Why are we using the term "cinematic" to describe age-old still photographic lighting techniques that have their own perfectly good terms? "Cinematic" doesn't really denote anything in particular.
"Cinematic" has become an SEO interweb buzz word, often involving gels :o) This looks very similar to basic portrait Rembrandt short lighting with a kicker that I learned in the 80s.
If you are talking about Hollywood glamour lighting like Hurrell, for the most part he used a lot of Fresnel lights not soft light.
Maybe there is some "old cinema" in there but there is more "old Dutch" Rembrandt.
No, not a single one of techniques indicated in that photograph had its origin in old cinema. Rembrandt predated cinema quite a bit, and he used all of them. All of those lighting techniques can be found in paintings from hundreds of years ago.
There are lighting techniques that originated in cinema, but those uniquely take into account the fact that either the camera or the subject are in motion and the viewer will see the subject (and the lighting effects) from several different directions within moments.
To analyse the etymology of the term is not my business. In this case "cinematic" is more of a style than a technique, it means that the subject is separated from the background with the help of the light and contrast. That's all.
Why are we using the term "cinematic" to describe age-old still photographic lighting techniques that have their own perfectly good terms? "Cinematic" doesn't really denote anything in particular.
Technically, these lighting techniques have their origins in old cinema.
"Cinematic" has become an SEO interweb buzz word, often involving gels :o) This looks very similar to basic portrait Rembrandt short lighting with a kicker that I learned in the 80s.
If you are talking about Hollywood glamour lighting like Hurrell, for the most part he used a lot of Fresnel lights not soft light.
Maybe there is some "old cinema" in there but there is more "old Dutch" Rembrandt.
No, not a single one of techniques indicated in that photograph had its origin in old cinema. Rembrandt predated cinema quite a bit, and he used all of them. All of those lighting techniques can be found in paintings from hundreds of years ago.
There are lighting techniques that originated in cinema, but those uniquely take into account the fact that either the camera or the subject are in motion and the viewer will see the subject (and the lighting effects) from several different directions within moments.
To analyse the etymology of the term is not my business. In this case "cinematic" is more of a style than a technique, it means that the subject is separated from the background with the help of the light and contrast. That's all.
I guess cinematic has a broad definition.
Hi Janos. Appreciate you sharing the lighting info. it definitely helps.
Thanks.