A Visual Diary – December 2021
For December’s visual diary, I wanted to take everything I’d learned from the previous two months and push myself a little further — technically, creatively, and mentally. This month was all about stepping into unfamiliar territory and beginning to understand the nuances that separate simple video documentation from truly cinematic storytelling.
For the first time, I decided to shoot entirely in Log instead of Rec.709. It was intimidating, and I quickly realized just how much there is to learn about working with this kind of footage in post-production. Shooting in Log opened up an entirely new world of dynamic range and color possibilities, but it also challenged me to think more critically about exposure, lighting, and grading. Editing the footage was a humbling experience — it showed me how much I still have to learn, but also gave me a glimpse of the creative control that comes with mastering this workflow.
I also began experimenting with manual white balance, setting color temperature manually using Kelvin instead of relying on auto. It forced me to be more intentional with how I interpreted light and mood in each environment, and to trust my own eye instead of the camera’s automatic adjustments.
One of my favorite moments from this month’s project came in the final scene — the New Year’s Eve shot of my husband and me watching the ball drop on TV. I had to expose for the light coming from the television so it wouldn’t blow out the highlights, and to get the framing just right, I moved the couch forward from the wall and set the camera behind it. The result looks natural — as if the camera were tucked into a real space that didn’t actually exist. That small creative decision taught me how much intention and subtle manipulation go into framing a believable shot.
Overall, December’s project felt like both an ending and a beginning. It wrapped up the year and the three-month visual diary series, but it also opened the door to a deeper understanding of what it means to truly craft an image — not just capture it. I still have a lot to learn about editing Log footage and shaping tone in post, but this month reminded me how exciting the process of learning can be when you’re willing to keep experimenting.
