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Learn moreFilm can be thought of as dynamic photography. Although static photography emerged long before the advent of the "moving image," photographers can still learn a lot from the world of cinema. For nearly a century, directors have strived to distinguish their art form: they diligently worked on composition, explored new shooting techniques, and created visually outstanding works. Photographers have also not been left behind—renowned masters of static photography have inspired filmmakers to new achievements throughout the history of cinema. However, it is worth noting that inspiration is a process that involves both parties.
Film critic Yegor Sheremet has prepared a list of films that can give viewers useful lessons:
- engage in color;
- rely on your unique style;
- find appeal in the everyday;
- challenge yourself;
- don't be afraid of difficulties.
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...and strives to understand how diverse this field can be. Join us as we showcase talented Russian writers, track international competitions, and share creative advice from professionals.
A Telegram channel for photography enthusiasts.
...and strives to understand how diverse its nature can be. Join us as we showcase talented Russian writers, monitor international competitions, and learn creative advice from experienced professionals.
All About My Mother
Director: Pedro Almodóvar.
Year of release: 1999
Country: Spain
A rich palette and emotionally charged plots are the fundamental principles that underpin the work of Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. His filmography includes more than twenty full-length works, each of which surprises viewers with the brightness of colors and the skill of decorators who create a unique atmosphere.
"All About My Mother" is, of course, one of the saddest, but in At the same time, it's a strikingly beautiful film by Pedro Almodóvar. The story follows a single mother who loses her only son and develops within the framework of a traditional melodrama. However, it's impossible to confuse Almodóvar's style with the works of his contemporaries in the field of sentimental cinema—the film, starring Cecilia Roth, is crafted with such subtlety that behind the cozy Barcelona landscapes and ubiquitous red color, only the director himself can be discerned.
What you'll take away from the film: its masterful use of color. Almodóvar uses the hue of red with great passion, weaving it into almost every frame. This expressive color unites the entire film, creating a holistic experience. Understanding and skillfully using a specific palette will also prove useful in photography.
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Pedro Almodóvar's work often explores the complex aspects of women's lives, at the intersection of suffering and triumph. In his films, he masterfully recreates the emotional twists and turns his heroines face, raising questions about personal identity, love, and loss. Each of Almodóvar's works is imbued with profound emotions, where passion and pain intertwine, creating a unique atmosphere in which heroines go through trials to ultimately find their place in the world. This director is able to show with brightness and skill how women overcome difficulties, turning their suffering into sources of strength and inspiration.
The Color of Pomegranates
Director: Sergei Parajanov
Year of release: 1968
Country: USSR
The surreal parable entitled "The Color of Pomegranates" is considered one of the most daring films of the Soviet period. Sergei Parajanov significantly departed from the traditional principles of dramaturgy and the rules of cinema, turning the biography of the Armenian poet Sayat-Nova into a vivid expression of visual poetry.
Dozens of vignettes that They reveal to the viewer the inner world of a master of love poetry, reminiscent of living paintings. Attempts to decipher the plot of this film can prove not only futile but even risky. The deliberately complex narrative helps distract the viewer from the plot lines and fully immerse themselves in the film's atmosphere. This unconventional film continues to spark heated debate: some call it a masterpiece, while others criticize Parajanov for the narrative's complexity.
The film inspires original thinking. Parajanov, relying on his imagination, created one of the most extraordinary works in cinema. Moreover, this film amazes with its incredible beauty.
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Five significant projects by Sergei Parajanov
The Neon Demon
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Year of release: 2016
United States, Belgium, Denmark and France.
Nicolas Winding Refn, a Danish director, is rightly considered a visionary. His films, full of violence and bloody scenes, can scare away viewers, but the skill of the set and costume designers makes it so that viewers return to his creations again and again.
"The Neon Demon" is a striking example Art that can evoke emotion. This terrifying story about the fate of a young model is filmed with such depth that even the abundance of violence and gore can't overshadow the overall impact of the film. Refn's visual solutions are striking in their uniqueness: the power of beauty is revealed through acidic color grading and dynamic camera movements. Refn fills the frames with neon lighting, transforming Elle Fanning's character into a true angel, albeit with blood stains on her face.
The film emphasizes the importance of visual perception. Refn creates films about the world of models and photographers, and this aspect is clearly visible – some moments from The Neon Demon could easily be mistaken for elements of a high-class photo shoot.
The Poor, the Unfortunate
The director of this work is Yorgos Lanthimos.
Year of release: 2023
Ireland, Great Britain, United States of America, Hungary.
Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos has traditionally focused on the visual elements of his works, but it was in the film The Poor, the Unfortunate that his pursuit of beauty achieved outstanding results. Unlike previous films, where the storyline clearly prevailed over the visuals, in this film with Emma Stone, the work of the director, cameraman, as well as costume designers and set designers, significantly exceeds the imagination of the screenwriter.
This provocative story centers on a child trapped in the body of an attractive young woman. It's reminiscent of assembled Victorian dioramas, where doll-like cityscapes, deliberately extravagant outfits, and numerous wide-angle shots lend Lanthimos's work a timeless atmosphere, transforming it into a masterpiece.
What can be learned from the film: Stylization. Lanthimos seamlessly integrates the visual elements of "The Poor, the Unfortunate" into a cohesive concept inspired by Victorian fantasy. All the components of the work interact with one another. Although stylization is often criticized for deviating from reality, in some cases, in order to achieve a high level of the project, it is worth going to certain excesses.
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"Poor Folks": Important Facts About the Film That Are Worth Considering.
Water life
Director: Wes Anderson
Year of release: 2004
Countries: USA
The symmetrical and almost doll-like shots characteristic of Wes Anderson's work have become part of popular culture. His unique style inspires not only filmmakers but also photographers.
True inspiration can also be found in the early works of this master. For example, in the seafaring fantasy "The Life Aquatic," which tells the story of an oceanographer who swears revenge on a vicious shark. By 2004, Anderson hadn't yet developed his signature style, so "The Life Aquatic" contains some less successful shots. However, this only adds to the film's charm—fans of Anderson's work will be interested in following the development of his artistic approach, which has become iconic in modern cinema.
What does the film show us? True to one's style, undoubtedly. Following the crowd can be tempting, but it's not always beneficial. It's important to stay true to your own unique approach, the one that brings you joy. Two decades ago, many also scoffed at Anderson's highly stylized scenes.
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The Universe of Wes Anderson: the secrets of symmetry and delicate pastel colors.
Tales of the Moonlight in the After-Rainy Season
Kenji Mizoguchi is the name of the director.
Year of release: 1953
Country: Japan
The sad black-and-white films of Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi had a significant influence not only on his compatriots, but also on cinema in the post-war period as a whole.
"Tales of the Misty Moon After the Rain" is a magical film that tells the story of a poor potter obsessed with the desire for wealth. The visual aesthetic, memorable landscape scenes, numerous close-ups, and fluid camera movements make Mizoguchi's work truly unique for its time, establishing him as a recognized master of "beautiful" cinema in Japan. The film's running time is just over ninety minutes, but the slow pace lends the story a timeless quality—some moments drag so long that watching it feels like reading a literary work. In this masterpiece, Mizoguchi makes you want to disappear, to remain forever in the misty Japanese forest. The film is a masterpiece of composition. Like many other directors, Mizoguchi divides the shots into three levels—background, middle ground, and foreground—but he does so with surprising ease. His compositions resemble miniature dioramas. When using a camera, don't limit yourself to one plane—the image will be much more expressive if all three levels interact with each other as a whole.
Sicily!
Directors: Daniel Huillet, Jean-Marie Straub.
Year of release: 1999
Italy, France and Germany.
Daniel Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub are true masters of adapting literary works to the screen. Their films are based on the works of such authors as Franz Kafka, Cesare Pavese and Bertolt Brecht. At the same time, French filmmakers do not seek to change the essence of the original texts.
The scripts of the films of this tandem consist entirely of the words of the authors themselves, and the directors focus on their visual embodiment. The short film "Sicily!" is based on the work of Italian writer Elio Vittorini and offers the viewer a leisurely narrative of the protagonist's return to his Sicilian hometown. Empty streets, old facades, the faces of locals—Huillet and Straub's camera captures the smallest moments of everyday life and transforms them into cinematic art. Each frame is carefully composed, and there is no room for chance in this duo's work.
The film conveys an important lesson about finding beauty in everyday life. Yuye and Straub masterfully combined the simplest components—picturesque small-town scenes and amateur performances—to create a captivating work of art.
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"Transplanted Roots": a photo project dedicated to the life of a Russian-Chinese family in America.
Happiness
Directed by Alexander Medvedkin.
Year of release: 1934
Country: USSR
Alexander Medvedkin remains an undeservedly forgotten figure of the Soviet avant-garde. While Sergei Eisenstein was transforming the foundations of cinema, Medvedkin was experimenting with elements of surrealism. His silent film "Happiness" becomes a true manifesto of unusual cinema. The plot tells the story of a poor peasant named Khmyr, who accidentally finds a purse of money. It is a folk tale—the protagonist finds himself embroiled in endless adventures and eventually loses all his gold. A bizarre spotted horse even appears in some scenes. Despite the difficult political situation, Medvedkin did not give up on inspiration, drawing it from pre-Soviet Russia - the popular aesthetics of "The Tale" allowed his film to stand out from the crowd of more overtly propaganda films.
The main lesson to be learned from this film is to not be afraid to express your individuality. Medvedkin was not well-liked by his contemporaries, but with the onset of the Thaw, his work "Happiness" gained worldwide recognition. In addition, the outstanding French director Chris Marker created a film called "The Tomb of Alexander", dedicated to this talented director.
RR
The director is James Benning.
Year: 2007
Country: USA
American film director James Benning creates landscape films. He does this with remarkable calm: his works consist of still frames that transform natural landscapes into “living paintings.”
The film, titled RR, consists of 43 scenes depicting moving trains. This film has no actors, no script, and no sets. Benning forces the audience to focus on the unremarkable landscapes, waiting for the train to inevitably appear. This might seem boring. However, prolonged contemplation makes nature the central character of the film, and some of Benning’s shots can strike you with their unexpected beauty.
The film conveys an important lesson about patience. Benning spends a long time carefully searching for the perfect position to capture a single frame.
The Dragon’s Refuge
Director: Tsai Ming-liang
Year of release: 2003
Country: Taiwan
Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang is one of the leading proponents of the concept of “slow cinema”. In his works, the change of frames occurs with such slowness that the viewer finds himself in a state close to trance.
The film "Dragon's Refuge" is the most risky project in the director's career. The story unfolds inside an old movie theater, whose doors will soon close forever. Regulars bid farewell to their beloved haunt: they watch films, wander the auditorium, and share memories of days gone by. Although the film features many characters, it is this old movie theater that becomes the main protagonist. The claustrophobic setting doesn't limit the director's creative impulses—the dark halls are transformed into a world of dreams and nostalgic memories. The film's characters wander aimlessly through deserted corridors, and viewers enjoy the unusual filming style and characteristic dark visuals. The film conveys an important lesson: don't be afraid of challenges. Indeed, making a film or taking photographs in complete darkness is far from an easy task. However, Ming-liang successfully tackled this challenge, transforming a familiar old movie theater into a surprisingly lyrical space. You can do it too.
Artist Collaboration Agreement
The director of this work is Peter Greenaway.
Year of release: 1982
Country: United Kingdom
Peter Greenaway, a British director, began his creative career with experimental films, creating pseudo-documentary films in which he combined live-action footage with still photographs and handwritten notes.
Greenaway's complex approach quickly gained popularity, but his adherents were faced with an unexpected turn of events. In 1982, Greenaway presented audiences with The Draughtsman's Contract, a costume drama telling the story of an artist named Mr. Neville. The director's experimental nature faded into the background, and he created, albeit unusual, a classically structured work. Greenaway chose the path of simplification, which turned out to be a successful decision for him: exquisite composition of shots, an intricate plot, and magnificent period costumes became the defining elements of his approach for many years to come.
The film conveys a lesson in courage. Greenaway radically revised his approach to directing, leaving behind the usual methods that brought him success. As a result, he became one of the most recognizable directors in Europe.
Tell the Fortunes of a Daisy
The director of this work is Robert Frank.
Year of release: 1959
Country: USA
The short film "Tell the Fortunes of a Daisy" lasts only thirty minutes and is made in black and white, which gives it a noticeable simplicity and even a certain anti-beauty. This ironic film immerses the viewer in the everyday life of American bohemians: the characters have fun, engage in noisy conversations, and indulge in idleness.
Unlike many other films on our list, "Tell the Truth with a Daisy" cannot be called groundbreaking. However, its creator is the outstanding street photographer Robert Frank, whose work captured the atmosphere of post-war America. He decided to replace the traditional static shots with more dynamic shots, which became a source of inspiration for many photographers who began to follow his example, among them Anton Corbijn and Steve McQueen.
The film conveys an important lesson about self-confidence. Robert Frank boldly accepted the challenge, applying his decades-long skills in street photography to create a truly significant cinematic work.
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My life, cinematography, films in black and white.
