Declan Klyn 2025-2026 Cinematography Reel - ID# 381
Homewood-Flossmoor
Cinematography
Entry Description
Collection of Declan Klyn's best shots from 2025-2026
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/29 1:37 pm - There is some beautiful portrait photography here. This reel seems very focused on sporting events and other events including dances or high school things like that. That means there's not a real diversity of shots that focus on the fundamentals of cinematography including camera angle length lighting color framing and so on. I'd advocate for pushing in those areas in the future.
- 4/28 3:17 pm - This was a very strong entry that clearly understood the requirements of the rubric. Your edit was seamless, and the variety of subjects you chose showed that you aren't a one-trick pony. Some of your natural light shots were truly stunning, which is exactly what we look for when awarding points for mastery of lighting. You have the technical skills down, so the next step to stay in that top-tier bracket is to look for "creative innovation." Try to find shots or lighting setups that we haven't seen before—something that feels completely unique to your point of view. You are already doing excellent work; now it’s just about pushing the boundaries of your own creativity.
- 4/6 2:32 pm - PROS The reel displays a solid ability to capture high-energy, candid moments, particularly within the context of event and sports cinematography. The creative title sequence at the beginning (0:01) shows a high level of effort in post-production, effectively using video masking to introduce the filmmaker. There is also a good sense of timing in the race sequences, such as the finish line shot at 0:18, where the camera successfully conveys the excitement of the scene. Additionally, the close-up at 0:14 demonstrates an emerging eye for detail and the effective use of a shallow depth of field to isolate a subject and draw the viewer's focus. IMPROVEMENTS The most significant area for improvement is moving beyond a point and shoot approach toward more intentional technical control. Several sequences, notably the runners at 0:08, suffer from exposure issues where highlights appear slightly blown out or the image feels flat, suggesting a reliance on automatic camera settings. Mastering the manual exposure triangle will help create a more consistent and professional look regardless of the lighting conditions. Focusing on motivated camera movements rather than just following the action would add a layer of sophistication to the cinematography, showing that the lens is being used as a storytelling tool rather than just a recording device. OVERALL This reel shows a filmmaker with a clear passion for capturing live action and a growing set of editing skills. While the high-quality camera and glass provide a strong starting point, the work currently feels more like high-end documentation than deliberate cinematography. By developing a more intentional approach to framing and movement, you can bridge the gap between being a good shooter and a skilled cinematographer. The potential is clearly there!
Judge 1
Positives: Great use of audio-visual sync. This exhibits editing skill. .
Improvements: I notice some scenes like the opening have a very flat, desaturated look. Try increasing the contrast in editing to bring out the shadows and make the colors pop. Autofocus can be distracting when it decides to shift focus on its own. Practicing manual focus will allow you to tell the audience exactly where to look and would have made the door answering sceen better.
Judge 2
Positives: Exposure and focus are spot on throughout. The choice to shoot with the sun low in the sky makes for very pleasing daytime exterior shots.
Improvements: While it is pretty, the use of slow-motion does not necessarily add anything or aid in telling the story in this context. I'd also like to see a greater variety of shots and compositions, these are largely all medium-wides of a subject in the center of the frame.
Judge 3
Positives: Shooting out doors is very definicult, you have the right choices to keep people backlit when the sun way out and composing shots well with things not half in or out at the edge of frame.
Improvements: I would focus in the future in crafting images more than capturing them. Spending time setting the camera up on a tripod, figuring out where you want talent and lighting to be to look best to support the visual story you want to tell. In these very documentarian styles that hard, things move too fast or uncontrollably to get that level of precision. Be cautious with music choice, it should match the tone and pace of the edit/shots being shown. This really pulled me out of the amazing work you have shot. Mindful of the shutter angle/speed you chose. Many of your shots feel to have to high of a shutter resulting is motion that feels uncannily crisp. That is -okay- if you give a reason for it. Otherwise double the fps or 180 degree should be the shutter. Use ND, lower ISO, or smaller aperture to control light but not shutter.
Judge 4
Positives: Slow motion works well overall. 0:27 1:18 1:19 I love these portrait moments.
Improvements: 1:07 though I see the intent of this rack focus, it kind of looks like a mistake. I would wait for a stronger example of this to put in your reel. 1:29 this shot happens so quickly it doesn't have time for a viewer to register what he just saw. Good music choice. Good luck!
Judge 5
Positives:
Improvements: