Observation is the key for good storytelling

By Surbhi Kaul

Observation is the central point of good storytelling. “If you observe things, you will write better stories,” according to Himanshu Dubey, a Mumbai-based cinematographer.

Speaking to the Times School of Media students (both BA Journalism & Mass Communication and BA Films, TV & Web series) he took students through the importance of observing things to write better stories. “Observation is one of the basic forms of growth. While growing up, we learn things mostly through observation. That’s how we learn languages, social context, and human emotions,” said Dubey, who is also a graduate from the New York Film Academy. “Observation will help you become open to new stories without judgement,” he said.

Internal versus external observation

He classified observation as internal and external observation. Internal observation is observing the inner self without the bias of justification. “You have to observe yourself for you and not for the world. It’s okay to be wrong or fail or not to be your best,” he said. “Self-observation is like a magical theory to understand your surroundings.”

External observation, on the other hand, is “When you realise that you are able to carve out characters that are believable and relatable. They would have actual tangible information attached to them because that information will come from what you have observed,” he said.

Importance of lighting

Visuals and light play an important role in observing things. Dubey said that light becomes a crucial part of one’s memory. “It is essential to observe light because it’s not possible to always shoot at a real location. So, you have to create lighting scenarios in a way that it is close to reality,” he explained.

Keeping in mind the importance of observing light, he asked students to observe some pictures and identify which light was being shown. “Is it artificially simulated light or is it actual natural light?” He then explained the different lighting in each of the images.