Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
🎥 WANT TO SHOOT DOCUMENTARIES LIKE A PROFESSIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHER? START HERE: filmschool.lucforsyth.com/documentary-cinematography
⛑️NEED PERSONALIZED HELP? BOOK A 1:1 CALL AND LET’S MAKE A PLAN FOR YOU! ⛑️ calendly.com/lucforsyth/1-1-consultation-call
Big thanks to Maheraz (instagram.com/mk_clipppz) for putting it all on the line, and to Shoot for Peace for letting us use their amazing space. If you need a studio rental in Toronto, check them out: shootforpeace.com/. And a big shout out to 3ES for getting the next generation of filmmakers off their phones and into the field: instagram.com/3estoronto/.
And finally to DZO for lending us this set of Vespid Prime 2 lenses to shoot it all on! dzolink.com/45S1MKn
👇🏻MORE RESOURCES FOR FILMMAKERS 👇🏻
🗞 CAREER LESSONS, INDUSTRY BREAKDOWNS, AND GEAR TALK FOR FILMMAKERS AND CREATIVES 🗞: bit.ly/3imiDAj
🤖 NEED AN AI CAREER COACH? TRY THE FILMMAKER’S AI ASSISTANT FOR FREE: filmschool.lucforsyth.com/ai-assistant
📘LIFE-CHANGING ADVICE FOR FILMMAKERS (FREE 70-PAGE EBOOK) 📘: tinyurl.com/ax9c3kkf
📽 A FILMMAKER’S GUIDE TO LONG TERM CAREER PLANNING (FREE 5 DAY CHALLENGE) 📽: bit.ly/40ZS9GC
📖 THE DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER’S NETWORKING GUIDE (FREE DOWNLOAD) 📖: bit.ly/3VIA7Vm
📝✅ ESSENTIAL GEAR PACKING CHECKLIST (FREE DOWNLOAD) ✅📝: tinyurl.com/ycknfa7j
🤘 WHERE I GET MUSIC FOR MY VIDEOS (Luc70 for 70% off!!!) 🤘: audiio.com/lucforsyth
🔗 LINKS FROM THIS VIDEO
Shoot for Peace: shootforpeace.com
3ES: instagram.com/3estoronto
CHAPTERS
0:00 - intro
0:50 - why I’m making this video
1:30 - challenge, pro vs rookie
4:12 - Maheraz accepted the challenge
4:49 - conditions
5:47 - getting to know the space
7:40 - all of today’s gear
9:33 - challenge starts now
10:30 - establishing the frame & lenses
11:40 - the key light
13:12 - I empathize so much with Maheraz right now
15:45 - my thoughts halfway through the challenge
17:23 - changing lenses and why it’s important
19:05 - 40 minutes left!
19:45 - how to balance the exposure of the room
20:47 - almost out of time, my thoughts
22:14 - what Maheraz did
23:51 - my impressions on Maheraz work
24:53 - first improvement: separation from the wall
26:18 - always motivate your lighting
28:35 - expose for the space first
30:00 - setting a softer source
32:50 - final frames and results
🎥 🔥 📷 GEAR I USE
MY ACAM: amzn.to/3CsrOoy
MY YOUTUBE CAM: amzn.to/3TcW12m
BEST DOC TRIPOD IN THE WORLD: bhpho.to/3VD3Gsn
MY FAVORITE CAMERA BACKPACK: bit.ly/3yTAJPh
EXPEDITION BACKPACK: bit.ly/3MEkco2
YOUTUBE LENS: amzn.to/3CuSl4x
CURRENT DRONE: amzn.to/3BRUQBR
KEY LIGHT: amzn.to/40cH7Q7
SHOTGUN MIC: amzn.to/3hVwVnL
COMPUTER: amzn.to/3HXNwlE
*Some of the above are affiliate links, but all are personally vetted and recommended*
✋ SAY HI
Email (business inquiries only): luc@lucforsyth.com
Web: lucforsyth.com
IG: @lucforsyth
🎥 WANT TO SHOOT DOCUMENTARIES LIKE A PROFESSIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHER? START HERE: filmschool.lucforsyth.com/documentary-cinematography
⛑️NEED PERSONALIZED HELP? BOOK A 1:1 CALL AND LET’S MAKE A PLAN FOR YOU! ⛑️ calendly.com/lucforsyth/1-1-consultation-call
Big thanks to Maheraz (instagram.com/mk_clipppz) for putting it all on the line, and to Shoot for Peace for letting us use their amazing space. If you need a studio rental in Toronto, check them out: shootforpeace.com/. And a big shout out to 3ES for getting the next generation of filmmakers off their phones and into the field: instagram.com/3estoronto/.
And finally to DZO for lending us this set of Vespid Prime 2 lenses to shoot it all on! dzolink.com/45S1MKn
👇🏻MORE RESOURCES FOR FILMMAKERS 👇🏻
🗞 CAREER LESSONS, INDUSTRY BREAKDOWNS, AND GEAR TALK FOR FILMMAKERS AND CREATIVES 🗞: bit.ly/3imiDAj
🤖 NEED AN AI CAREER COACH? TRY THE FILMMAKER’S AI ASSISTANT FOR FREE: filmschool.lucforsyth.com/ai-assistant
📘LIFE-CHANGING ADVICE FOR FILMMAKERS (FREE 70-PAGE EBOOK) 📘: tinyurl.com/ax9c3kkf
📽 A FILMMAKER’S GUIDE TO LONG TERM CAREER PLANNING (FREE 5 DAY CHALLENGE) 📽: bit.ly/40ZS9GC
📖 THE DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER’S NETWORKING GUIDE (FREE DOWNLOAD) 📖: bit.ly/3VIA7Vm
📝✅ ESSENTIAL GEAR PACKING CHECKLIST (FREE DOWNLOAD) ✅📝: tinyurl.com/ycknfa7j
🤘 WHERE I GET MUSIC FOR MY VIDEOS (Luc70 for 70% off!!!) 🤘: audiio.com/lucforsyth
🔗 LINKS FROM THIS VIDEO
Shoot for Peace: shootforpeace.com
3ES: instagram.com/3estoronto
CHAPTERS
0:00 - intro
0:50 - why I’m making this video
1:30 - challenge, pro vs rookie
4:12 - Maheraz accepted the challenge
4:49 - conditions
5:47 - getting to know the space
7:40 - all of today’s gear
9:33 - challenge starts now
10:30 - establishing the frame & lenses
11:40 - the key light
13:12 - I empathize so much with Maheraz right now
15:45 - my thoughts halfway through the challenge
17:23 - changing lenses and why it’s important
19:05 - 40 minutes left!
19:45 - how to balance the exposure of the room
20:47 - almost out of time, my thoughts
22:14 - what Maheraz did
23:51 - my impressions on Maheraz work
24:53 - first improvement: separation from the wall
26:18 - always motivate your lighting
28:35 - expose for the space first
30:00 - setting a softer source
32:50 - final frames and results
🎥 🔥 📷 GEAR I USE
MY ACAM: amzn.to/3CsrOoy
MY YOUTUBE CAM: amzn.to/3TcW12m
BEST DOC TRIPOD IN THE WORLD: bhpho.to/3VD3Gsn
MY FAVORITE CAMERA BACKPACK: bit.ly/3yTAJPh
EXPEDITION BACKPACK: bit.ly/3MEkco2
YOUTUBE LENS: amzn.to/3CuSl4x
CURRENT DRONE: amzn.to/3BRUQBR
KEY LIGHT: amzn.to/40cH7Q7
SHOTGUN MIC: amzn.to/3hVwVnL
COMPUTER: amzn.to/3HXNwlE
*Some of the above are affiliate links, but all are personally vetted and recommended*
✋ SAY HI
Email (business inquiries only): luc@lucforsyth.com
Web: lucforsyth.com
IG: @lucforsyth
