3. Understanding Analogue Aids in Mastering Digital Digital imaging technology is incredibly user-friendly. An amateur can capture decent footage without needing to understand what happens inside the camera. However, professionals are expected to have a deep understanding of the technology, as this knowledge allows them to fully exploit the creative possibilities of their equipment. Digital imaging technology was built on concepts rooted in analogue systems. For instance, some digital cameras use the concept of shutter angle, even though they lack a mechanical shutter and, therefore, cannot physically have an angle. Shutter angle is merely a convention—a carryover from the analogue era—used to explain the otherwise intangible processes occurring within a digital camera. Analogue technology, with its tangible, mechanical functions and manual (non-automatic) controls, provides a clearer understanding of how imaging works. By working with analogue, one gains a hands-on understanding of processes that can then be applied to digital systems. In this way, analogue serves as a valuable foundation for mastering the intricacies of digital filmmaking. The concept of image log profiles is heavily inspired by the characteristics of analogue technology. In analogue filmmaking, the film negative inherently possesses a wider dynamic range than the film positive onto which it is copied. This means the negative captures more detail in both shadows and highlights compared to what will appear in the final positive print. During the process of creating the positive, decisions must be made about which details to preserve and which to sacrifice for the final image. This dynamic range logic is more intuitive to grasp when working with the tangible negative- positive process of analogue filmmaking. By understanding this physical workflow, it becomes easier to comprehend how digital log profiles function, as they follow a similar principle of capturing maximum detail to allow greater flexibility in post-production. Log image profiles have significantly expanded the dynamic range of digital cameras. Without log profiles, in most cases a digital camera’s basic video output offers a dynamic range no greater than 13