Atmospheric and Weather Techniques

Cinematic atmosphere is weather in the frame: rain, fog, haze, smoke, dust, steam. Air has to be visible. Backlight the particles. Wet the ground if you want night to sparkle.

Fog is a wall. Mist is lyric. Rain needs highlights on water, not a drizzle sticker. Wet-Down makes pavement a mirror so practicals read. Dust Motes need a still beam. Volumetric Light is God rays only when the volume is real. Atmosphere is not a mood word. It is matter in the air.