Hi,
I'm one of those directors in awe at all that my DPs do for you. In an effort to try to communicate my vision to my DP better, I've been trying to learn more about cinematography.
I have a film set in the 70s, that I was contemplating some references photos for. As I was researching, I started thinking that perhaps the fact that many of them were set in the 70s or from the time period (though there is a vast difference in looks in the time period so not sure why people say "that 70s look") may have made them seem similar to me. I DEFINITELY didnt just pick all the 70s movies...but really felt these ones were the ones that captured my film.
I have some of the stills posted here:
http://www.pinterest.com/thetigerhunter/cinematography-references/
There are stills from films like Boogie Nights and Almost Famous (which is closest to the look I want) but some from Five Easy Pieces/American Hustle as well. My question to all you talented DPs on this forum -- DO these stills have a similar look, or do you actually see very important differences between a lot of the films and photographs? What are some of the differences you see? For instance, if I showed these to the DP I hire, will he think "wow these references photos are all over the place." I'm hoping I can learn.
For example: I always thought the film might have the look of several Stephen Shore photographs...but then later a DP friend told me that MILK used those photographs as inspiration...and I feel MILK is quite far from the look I'm going for.
I guess my questions are asking -- what are the key differences you see in some of the photographs that I marked, and what are the differences in what it takes to achieve those looks?
Would appreciate any help as I struggle to learn what you all do! I attached a few of the photos here, too.
Best,
Lena