Austin Blumberg Cinematography Reel - ID# 149

Deerfield
Cinematography
Entry Description

From documentaries to fiction to news, Austin Blumberg shows off his lensing and lighting in this reel.

Copyright Info

Recent Teacher Comments

  • 4/29 12:17 pm - A good diversity of shots are represented. However, not all of them express highly cinematic approaches to filming including solid lighting and shallow depth of field. Good job overall!
  • 4/28 1:22 pm - I really appreciated the variety of shots and perspectives you brought to this reel. It was especially great to see you tackling different interview setups and successfully mixing natural and artificial lighting—that shows a strong foundational understanding of the craft. You’ve definitely got the 'fluency with camera use' that the rubric looks for, but to move from 'good' to the top of the 'Excellent' bracket, your shots need a bit more 'pop.' Right now, they feel technically correct but a little safe. As you grow, I want to see you push your Point of View further. Experiment with a shallower depth of field to draw our eyes exactly where you want them, or try more aggressive, high-contrast lighting setups. The best entries aren't just recording a clear image; they are using the lens to evoke a specific emotional response from the viewer.
  • 4/6 9:37 am - PROS This reel highlights a cinematographer with significant technical potential, particularly in specialized and high-action environments. The underwater swimming sequences (1:28–1:35) are a standout achievement, demonstrating excellent control over movement, focus, and perspective in a notoriously challenging setting. The shooter also shows a strong mastery of depth of field through effective macro photography, particularly in the extreme close-ups of typing and guitar playing (0:08, 1:09). Across the reel, there is a commendable level of compositional diversity, utilizing everything from wide action shots to tight details. IMPROVEMENTS The primary areas for growth center on the foundational "basics" of framing and lighting control. Framing for human subjects, specifically in interview settings (0:11, 0:20, 1:04), requires more intentionality; subjects are often too centered, and the "headroom" is inconsistent. Applying the rule of thirds and providing more "nose room" (the lead room in the direction a subject is looking) would immediately elevate these shots. While studio and outdoor segments are well-executed, narrative scenes like the hallway sequence (1:13) suffer from flat, ambient light. Adding contrast to "shape" the subject's face would better convey mood and character. Additionally, improving camera stability during following shots (1:15–1:18) through better handheld technique or a gimbal would ensure the viewer's focus remains on the action rather than the camera movement. OVERALL This reel demonstrates a high level of skill in "difficult" shots, such as underwater and high-speed movement, proving the creator's technical versatility. To move toward a top-tier score, the cinematographer should apply the same level of care and precision to static environments and human subjects as they do to their more experimental work. By mastering the fundamentals of interview composition and light shaping, the creator will significantly elevate the visual fluency and professional impact of their entire portfolio.
Judge 1

Positives: The underwater scene and the overall crisp image quality show technical skill. You seem to know how to make a scene look polished.

Improvements: The static shots are well-composed, but remember that cinematography is about movement. Try to avoid automated looking pan/zoom movements.

Judge 2

Positives: Technically very well done; exposure, focus, and framing are all spot on. The interviews are well composed and do a great job of displaying the subject and providing context to their story.

Improvements: Despite doing an excellent job of "capturing" the stories your shots could have been more creative in "telling" the stories. Composition and framing should work together to visually create the mood you're trying to convey. Lighting at times was a bit flat and not particularly flattering to the subject, a little softness goes a long way.

Judge 3

Positives: @00:35 I love the camera angle. It felt distinctive from most of the reel.

Improvements: 01:18 some warp stabilizer artifacts I would be cautious with the music used in your reel, it tended to feel very one note. A reel should be about highlighting the work you aspire to do, if you don't aspire to one type of work don't show it or that will be what you attract. A small hack to making a reel feel more varied is mixing up music. You can have some energetic at the opening then slower in the second half for those lower energy shots.

Judge 4

Positives: Good interview footage. 1:14 good shot choreography. Smooth motion. 1:29 good underwater footage.

Improvements: Your strength is in the interviews. Build your reel around those, which you've already begun. Choose clips that complement the interviews. I would like to see more variety in your insert shots.

Judge 5

Positives:

Improvements: