A taste of cinematography

This week’s class was all about cameras, and to be honest, I found it a little overwhelming at first. I’ve always just used my phone to record videos or take photos, so being introduced to proper cameras and learning about the different types and their features felt like stepping into a whole new world. We covered things like frame rates, lenses, focus, and lighting — all of which were completely new to me.

Even though it was a lot to take in, getting hands-on experience made all the difference. Our group created a mini movie version of Little Red Riding Hood, which turned out to be so much fun. I was in charge of filming the long-distance shots using a small handheld camera. Being the “camera woman” gave me a new sense of appreciation for how much thought and skill goes into capturing the right shot. It wasn’t just about pointing and filming, I had to think about framing, angles, and how each shot contributed to the story.

What really stood out to me was how creative the whole process felt. Once I got over my initial hesitation, I actually loved it. Like my experience with microphones, this class reminded me that even though technology can seem intimidating at first, it opens up so many exciting possibilities. As a future music educator, I want to be able to support students who are interested in multimedia or want to explore their creativity beyond just sound. Being confident with visual storytelling tools like cameras will help me do that.

This experience has definitely inspired me to learn more about video and film technology. It’s another skill I’d love to develop so I can create a more inclusive and engaging classroom environment, one where students feel encouraged to experiment and express themselves through all kinds of media.

Enjoy a photo below of the camera I used in this lesson, zoomed up on Hilary's face!