What photographers can learn from 5 famous directors

We watch movies and TV shows, rarely wondering how much work is invested in each frame. Paying attention to this is a great opportunity for a photographer to learn something new. Blog editor Alexandra Yakovleva explains what techniques can be learned from Hitchcock, Kubrick, Tarantino, Nolan and Anderson.

What makes filmmakers great is their distinctive, refined style. The paintings of each of them have their own aesthetics and techniques. By borrowing their ideas for inspiration, anyone can bring something new to photography. Some rules are made in order to be broken, which is what many great filmmakers do. Who will you take an example from?

1. Wes Anderson

Anderson has an original style in all films that is based on several elements. Very often he focuses on the subject with the help of balanced symmetry in the frame. Using bold, vibrant color schemes, especially his signature yellow, Wes makes shots look like works of art in their own right.

In photography, everyone follows the rule of thirds and tries not to center the subject. So why not break this rule by taking inspiration from Anderson's example? Try to concentrate on symmetry and add vibrant colors. For example, like this:

2. Christopher Nolan

What photographers can learn from 5 famous filmmakers

Christopher Nolan's films are spectacular and incredibly beautiful: the heroic "Dark Knight", the memorable "Inception" and the cosmic "Interstellar". In all his works, Nolan uses the technique of positioning the camera behind the protagonist's back to show perspective.

The wide angle of view in the frame is Nolan's trademark. Interstellar was filmed with the highest resolution IMAX cameras, giving the audience the opportunity to immerse themselves in cosmic landscapes and surreal landscapes.

Nolan pays a lot of attention to accurately positioning the hero in the frame, while maintaining the proportion between the subject and the background. You can use this technique by placing your subject in the context of the environment, with an emphasis on scale and perspective. For example, like this:

3. Quentin Tarantino

What happens in Tarantino's films can often be described as creative chaos, but this effect is achieved through meticulous work and constant experimentation with the location of the camera. She shoots from the perspective of a direct participant in the scene or from below, which instantly immerses the viewer in the film.

This technique can be very useful in photography today, when thousands of shots of the same subject are taken from the same angle. Why not show a new, non-standard point of view on a familiar subject? At the very least, it will help the photographer learn to look at the world with the camera. For example, like this:

4. Alfred Hitchcock

We say "Hitchcock", we mean "master of suspense." Before him, very few people managed to whip up the atmosphere in the film to a viscous and nervous expectation of imminent danger. In many ways, this was achieved through the competent use of light and shadow in the frame, as, for example, in the film "Shadow of Doubt".

Notice how the light falls on the character's face from below. The isolated beam illuminates a very small part of the face, adding mysticism and mystery to the scene.

For any photographer, Hitchcock's classic noir is a never-ending source of ideas. Studying his work, you can understand how, with the help of shadows, he emphasized details and emphasized what is important for the story, and try to repeat it. For example, like this:

5. Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick's footage is easy to recognize: a symmetrical composition that converges to a single point on the horizon. He also often uses the technique of tracking heroes while they are moving.

The perspective, in which all planes converge into one point, allows the viewer to feel himself in the frame, immerses him in the scene. It is not easy to achieve this effect in photography, but the result should be a slightly surreal and enticing shot. For example, something like this:

For the photographer, films are full of lessons and inspiration. Watch the work of different directors, imitate and apply the techniques in practice. We talked about the most famous masters who have their own well-established style. Maybe JJ Abrams, Jean-Pierre Jeunet or Lars von Trier will inspire you?

Adapt techniques in your work and hone your technique. To learn how to develop your photography style using 12 simple methods, read on here. Good luck!