loud and clear..
     
Rukhsati (The bride leaves her home to join the groom at his House and for the groom’s home.)

Valima  (This is the dinner hosted by the groom to consummate The wedding. This is the final function.)
It does not follow at all that each Muslim wedding comprises and consists of all the above functions. For those families that are economically at the bottom rung of the scale the above ceremonies constitute luxuries that they can never indulge in. However even for such families the bare minimum functions are Mangni, Nikah and Rukhsati.
One needs to spend time and effort to locate the best wedding photographer and thus reap the benefits for all times to come. So good luck and best wishes to you!

Wedding Cinema & Wedding Photography

What is Wedding Cinema

Video photography as applied to a wedding event is popularly known as wedding cinema. With the mechanical and electronic devices and applications now available in the market it is possible to see the vide films on wide screen television screen. Several people in the form of a group can see and enjoy the wedding cinematography video at the same time. Stated alternatively it is cinema as applied and related to a wedding.

What is Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography is the photography of all events relating to a wedding. It starts from events before the wedding as well as all the wedding functions. Wedding photography can be either still photography or wedding cinematography.

Wedding Cinematography

Cinematography means making films and movies. It encompasses shooting films and going through to its development. When this concept is applied to a wedding event it becomes ‘wedding cinematic video’. The various different terms that we hear viz movies, films and videos are used interchangeably. Wedding cinematography is gaining widespread popularity.  It would be difficult to imagine a wedding without wedding cinematography. Amateur wedding cinematography is no substitute for professional wedding cinema.

The need for Wedding Cinema

If a wedding event is captured on film it will vividly bring back the memories of yesteryears. Whenever there is a family gathering at home the playing of such videos will make the guests indulge in nostalgia and their appreciation of the same will be a source of joy for you.

 Wedding photography

The wedding photographer must be armed with spares.  He must carry at all times an emergency kit consisting of spare camera, different lenses and spare batteries etc.  At odd times and on odd days it may not be possible to look for replacement at short notice. It is unforgivable to run out of a needed spare in case of a mishap. The wedding photographer must build up a complete inventory that is to say his tools of trade.  The wedding photographer should have a sociable and likable personality because that way he will be allowed access to the vintage and vantage points for his work. The wedding photographer has to try and make friends with the bride and groom and their family members by name if possible, for seamless interaction. Another important point is to have a settled contract to avoid subsequent misunderstandings and /or complaints.

Wedding Photographers                                                      

The wedding photographer must have a keen eye for aesthetics.  He must possess vision and creativity so that his output distinguishes him from all others. Also he must be patient and cool minded so that he gets along well with everyone.  He must be well versed with what it takes facets of photography such as landscape and portraiture. The best wedding photographer will know the perfect use of lighting, sound and all other related equipment used in photography.  He also should know how to assemble a group so best group photograph can be taken. The best wedding photographer should be fair and honest in his business dealings. His output will testify to his credentials.

Famous Photographers                                                                              

Some of the all time great photographers of all time include such names as:

            Ansel Adams (Famous for landscapes)

            Robert Capa (Famous for war time photos)

Dorothea Lange (Her picture of a migrant mother and Japanese interment caps are masterpieces and memorable)

Brian Duffy (Famous for fashion photographers)

            Brassai (Famous for photographs of ordinary people)

This presentation is a brief synopsis of this vast subject. It is therefore not exhaustive, rather is designed only to serve as something of interest to a beginner.

Famous Photographers

Some of the all time great photographers of all time include such names as:

            Ansel Adams (Famous for landscapes)

            Robert Capa (Famous for war time photos)

Dorothea Lange (Her picture of a migrant mother and Japanese interment caps are masterpieces and memorable)

Brian Duffy (Famous for fashion photographers)

            Brassai (Famous for photographs of ordinary people)

The Best Wedding Photographers of the world

Following is a brief list of the best wedding photographer’s of the world. Details can be had from their website at addresses given against each name. Sample photographs can also be seen on each website.

Jonas Peterson                   Visit Jason Peterson’s website

Ben Chrisman                     Visit Ben Chrisman’s website

Chris+Lynn                         Visit Cgris+Lynn website

Mark                                   Visit Mark’s website

Jason Groupp                      Visit Jason’s website

Mark Kitty+Craig Fritz         Visit Kitty+Fritz website

Sean and Melaine                Visit Sean and Melaine’s website

This presentation is a brief coverage of this subject. This is just introductory material for the beginner.